Abandoned Nazi Mega Structure. Hitlers holiday resort

Hello and welcome to the On the Front blog, where we discuss all things WW2.

In this blog, I am going to discuss the Colosuss Prora resort. This Nazi era building complex is located on the island of Rügen, in northern Germany. Built between 1936 and 1939 the complex was designed as a holiday beach resort through the Kraft durch Freude KdF (Strength Through Joy) project. Designed for 20,000 guests, this 4.5km long Nazi mega structure is the longest building complex in the world. Consisting of eight identical buildings 150m from the beach. The surviving structures stretch a whopping 3km.

The Strength Through Joy project was a state initiative founded in November 1933 to provide working class Germans with affordable holiday opportunities which initially were only available to the middle and upper classes. The project was operated in conjunction with the state propaganda ministry and allowed Germany’s poorest access to Theatre tickets, hiking and day trips. By 1937 some 9.6 million Germans had taken part in a Strength Through Joy excursion.

Holiday makers apart of the KdF program

In cooperation with the Italian dictatorship Strength Through Joy also offered international travel to the Italian Riviera and skiing holidays in the Italian Alps. The project was a huge success selling some 45 million tours by the outbreak of WWII.

The construction of Prora was an ambitious project. Hitler insisted that all rooms were to have a sea view. Plans were made for a gigantic celebration hall supposedly able to house all 20,000 guests at the same time. There were two wave pools, a theatre and a cinema. Costing an astounding 237.5 million Reichsmarks (57 Million Euros today), the project was never realised, construction grinned to a halt at the outbreak of WWII.

Abandoned section of Prora resort

During the war the empty complex was used as a place to shelter during air raids, emergency housing for refugees and accommodation for female auxiliary personnel for the Luftwaffe.

In 1945, the Soviet Army took control of the site and turned it into a military base, stripping the buildings of any value. The soviets demolished large sections of the Northern and southern building complexes. In the 1950’s, control of the site was given to the East German Government (Deutsche Demokratische Republik. DDR) and with the creation of the National Peoples Army (National Volks Army. NVA) in 1956 the building was turned into a military barracks. The surviving interior décor which can be seen still in its un-renovated state today.

Last remaining original sections under going renovation

Following German reunification in 1990 the NVA was folded into the West German Bundeswehr and the site would continue to serve as a military barracks for a short time. From 1992 -“94, the complex was transformed to a refugee centre and housed asylum seekers from the Balkans.

For the remainder of the 90’s the complex was largely abandoned except for use as a museum, exhibition centre and art gallery. Unsuccessful attempts to sell the site resulted in a Government backed initiative to convert part of the complex into a youth hostel, making it the largest youth hostel in Europe.

In 2004, it was decided to sell the site in sections with multiple investors buying up large sections and plans were approved in 2008 to turn the site into its original intended purpose of a holiday resort.

Renovated sections of Prora resort

Criticism from locals who felt there were already too many tourists in the region or that the sites history made in inappropriate for tourism development were overruled and the revamped Youth Hostel with over 400 beds (Germany largest youth hotel) opened in 2011. Further development by multiple investors has breathed new life into the complex with the site now housing a luxury hotel, shopping centre and art gallery. Several blocks have also been converted into luxury apartments marketed as holiday homes. These beach apartments can also be found for long and short rental on multiple online booking platforms.

Let me know your thoughts about Prora resort and if you would book a stay in any of the accommodation in the comments below. Thank you for reading and I’ll see you next time On the Front.