Great Rivers of Europe - 9

Hi, The first two pictures of this post were taken on the day we left Bamberg.

The port of Bamberg has a number of locations to load barges.  Here is one of the photos I took of the area.

After we got underway a galley tour was offered (above and below).  It is amazing such a small place can feed about 200 passengers plus crew.

Our next port was Nuremberg where we had a city guide.  Here she is showing us a photo of the Zeppelin Stadium during the Nazi era.

Compare the view in the photo to the way the VIP viewing area looks today.  It is impossible to get a sense of the hold this would have had over people.  I am not making excuses for the Germans.  All I am saying is that it is important to understand the psychology of the era.

These structures housed the rest rooms.

Our next stop was the hall of justice, site of the trial of the most senior Nazis.

The guide had a photo showing how the courtroom was modified for the trial.  The prisoner dock was on the left and the panel of judges on the right.  Defense council sat at the tables in front of the prisoners while I think the prosecutors sat on the right in front of the judges.  There was no jury.

Here is a view of how the famous courtroom is configured today.  The judges now sit in the back under the cross.  The courtroom is still in use.

After our tour we were given an opportunity to experience a street fair with lots of different foods.

There were lots of samples to try including pretzels and

of course sausage.

The church facing the square has a clock tower with animated figures for when the hour is struck (above and below).

In the afternoon shuttle buses were provided.  This allowed us to visit the Documentation Center which houses exhibits on the history of Germany leading up to the Third Reich through the end of World War II.
It is housed in a part of the building called the Congress Hall.

This photo shows the plan for the Congress Hall.  It was to be the meeting place for the Nazi Party.

The Congress Hall was never finished.  Here is an aerial view of it's current state.

This view shows part of the interior of the Congress Hall from a cantilever platform extending from the Documentation Center.

An original copy of Mein Kampf is part of the collection of the Documentation Center.

Nuremberg was a sobering place to visit.  I believe it is essential to preserve these buildings, documents, and photos as constant reminders of how easy it would be to once again slip into insanity.

Thanks for looking.