NS Ordensburg Vogelsang

 

Following 60 years of military use, Vogelsang has been open to the public since 1 January 2006.

While the military training area has been left to develop naturally as part of the Eifel National Park, the buildings will be used for recreation, to provide information, to support a varied programme of learning and as an international meeting place.

At one time, young people were trained at Vogelsang to serve a criminal and totalitarian “state party” unquestioningly and with absolute obedience. Now it is a question of giving this site a new identity. The remnants of the National Socialist period must be understood as a reminder and warning to practise tolerance and humanity. Vogelsang is now part of a network of German memorial sites and can play an important role in fostering the retention and further development of a democratic society.

The conversion of the 100-hectare site is taking place under the direction of the Standortentwicklungsgesellschaft, a specially-founded company which is playing an active role in developing a new future for Vogelsang.On the final day of our battlefield tour to the Huertgen Forest we visited the NS-Ordensburg Vogelsang in the hart of Eifel National Park.It is still a remarkable complex with nazi-architecture. It was on Sunday 30 August 2009. We had a Belgian guide who has on Vogelsang during his military service. He was stationed in Vogelsang, a Belgian barracks in the period 1950-2006. He succeeded to bring this emotive subject with a sence of humor.

 

 The conversion of the 100-hectare site is taking place under the direction of the Standortentwicklungsgesellschaft, a specially-founded company which is playing an active role in developing a new future for Vogelsang.On the final day of our battlefield tour to the Huertgen Forest we visited the NS-Ordensburg Vogelsang in the hart of Eifel National Park.It is still a remarkable complex with nazi-architecture. It was on Sunday 30 August 2009. We had a Belgian guide who has on Vogelsang during his military service. He was stationed in Vogelsang, a Belgian barracks in the period 1950-2006. He succeeded to bring this emotive subject with a sence of humor.


 

 

  
On the playground the so called "Junkers" were photographed in front of the castle

On the playground the so called "Junkers" were photographed in front of the castle

Parade ground
View from the so-called comradeship houses on the main building of the castle

View from the so-called comradeship houses on the main building of the castle

The huge figure of a naked torch-bearer was established at the so-called "Torch-Bearer

The huge figure of a naked torch-bearer was established at the so-called "Torch-Bearer"
The main building

The main building
The great lecture hall

The great lecture hall
The large dining room

The large dining room
View from hörsaal in the sanctuary, the ideological core of the Nazi SS training school. There a massive naked holzfigur was entitled "The Man Cherman".

View from hörsaal in the sanctuary, the ideological core of the Nazi SS training school. There a massive naked holzfigur was entitled "The Man Cherman".
Vogelsang in 1939

Vogelsang in 1939
At the music site

At the music site
The music site today

The music site today

The Romanian Labor Milhall Ralea visited Vogelsang on June 16, 1938 together with Robert Ley

The Romanian Labor Milhall Ralea visited Vogelsang on June 16, 1938 together with Robert Ley
On about the same point I made this photograph on 30 August 2009. Note the stone that was used. The stones were hewn from the mountains in the Eifel region and is typical of that region.

On about the same point I made this photograph on 30 August 2009. Note the stone that was used. The stones were hewn from the mountains in the Eifel region and is typical of that region.
Also there were so called "Braun Weddings" on Vogelsang

Also there were so called "Braun Weddings" on Vogelsang
Also there were so called "Braun Weddings" on Vogelsang

Also there were so called "Braun Weddings" on Vogelsang
Also there were so called "Braun Weddings" on Vogelsang

Also there were so called "Braun Weddings" on Vogelsang

Hitler on Vogelsang
Hitler on Vogelsang

Hitler on Vogelsang
Parade on Hitler's Birthday on 20 April 1939

Parade on Hitler's Birthday on 20 April 1939
The platform is still not changed. It is clear to see where the eagle with the swastika was, built into the façade.

The platform is still not changed. It is clear to see where the eagle with the swastika was, built into the façade.

This picture I took of the front of the building from the side
Visit of the Italian Minister of Corporation Lantini in 1938. To welcome him there was a parade of the Junkers at the then new guard. Castle Commander Richard Manderbach "reported" the Junkers at the visitor.

Visit of the Italian Minister of Corporation Lantini in 1938. To welcome him there was a parade of the Junkers at the then new guard. Castle Commander Richard Manderbach "reported" the Junkers at the visitor.
Celebration in the large lecture hall on 9 November 1938 on the occasion of the commemoration of the 16 deaths of Hitler's putsch in 1923 in Munich.

Celebration in the large lecture hall on 9 November 1938 on the occasion of the commemoration of the 16 deaths of Hitler's putsch in 1923 in Munich.
View of the castle of the Statue of Torch-Bearer

View of the castle of the Statue of the Torch-Bearer

Many of audenthieke detais of this building have been preserved, like this fireplace. Here Göring stood with his shotgun after the hunt in the Eifel. He enjoyed to spent time with the Junkers.
Many of audenthieke detais of this building have been preserved, like this fireplace. Here Göring stood with his shotgun after the hunt in the Eifel. He enjoyed to spent time with the Junkers.
Many of audenthieke detais of this building have been preserved, like this fireplace. Here Göring stood with his shotgun after the hunt in the Eifel. He enjoyed to spent time with the Junkers.
roll call of the burg community on the parade ground

roll call of the burg community on the parade ground
Evening roll call, with pitch-torches during the visit of Italian Minister lantini

Evening roll call, with pitch-torches during the visit of Italian Minister lantini

Vogelsang has his own music corps with 48 professionals leading the parades of the Junkers

Vogelsang has his own music corps with 48 professionals leading the parades of the Junkers

The fourth comradeship of the first course on vogelsang

The fourth comradeship of the first course on vogelsang
Participants in the second course on the roll call of Vogelsang

Participants in the second course on the roll call of Vogelsang

In 1945 the main building was damaged by allied bombs
This is the complex Vogelsang as the 9th US Division fount in February 1945, partly damaged by war activities.
This is the complex Vogelsang as the 9th US Division fount in February 1945, partly damaged by war activities.

Cinema for the Belgian soldiers in the style of the 50s

Cinema for the Belgian soldiers in the style of the 50s