Large red leather presentation portfolio with hinged opening, manufactured by Frieda Thiersch, the cover featuring a large gold-embossed national eagle with outstretched wings, facing right. Dimensions 40 x 33 x 5.5 cm. The portfolio exhibits the typical manufacturing quality of Frieda Thiersch, comparable to the cases for the silver state frames and the presentation portfolios for the Knight's Cross and its higher grades. The presentation portfolio opens to the left, lined inside with cream-colored fabric. Inside at the bottom of the spine with gold-printed artist designation “Frieda Thiersch”. Contains 30 large-format photographs with matting, taken by Prof. Heinrich Hoffmann. The individual photographs show the view from the Berghof over the valley and the surrounding mountain landscape, interior view of the great hall, view of the Berghof, the greenhouse, the newly constructed access road to the Berghof, the underground bunkers and tunnels, the Kehlsteinhaus shortly before completion, the freshly furnished fireplace room in the Kehlsteinhaus, view from the large lowered panoramic window onto the mountain landscape, impressions of the mountain world, the Obersalzberg and the surrounding mountains as an enchanted winter landscape - all the impressions that Hitler himself experienced during his visits. Each matted photograph is hand-numbered on the reverse from 1 to 35. Since the portfolio can only contain 30 photographs, 5 photographs were not included (numbers 2, 4, 6, 7, and 30). Only slight signs of age, in good condition.
This photographic portfolio for Adolf Hitler most likely represents a personal gift from Martin Bormann, who was entrusted with the construction and completion of the Berghof.

The presentation portfolio was the war trophy of French veteran Sergeant of the 2nd Armored Division Paul Gerbi, which he captured on May 4, 1945, in Adolf Hitler's personal library at the Berghof. The Sergeant had obtained a total of 4 different albums; the other copies were auctioned in France years ago. Included is a French newspaper clipping with the report about the sale and the veteran from 2015.

The Berghof was Adolf Hitler's country house on the Obersalzberg, Berchtesgaden. The building was constructed in 1916 as Landhaus Wachenfeld for a North German merchant. From 1928, the country house was Hitler's rented vacation residence. After the seizure of power in 1933, he purchased it and had it expanded into the Berghof, his representative residence. It then formed the core of the Führer Restricted Area Obersalzberg, which, with the construction of the “Little Reich Chancellery” in 1937 and the Reichenhall-Berchtesgaden Airport as a second seat of government, became a central place of power in National Socialist Germany. In total, Hitler spent approximately one-third of his time in government at the Berghof, which amounts to nearly four years. International diplomats and politicians came to the Berghof for negotiations. The building was severely damaged shortly before the end of the war by Allied air raids. In 1952, the building was blown up and destroyed by the Free State of Bavaria.

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Third Reich Large Photo Presentation Portfolio from the Personal Property of Adolf Hitler, Commemorating the Completion of the Berghof and the Kehlsteinhaus, circa 1937

This exceptional red leather presentation album represents the intersection of personal relationship and monumental architecture at the center of Nazi power. The case, crafted by the renowned bookbinder Frieda Thiersch (1889–1947), contains thirty large-format photographs by Heinrich Hoffmann (1885–1957) documenting the completion of the most significant construction projects at the Obersalzberg.

The presentation case itself, measuring 40 x 33 x 5.5 cm, opens to the left and features a cream-colored interior lining. The cover displays a large gold-embossed national eagle (Hoheitsadler) with outstretched wings, facing right. The interior spine bears the gold-stamped marking “Frieda Thiersch” at the bottom. The quality of craftsmanship matches that of Thiersch's work on Knight's Cross award cases and silver state presentation frames – objects of the highest official significance in the Third Reich.

The Berghof was Adolf Hitler's residence at Obersalzberg near Berchtesgaden, Bavaria. Originally built as Haus Wachenfeld in 1916–1917, Hitler rented it from 1928 and purchased it in 1933. Under Martin Bormann's supervision, it was extensively rebuilt and renamed “Berghof” in 1935–1936, with interiors designed by Gerdy Troost. Hitler spent approximately one-third of his time as Führer at the Berghof, nearly four years in total. The Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle's Nest) was constructed from April 1937 to October 1938 within thirteen months on a peak 800 meters above the Berghof. It served as a diplomatic reception house and was presented to Hitler on April 20, 1939, for his 50th birthday as a gift from the Nazi Party, though Hitler only visited it approximately fourteen times due to his fear of heights. Both sites were central to Nazi power, with the Obersalzberg functioning as a second seat of government from 1937.

The thirty photographs in the album – numbered 1 to 35, with numbers 2, 4, 6, 7, and 30 missing – show views from the Berghof to the valley and mountains, the interior of the great living room, exterior views of the Berghof, the greenhouse and gardens, the newly constructed access road, underground bunkers and tunnels, the Kehlsteinhaus near completion, the furnished fireplace room in the Kehlsteinhaus, views through the panoramic window, mountain impressions, and the Obersalzberg as a winter landscape – the impressions that Hitler himself experienced during his visits.

Heinrich Hoffmann was Hitler's official photographer from 1921 to 1945 and a close personal associate. His archive comprised approximately 500,000 photographs of Hitler. Frieda Thiersch was a master bookbinder who became the primary craftsperson for high-level Nazi presentation items, including Knight's Cross award cases and various ceremonial leather goods. Thiersch survived the war but died in poverty in 1947.

The album was taken as war booty on May 4, 1945, by French Sergeant Paul Gerbi of the 2nd Armored Division (2e division blindée) from Hitler's personal library at the Berghof. The Berghof had been damaged by RAF bombing on April 25, 1945, and set on fire by retreating SS troops on May 4, 1945. On May 4, the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division arrived in Berchtesgaden, followed by the French 2nd Armored Division, which reached the Obersalzberg and Berghof. Gerbi reportedly captured four different albums in total; the other albums were auctioned in France in prior years. A 2015 French newspaper article documents Gerbi and the sale of one of these albums.

The burned shell of the Berghof was demolished by the Bavarian government on April 30, 1952, seven years after Hitler's death, to prevent it from becoming a neo-Nazi shrine. Hoffmann was arrested in 1945, tried for war profiteering in 1947, sentenced to ten years (reduced to four on appeal), released in 1950, and died in 1957.