Nazi holiday camp in Rügen

BBC News: Holiday camp with a Nazi past

and why not?

It is almost 64 years since the Nazi's were routed in germany. By the time the site is redeveloped there will likely be nobody alive who will be able to remember Nazi rule. Sure a few Neo-Nazis might try and make something of it but that could fairly easily be dealt with. At some point, and I think that point is fast approaching, Germany is going to have to move on completely.

Is that gonna happen? There are still plenty of people who bleat on about slavery, and that ended yonks ago.

i don't think it will ever be 'forgotten' TBH, but with more people alive today in Germany that were born after the Nazis had gone than the tiny number who were it is a lot less of a national wound than it was in the past already.

There's been a few articles about Prora in the UK press (well, The Guardian) over the last few years. One looking at the architectural significance of the building (the inevitably titled "Mein Camp") and one looking at its history ("Inside the holiday camp Hitler built") are both worth a read.

Personally I'd recommend going and having a look round it before the redevelopment gets underway - the building is impressive in a mad dictator kind of way, and the dilapidated state is somehow appropriate. I can't imagine the atmosphere being the same if it becomes just another holiday resort.

The beach is also really fantastic, although the sand is a little too soft for good beach cricket.

I've commented on Prora before on TT. I found it pretty amazing. I was of the undertanding they were going to turn it into a youth hostel. If they want to do anything real with it, they'll have to tear it down because the rooms are so small you have to go outside to change your mind.

Did anyone see Michael Palin's latest series on Eastern Europe? His whole segment on East Germany lasted about five minutes and ended up with him flying over Prora in a C-47 tisk-tisking the Nazis. Similarly, I adore Top Gear, but after they're finished talking about how much they love every german car they've ever driven, they end up making gratuitous anti-german war jokes.

Looks like the British have more difficulties letting go than anyone else.

I agree, but still, people are going to remember it for what it was. Like Dachau. Nice town, but everyone still associates it with the concentration camp.

"Hello Campers. Heil-de-Heil!"

Apparently this inspired the Spanish beach side hotel designs, which has in turn ruined Spain.

But are they? Dachau and it's history is known all over the world. Substantially less people have ever heard of Prora, or even Rügen - especially internationally.

It actually used to be a youth hostel, but I think they shut it down a few years ago. We stayed there in 1999 for a few days. We had a private room which slept four comfortably, but I think they made it more spacious by knocking out a wall between two rooms. It was very bare bones, though - all the charm of a military barracks. The food was Gawd-offal. One night they served this grey blob we figured must be stuffed green pepper, still not sure.

There was also a really good museum nearby. Prora having also been used as a DDR military training camp, the museum was full of DDR memorabilia, military and otherwise, as well as a great exhibition on the construction of the building itself, and what it was supposed to look like had it actually been completed. As it is, war broke out and the workers were shipped off to Peenemünde and elsewhere.

Glad that people are making the trip to Prora. It is well worth it. I agree with the comments re moving on, but also with the comment that once the developments take place it will lose some of its atmosphere.So try and go before it happens. I just hope it will be developed with facilities for all kinds of holidaymakers and not just the top-end resort tourists. Also that the two museums are retained, especially the one about the history of the place, and that some of the half finished buildings are left. The countryside is lovely too, great for walking and cycling.
By the way, I am still looking for other native English speakers in the Rostock area. Anyone interested in getting together for a coffee (or a wine) and a chat. Three of our number - an American, an Aussie and a Canadian have moved elsewhere recently. Is anyone left out there? I speak German fairly well and have many English speaking German friends but miss the chance to speak real, colloquial English. Does that sentiment ring a bell?