Dokumentationszentrum Reichsparteitagsgelände

Terrifying scene in the streets of Munich.

Nuremburg is an old German city that became synonymous with Nazism both before and after WW II.  Before the war, it was the site of the Nazi Party rallies – huge events that brought over a million party faithful to the city every year – going back to the late 20’s.  After the war, it was chosen as the place to hold the Nazi aggressors and war criminals to account – hence the Nuremburg trials (an excellent old film – Trial at Nuremburg – I highly recommend).  Any old footage you have seen of huge rallies with Hitler speaking to enormous and well organized groups of people were filmed here on the Nazi rally grounds and zeppelin field.  The Nazi congress hall was under construction here in 1939 when building halted so all resources could be directed to the war.  And now the unfinished congress hall houses the very modern Dokumentationszentrum Reichsparteitagsgelände – Nazi Documentation Centre – a museum that explains the rise and fall of Nazism, and attempts to help new generations of Germans understand how this could have happened.  The film footage alone is work the price of admission – scenes from Triumph of the Will, the Nuremberg trials, and most poignantly, films of elderly German men and women from Nuremburg reminiscing about the excitement that gripped them as teenagers when the annual Nazi party rallies occurred, and Hitler was in town.  They had been brought up to believe this man was the savior of Germany – the answer to all their post-World War I troubles. 

The cult of Hitler - he was adored by many - even Grandmothers, housewives, and young children

An iconic image of Hitler at one of the Nazi Party rallies.

The modern museum includes excellent audio guides.

Strict discipline - everything for the Fatherland.

A young German child's school work denigrating Jews.

A children's board game also denigrating Jews.  The Nazis were experts at manipulation and knew they needed to start with very young children in order to spread their poisonous ideology.

The outside of the unfinished Nazi Congress Hall and a drawing of what the hall was supposed to look like when completed.