Hitler worked on plans to make Germany the hub of the world, so he appointed his military engineer, Albert Shpeer, to design the largest city in history. So what is the Great Germania project?
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Hitler developed many plans after controlling Europe to implement them, including scientific and military plans. The most prominent of these plans is the project Germania, the capital of the world. This extraordinary project that carries in its details many symbols that Hitler wanted to communicate to the world to highlight his global control.
But these plans failed after Hitler's last battle for control of Europe, where they failed and defeated a major defeat, and all his plans went with him.
After Hitler came close to victory, Germany had to be made the capital of the world. He wanted to reconstruct Germany so that it would become the greatest and largest global capital. The city was built, but after the defeat of Nazi Germany in the war, construction work stopped.
Political plans before it became an architectural one
This plan, despite its architectural goals, was not completely architectural, but rather was a political sign of control and great power in the world. Hitler chose to make the city the largest city in the world and chose the seat of government from the largest buildings in the world, in addition to the largest dome in the world. We will mention the architectural symbols in later parts of the article.
Architectural project of Great Germania
They were to finish building this city by 1950, but Hitler's defeat prevented it. From an architectural point of view, the project has many strong symbols, as it wanted to deliver messages to the world through architecture. So it consisted of many buildings that have great architectural features that were able to deliver their message very strongly to the world. When we look at the project, we find that it wanted to restore the glory of the Roman Empire architecturally, and you will find that the architectural style that it used is the same as that used by the Roman Empire.
Three-dimensional diagram of the project, Image credit
We will mention in this article some of the wonderful buildings that carry many messages
Architecture is a message that carries among its details many symbols that it presents to the whole world.
1. Splendors Street
It is a 7 km long street, and Hitler intended to place the best antiquities stolen from Europe along this street [1] to send his message to the world that Germany is superior to everyone, and it prevails in all countries.
2. Arc de Triomphe
Hitler was very obsessed with the architecture of Paris, and he wanted to surpass France in its best effects, so he decided to place the Arc de Triomphe at the end of the Splendors Street and make it better than the arch in Paris.
Arc de Triomphe, Image credit
3. Grand Hall
Hitler and Shabir were influenced by ancient Roman architecture, especially the domed architecture such as the dome of Saint Peter in the Vatican. The building was designed so that the dome weighs 200 thousand tons, a height of 300 meters and covers an area of 99 thousand square kilometers [1]. The building would have become the largest closed place in the world if the building were done and the largest dome in the world. This symbolizes strength, as the building's height and area symbolize the sovereignty over Europe. The largest dome in the world indicates the victory over Germany.
Grand Hall, Image credit
4. Roads
It was supposed to be the best road in the world, so no traffic lights were planned due to the presence of transit tunnels.
Two-dimensional diagram of the project, Image credit
Works built
Many buildings were built before the end of the war, including:
- Reich Chancellary
It is one of the buildings that were executed before the end of the war, and it is the same building in which Hitler hid and committed suicide
- Berlin Olympics stadium building
It was built in 1936 in the city center of Berlin and it was also the largest in Europe.
Berlin Olympics stadium building, Image credit
I believe that this project was the largest architectural project in history. Imagine if it is implemented, it will present to the world a great development in the sciences of engineering and architecture. I think that Albert Shpeer has great merit in the development of modern architecture only through his participation in the Great Germania project.
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Thanks for reading!
Sources:
[1] Mustafa Al-Sabri , 21 April 2018 , "I intend to call it "Germania, the capital of the world" ... Details of Hitler's fictional city plan" Retrieved: (10/9/2020) https://alwan.elwatannews.com
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