Since a Thingstätte was already being planned (but not executed) based on the concept of 1934 by the Berlin architect Schaller, [1]Alfred Rosenberg and Heinrich Himmler wanted to build a merely ceremonial site here. The “Totenwiese” near Verden, where Charlemagne according to legend had 4,500 Saxons executed to punish them for the uprising of Widukind was chosen as a building site. A “memorial site” was supposed to be built here in honor of the Saxons. However, after Hitler had “rehabilitated” Charlemange in his convention speech in 1935 the development of the Thingstätte as a central cultic site was abandoned. Instead, the facility was used as a SS training facility and a social center after 1939. 7
Start of construction / inauguration
1934-1935 / 1937
Architect / Staff
Wilhelm Hübotter, Dröge / R. Berkelmann, Hannover
Name historical / contemporary
Sachsenhain / Evangelischer Jugendhof Sachsenhain
Historical Use
| 06/21/1935 | Inauguration and solstice celebrations |
| 1935 – 1939 | Regular NS celebration site for solstice celebrations, number of attendees > 10,000 men from SS and State Labor Service |
| 1939 – 1945 | SS training facility and social center |
Use Today
Center for the youth of the Evangelical Church in Germany and playground / https://www.ejh-sachsenhain.de/
Interesting facts:
For the proposed memorial site, farmers of the surrounding region were supposed to collect boulders according to the number of people that had been executed here.[3] As a result, several megalithic tombs in the area were probably destroyed beyond repair.[4] The Thingstätte Verden was built in the “Germanic ground plan shape of a rectangle” and is designed rather scenically as a horticultural landscape than architecturally. Thus the boulders remained the only distinctive interference with nature. Other than that only the tree population was afforested and a few farmhouses were relocated from their historic origin to serve as SS quarters at the entrance of the square.[5]
[1] Stommer, Rainer, Die inszenierte Volksgemeinschaft, Jonas- Verlag Marburg, 1985, page 227.
[2] Kaldewei, Gerhard, Schwierige Schauplätze: (NS-)Kultstätten in Nordwestdeutschland. Eine Dokumentation zur regionalen Kulturgeschichte des Dritten Reiches, Isensee-Verlag Oldenburg, 2016, page 38.
[3] Stommer, 1985, page 239.
[4] Evangelischer Jugendhof Sachsenhain, Website: https://www.ejh-sachsenhain.de/geschichte.html [recalled on 03/17/2020].
[5] Stommer, 1985, ebd.
There were good reasons for the Thingplatz of Kamenz to be favored in terms of planning and funding and to be completed as the first one in Saxony. Due to the proximity of three camps of the Reichsarbeitsdienstes (Reich Labour Service) there was a large workforce on hand and there was also a military training ground nearby. The location was not far away from the scheduled Reichsautobahn (highway in the Third Reich). A war monument in close proximity gave the Thingplatz more prominence. Kamenz was also significant from a cultural point of view: it is the hometown of Lessing. – Another advantage was the town’s frontier position to the Sorbian and Slavic language region and therefore the gateway to the Sorbian area of settlement, which was significant for the politics of the National Socialism with regards to the Lebensraum in the East. Today the area is being used as an open-air theater. [1][2][3]
Start of construction / inauguration
03/10/1934 / 06/02/1935
Architect
Ludwig Moshamer, Berlin
Name historical / contemporary
Thingplatz / Hutbergbühne[4]
Historical use
| June 01/02 1935 | Handover play by A. Schroeder |
| 06/22/1935 | Solstice Celebrations |
| Unknown | “Neurode” by Kurt Heynicke |
| August 1937 | “Spiel vom Kamenzer Forstfest” |
Use today
Many concerts and events are being held all year long on the grounds.
https://www.hutbergbuehne-kamenz.de/
Interesting fact
The perfomances during the National Socialism constituted of a huge number of actors and supporting cast. “Sometimes there were almost more people on stage than in the audience”. [7]
[1] Stommer, Rainer, Die inszenierte Volksgemeinschaft, Jonas- Verlag, Marburg, 1985, page 213
[2] Bosse, Katharina, Thingstätten, Kerber- Verlag, Bielefeld, 2020, page 120/121
[3] Hermann, Matthias, Thingplatz und Kriegerehrenmal auf dem Hutberg in Kamenz, publisher, location, 1993, page 17
[4] Stommer, page 213
[5] Stommer, Rainer, Die inszenierte Volksgemeinschaft, Jonas- Verlag, Marburg, 1985, page 213
[6] Bosse, page 120/121
[7] Ebd., from an Interview with City Chronist Thomas Binder
The facility on the Heiligenberg, which was part of the construction program of the first 66 Thingplätze and was originally designed for 40,000 spectators, ended up being inaugurated with only half of this capacity due to problems during construction. It was a prestigious object of the Nazi regime with Goebbels himself attending the inauguration. The estimated costs of 135,000 Reichsmark rose to 600,000 Reichsmark upon completion. The sound technology features of the Thingstätte were state-of-the-art at the time. [1][2]3
Start of construction / inauguration
April 1934 / 06/22/1935
Architect
Hermann Alker, Karlsruhe
Name historical / contemporary
Heidelberger Thingstätte[3]
Historical use
| 06/22/1935 | Solstice celebrations: Cantata ‘Heiliges Vaterland‘ by Franz Philipp |
| 07/20/1935- Four additional performances | Reichsfestspiele: ‘Der Weg ins Reich‘ by Kurt Heynicke |
| 1936 | Solstice celebrations of the district |
| 1937 | Solstice celebrations of the district |
| 07/03/193707/11/1937 | ‘Der Feldherr und der Fähnrich‘ by Walter Erich Schäfer |
| 09/26/1937 | ‘Oratorium der Arbeit‘ by Georg Böttcher |
| 1939- Two performances | ‘The Bride of Messina‘ by Friedrich Schiller |
Use Today
No more official events are taking place. Hiking routes, geo-cashing and a restaurant make it a popular destination for visitors.
Interesting fact: Contrary to today’s repeatedly expressed assumptions there has never been a historical Germanic Thingstätte[6] on the grounds.
[1] Stommer, Rainer, Die inszenierte Volksgemeinschaft, Jonas- Verlag Marburg, 1985, page 103 ff. and page 211
[2] Dussel, Konrad, Kult oder Komödie? Heidelberger Theater im Nationalsozialismus, presentation on April 24th 2001 in Heidelberg, page 2
[3] Stommer, page 211
[4] Stommer, Rainer, Die inszenierte Volksgemeinschaft, Jonas- Verlag Marburg, 1985, page 103 ff. und page 211
[5] Dussel, Konrad, Kult oder Komödie? Heidelberger Theater im Nationalsozialismus, presentation on April 24th 2001 in Heidelberg, page 2
[6] Lurz, Meinhold: Die Heidelberger Thingstätte, Heidelberg, 1975, page 51
Text: Gerwin Strobl
The Thingstätten—the Thing sites or arenas—dotted over much of Germany (and lands formerly German), are the colossal remnants of a failed experiment in twentiethcentury mass culture. Dating from the early years of Nazi rule, they constitute what was perhaps the most visible cultural investment made by the Third Reich. While the ideas underpinning the so-called Thing(spiel)—the Thing play—did not actually originate inside the Nazi Party, their emergence coincided with the fall of the Weimar Republic. That synchronicity gave the Thing(spiel)bewegung [Thing movement] crucial right-wing credentials,and the new regime a ready means to make its mark in the cultural sphere. Grassroots enthusiasm andofficial encouragement complemented each other. ——
Thing mania promptly ensued.
Copyright by Gerwin Strobl