Nurnberg

Another one of the remarkable cities that we got to visit was Nurnberg, Germany. The city is absolutely beautiful and is full of history.

There are high fortified walls that surround the city from the 11th century.

This is a picture of the tower in the castle on one end of the city.

While there is much medieval history in Nurnberg, it is much more famous for its recent history in the 20th century. The city of Nurnberg was the heart of the Nazi regime during the War. It was here that Hitler and his colleagues performed many of their party rallies from 1933-1938, and it is where Nazism would gain influence and popularity. After World War I, Germany was in disarray and the country was racked with poverty. Socialist ideas had already been spreading in Nurnberg, and Hitler's Nazi ideas grew immensely popular among the German people. Hitler promised restoration to the German people, and he was seen as the savior of the country. From Nurnberg, Hitler spread socialist propaganda throughout the country. Leni Riefenstahl produced the film The Triumph of The Will, which represented Hitler as a national hero who would save Germany. The German citizens had no idea what Hitler's ideologies would produce, because few understood the atrocious consequences that his ideas would lead to. Socialism promised Germany change, and few could see through Hitler's deceptive messages to count the cost. Those who opposed Hitler faced horrible imprisonments in concentration camps like Dachau.

We had the opportunity to visit the Nazi party rally grounds just outside of Nurnberg. The place is like a ghost town of abandon temples. This is a picture of the congress hall, which was inspired by the coliseum.

Other stadiums similar to this are all around the area. These were the Nazi places of worship, built to focus on Hitler, the savior of Germany. Watching videos of these places was eery. Some of the arena's held up to 150,000 people. These places were once filled with people all looking in willing servitude to the single Furer, Adolf Hitler. It was the power of the mass at the expense of the individual. Hitler had a single aim in mind, to unite Germany for absolute universal power.

Now the buildings lie as a chilling memorial to the influence of Nazism. There is now a museum in the congress hall. This place was absolutely enormous. It is hard to imagine that thousands and thousands of people were so influenced by Nazi ideas. After the war, the leaders of Nazism were tried in Nurnberg for war crimes. It was amazing to be in the place where it all started, and where it all ended.