CITY BUILDING EFFORT OF HITLER
Hitler’s goals were to build the pure German race and the Nazi world. That’s why he dreamed of Berlin becoming the world capital. Hitler described his life and ideals in his book “Mein Kampf”. Therefore, the effort to build a city and his book can be seen as an ideology.
The book begins with his family and childhood years. His father wanted him to be a civil servant like himself. But he had a talent for painting. He wanted to be a painter. But he couldn’t enter the art school he wanted. They told him to work on architecture instead of painting. So his interest in architecture increased. He also discovered the ability to persuade people during these years.
Hitler worked with Albert Speer after he came to power. So he had the opportunity of making his dreams real in architecture.
The city he wanted to create was called “Germania”. This city plan consisted of the intersection of East-West and North-South roads. These roads are 120 m wide and 7 km long.
Berlin was destroyed for this plan. Jewish people were employed for destruction. Therefore, it can be said that concentration camps were formed. Because they were unpaid workers.
The “Germania” plan symbolized power and domination. In addition, he wanted to build architectural structures. Anti-aircraft tower, public hall, triumphal arch are among these structures. Admiration of Ancient Greece and Rome is often seen in their buildings. His plans were left unfinished because he lost the Second World War.
References:
- Adolf Hitler, “Kavgam”, Böğürtlen Publishing, February 2016, İstanbul.
- “Germania” Hitler’s redevelopment plans for Berlin video
