Nuremberg, Germany has a long, robust, 950-year history. It is a marvelous city to visit on a river cruise or for a few days. There are so many things that you can choose to do and see in Nuremberg you could become a little overwhelmed. Since the stories of history are so important to remember, this first post about Nuremberg will focus on the monumental WWII historic places you can visit during your day. So, grab a cup of coffee, and let’s get started learning about the places that you can visit to remember WWII history in Nuremberg, Germany.
The links below have some great historical information and are very interesting to read if you enjoy that sort of thing. ( I sure do!)
Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds
In 1933, Adolf Hitler declared that Nuremberg, Germany should be the “City of the Nazi Party Rallies,” so plans were made and construction was begun. Even though these buildings were not ever finished this area stands as a remembrance to this dark time in German history that is not to be forgotten.
The Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds (Dokumentationszentrum Reichsparteitagsgelände) is one of the most important museums in Germany dedicated to remembering the Nazi regime. The rally grounds is an absolutely enormous area. The parade grounds alone were designed to hold 200,000. Now, in one wing of the unfinished Congress Hall (designed to seat 50,000), you will find the main exhibit called “Fascination and Terror.” This exhibit chronicles the rise of the Nazi Party, Nazi rallies, racism, anti-Semitism, the German resistance, and the Nuremberg Trials.
Guided tours are available in English if reserved ahead of time. Self-guided tours are also available in English to help you explore this piece of WWII history in Nuremberg, Germany.
Before you visit you might want to watch “The Triumph of the Will,” a propaganda film produced in 1934. The film shows a Nazi Party Rally at the Rally Grounds with over 700,000 attendees, soldiers marching, clips from speeches of prominent Nazi leaders and Adolf Hitler. It isn’t the most exciting film, but it is still very fascinating.
Memorium Nuremberg Trials
Another interesting place to visit for WWII history in Nuremberg, Germany is the Memorium Nuremberg Trials. This exhibit focuses on the war trials conducted by the Allies between 1945 and 1949 that tried Nazi officials for crimes against peace, the rules of war, and humanity. You will find this memorial in Nuremberg’s Place of Justice directly above the courtroom where the trials took place.
If you are lucky you might even get to see the actual courtroom, room 600. Access is limited during the weekdays since it is an active courtroom used today. If you happen to visit the Palace of Justice on a Saturday you can experience an audio tour of the room (in English) bringing this sobering piece of history back to life.
River Cruise Tours
Most river cruise lines will include tours in each city and town you visit. These are generally overview tours that help you get a better understanding of the town. So, while in Nuremberg you most likely have the option of a city tour. Your tour will probably include a visit to the Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds and possibly even the Palace of Justice. For some, this quick visit might be enough. But, if you are a history buff (and especially WWII) you will want to plan to come back to this area later in the day to fully take in all the exhibits.
Have you visited this part of Nuremberg, Germany? If not, is it on your list of must-visit places? Let me know in the comments below!
Happy travels to you…until we meet again!
Here are some more posts you might like to read:
- Cruise the Iron Gates of the Lower Danube
- Viking: The thinking person’s river cruise
- Cruise the Mississippi River on a US river cruise
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