Nuremberg to spend €70 million on re-building Nazi rally grounds

[dipsydoodle]

Nuremberg plans to spend up to 70 million euro restoring the sprawling complex used by Adolf Hitler for his mass rallies, as debate continues in Germany over what to do with Nazi-era architecture.

“This is a job of national importance, we cannot take it on alone,” said Ulrich Maly, the Social Democrat mayor of the Bavarian city, who added he would ask for federal funds to complete the project.

A survey of the Nazi rally complex, which originally occupied 11 square kilometers (6 square miles), is set to be completed in the coming months, with a final estimate to be produced early next year.

The complex, whose grandeur and style were inspired by classical Roman architecture, served as the site for the ritualistic Nazi party rallies between 1933 and 1938. Constructed by ‘Hitler’s favorite architect’ and Nazi minister Albert Speer, it formed the backdrop to the synchronized marching and showmanship captured in Leni Riefenstahl’s propaganda film 'Triumph of the Will'.

http://rt.com/news/nuremberg-architecture-nazi-restoration-225/

Odd thing to do.

[arely staircase]

1. odd indeed

I think I saw a documentary once in which it was said the only widespread remaining Spear architecture was some Berlin bus stations or public restrooms. Or maybe I dreamed that. I always thought Albert got off too easy at Nuremberg. He did a few years and went on to make money from a book about his crimes - kind of a son of sam on a grand scale.

[BOG PERSON]

2. "the Social Democrat mayor of the Bavarian city"

ah, excuse me, shouldnt' that be Social Democratic ?

[Scootaloo]

3. Well, the way I figure the logic goes...

The structure is already there. As noted, it's freaking huge. Demolishing it and carting away the rubble would be prohibitively expensive. There's also the factor of historicity; even a landmark with bad history is a historical landmark, right? And this one is literally going to seed - it's sprouting mosses and bushes all over the grounds and in the seats and buildings. It's quite the eyesore

So. Given the option of spending billions and billions to remove the rally grounds, or spending far, far less to remove plants, hose it off with a power washer, and replace some mortar for a historical site, well, what would you pick?

I'd clean it up and make it a fucking amazing go-kart track.

[kenny blankenship]

7. The Norisring is or was a racing circuit constructed on the rally grounds

So the idea has already been implemented. I don't know if this news means the Norisring ist kaput, or what.

[bluestate10]

4. The site has historical significance. It serves as a permanent testament to how evil

can consume a nation. It should stand as a living reminder of a horror that should never, ever be repeated.

[Windy]

6. I've been there. It needs to stand in tact

There is a large museum there that chronicles the rise of the nazis and the horrors they inflicted on the world. I've stood on the platform where hitler gave his speeches and looked out over the parade grounds. very very eerie. The world can never forget.

[struggle4progress]

5. They can let it crumble IMO

BTW 11 km^2 is about 4 mi^2, not about 6 mi^2: somebody used the factor for converting km to mi to convert km^2 to mi^2

[msongs]

8. sounds like a good place for annual summer outdoor concerts ala Glastonbury or..Woodstock nt