Nuremberg Nazi Party Rally Grounds and Documentation Center
On this Holocaust Remembrance Day, the world honours the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. This milestone got me thinking about the important value of travel and tourism as a means of education.
I have not visited Auschwitz, though years ago, I had visited Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site in Germany, which was an unforgettable experience. More recently, I had the opportunity to explore the history and architecture of the Nazi Party Rally Grounds and Documentation Center, a museum and memorial, in Nuremberg, Germany. And in both cases, initially I balked at visiting because it seemed too dark and depressing, but I am so grateful I pushed myself to see these important historical places as there was so much to learn.
Nazi Party Rally Grounds
In Nuremberg, also famous for the Nuremberg Trials, visitors can walk around the open Nazi Party Rally Grounds, which includes the stadium where Hitler gave his speeches and held rallies for thousands of German soldiers. The National Socialists held their Party Rallies in Nuremberg from 1933 to 1938. You likely had seen the imagery of the grandstand decorated with Nazi flags and symbolism in movies made during the Third Reich’s rule. I really got the sense of the magnitude of these rallies and was surreal and eerie, and quite frankly, bizarre, walking in Hitler’s tracks. Visiting the grounds is free for visitors. Visitors beware: it is illegal to do a Nazi salute in Germany.
Documentation Center
The Documentation Center is located in the Congress Hall, a massive U-shaped building that the Nazis never completed. It is a centralized location for exploring and explaining the phenomenology of the Nazi regime. It includes a permanent exhibition comprised of photos, films and artifacts, which is currently closed until the end of 2025 due to renovations, though there is an interim permanent exhibition in its place. You can watch films of Hitler’s rallies in progress, sending a chill down your spine. They are upsetting to watch, but educational. There are also special exhibitions and events throughout the year. Seeing all of this close and upfront is an unforgettable education.
The construction of the Congress Hall was never completed. It was to have a glass roof.
The Documentation Centre is not free, but well-worth the visit.
Lastly, while in Nuremberg, you can visit Courtroom 600 in the Palace of Justice, the site of the Nuremberg Trials, war crimes tribunals of Nazi leaders. Today, it is strictly a memorial site. It was enlarged to accommodate the trials at the time, but has since been returned to something resembling how it originally looked. It is best to arrange for a tour in advance.
Courtroom where the Nuremberg Trials took place
My tour of the Nazi Party Rally Grounds and Documentation Center, and Courtroom 600, was an excursion with Viking River Cruises.
Travel and tourism can be hugely important for education purposes and I encourage everyone to see these sites. You will learn about the rise of the Nazis and how it impacted the minds and consciousness of Germans at the time, and it will help understand the origins of the ghastly Holocaust. With understanding, we can learn and prevent it from ever happening again.
Shannon Skinner is a broadcaster, producer, author and travel writer.
