Nuremberg & World War II


Segment: Nuremberg & World War II
Episode: Grand European ep 11
Air Date: 23rd February 2020
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane

The second largest city in Bavaria, Nuremberg is a city with a fascinating history, and the optional Viking shore excursion, Nuremberg and World War II, shows guests the history of the Third Reich.

  • Nuremberg is best known as both the seat of Nazi propaganda and as the place of punishment for Nazi war criminals.
  • In 1933, Hitler declared Nuremberg the ‘City of Nazi Party Rallies’, and construction began on monumental buildings for the party’s mass meetings – between 1933 and 1938 there were six Nazi rallies held here.
  • The Zeppelin Grandstand was planned by Hitler’s chief architect, Albert Speer, and was based on the Pergamon Altar. This is where 100,000 voices saluted Adolf Hitler in some of the most recognisable propaganda footage from the era.
  • The architectural principles of the National Socialist State, perpetuity and monumentality, are evident in Nuremberg. The structures were designed to intimidate and impress, imposing a sense of discipline.
  • The monumental Congress Hall was built to the massive scale of the Roman Colosseum. Built as a special building for the party congress, the building had seating for 50,000 people.
  • Work on the Hall began in 1935, but was suspended in 1939. It is now a fascinating place where visitors can contemplate the extent of Nazi propaganda.
  • This is an impressive sight, and an important one – it’s essential that people know what happened in Nuremberg, and Germany as a whole.
  • The tour continues to Courtroom 600 in the Palace of Justice, where the Nuremberg Trials were held. These were a series of 13 trials carried out between 1945 and 1949, bringing many Nazi war criminals to justice.
  • Courtroom 600 is still a functioning court room – it actually has a 100 year history.
  • Viking aims to enrich guest’s knowledge of a destination, leaving you with a deeper understanding of the locations visited. This particular excursion is troubling, enlightening and poignant all at the same time.

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