The cruise director told Jerry that one of the best tours offered on this trip was to the Nazi Parade Grounds and museum. Having seen many photos and movies showing the area over the years, this peaked his interest and he decided to give it a try. Well worth it. The tour started with a drive down the parade grounds which consisted of a marble road two kilometers long which was supposed to be used for displays of military strength. It was never finished.
From there we were taken to the ”Zeppelinfeld”, the Nazi rally grounds where Hitler spoke on several occasions.
Even though the Nazi flags and symbols have long since been destroyed, the very presence on the grounds was chilling. Lines were drawn on the ground so that only pure Germans could enter, no Jews, homosexuals,
Gypsies or other undesirables were allowed. The guide explained that the rally lasted for up to a week and, during that time, each member of the family went with their own age groups so that parents and children were never together. The idea was that no one could discuss what was presented with other members of their family and no one could question the statements were made. It was proper to simply believe what you were being told. She also told us about the evening programs where Nazi flags were lit by firelight and the feeling was one of invincibility. Fortunately, although designed to last for a thousand years, the grounds are now nothing but a ruin. Interestingly, this structure, on which six Nazi flags were placed, was actually a bathroom. There were dozens of these that surrounded the parade grounds.
We then went to the document center which was housed in a mammoth building designed by Hitler to be used once a year when he spoke to the party big wigs. The building was so big that they were able to drive our tour bus inside of it and around in a circle.
Again, it was never finished and is little more than a ruin itself. The spot in the center was to ba a balcony where Hitler planned to speak. The document center however has been converted to a multi media museum depicting the rise of the National Socialist movement from its inception the defeat of Germany in 1945.
An excellent film deals with the trials at the conclusion of the war showing actual cross examination of the principals who denied any knowledge of what went on in the concentration camps. One Nazi testified, “Yes, people died, but not because of any concerted action by the government.” Two women, neither of them Jewish, had to leave the museum because they were so moved by what they learned.
We were then taken around the remainder of the city for a brief tour including the courtroom where the war crimes trials took place. This is the exterior of the building where the trials took place. The large windows on the second floor are for the courtroom.
While Jerry went on his tour, Rita, Steve and Anna Lee took a brief tour of the city. This Bavarian city is the original home of gingerbread and small sausages, neither of which we sampled. Typical of eastern European towns, it was surrounded by a city wall that still stands a thousand years later. The sandstone blocks retain the tung holes used to lift them in place.
The central square is filled with stalls overflowing with colorful products. Above the square stands the 14th century limestone castle. A model of the old city is labeled in braille.
On one side of the square stands Our Lady Church. On the floor of the front area is a six-pointed Jewish star memorializing the synagogue that stood there. The synagogue and Jewish section of town was destroyed in a pogrom in 1349.
During the trip, Rita decided to develop a new skill and wanted to show off what she learned about napkin folding. Here she shows off her "dead chicken"
We are now on our way to Prague.
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