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Former KdF seaside resort Prora

One of the largest building projects from the time of National Socialism can be found on the Baltic Sea island of Rügen in the middle of the typical island heathland. The partially completed Ostseebad Prora is a historical monument that is unparalleled in Germany. Hardly any other building gives such eloquent testimony when it comes to the monumentalism of the National Socialist ideology and its potential impact on people's everyday lives.

The huge, six-storey buildings on the beach were supposed to accommodate more than 20,000 holidaymakers at the same time. The 12.5m² rooms were more reminiscent of an old-fashioned youth hostel than an upscale holiday accommodation. Nevertheless, the gigantonomy and the terrifying consequence of the National Socialist ideology are impressive, which saw the community orientation and ideological alignment - for example through loudspeakers in every room - as much more important than any luxury.

On the other hand, the KdF Prora anticipated elements with planned wave pools, sports facilities and the partially completed jetty that we know from later mass tourism and, apart from the ideological orientation, was eerily ahead of its time. The sensational modernity was also honored with a prize at the 1937 World Exhibition in Paris. The beginning of the 2nd World War put an abrupt end to construction work on the Colossus of Prora.