Nuremberg

I was surprised by the museum in Nuremberg. I enjoy learning about World War II, and I've learned a lot about it and Nazi Germany in school, so I didn't expect there to be a whole lot that I didn't know at the museum. Part of the surprise was that the exhibits didn't focus on the war itself, nor the Holocaust, which is what I have been taught about in school, but instead on Hitler and the plans he had for Nuremberg and for Germany in general. I had had no idea that Hitler wanted to build such huge structures, and it was fascinating (in a creepy way) to hear about the meaning behind everything he planned. He wanted the structures large and imposing to make people feel small; he wanted them reminiscent of the Roman Empire and wanted things lined up with the castle to connect himself with rulers of old; and he wanted the structures to draw the eye to himself on the platform, placing him on a plane above all others, both physically but also in the people's minds. In fact, I'd had no idea that he cultivated this myth about himself, attempting to unify the people but do so under him, making himself separate and revered. It was creepy and eerie to watch actual footage of Germans at the Nazi rallies, cheering and singing and dancing for Hitler. It makes me wonder anew at how one man could have so much power and control over so many. It seems surreal, too, to know that what I was seeing wasn't a re-enactment, as so many "movies" shown in museums, etc., are, but a real documentary, created by Hitler's orders. He was so sure of victory and so unashamed of his actions. The Nazi penchant for order and documentation of all their activities, including in the death camps, strikes me as so bizarre - one would think they would have concealed those activities as much as possible and not kept records. It was also shocking to see the sheer number of people at these rallies, hear their voices in unison... And again, back to the buildings Hitler planned - it is a testament to and a perfect example to show his extreme megalomania. I had never realized it, even with all the history I've studied, all the documentaries and historical movies I've seen, and I know I will never be able to comprehend it. But I appreciate this new view and understanding that the visit to Nuremberg, and especially the museum, has given me.