A Great Day For Nuremberg

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 208, 3 September 1938, Page 3 (Supplement)

A Great Day For Nuremberg

rE old world town of Nuremberg, with its narrow, crooked streets, ancient city walls and hoary castle perched on the top of a hill, will once again be the scene of the meeting of delegates from all parts of Germany in September. But this time representatives from Austria, now part of Greater Germany, will also participate and give the rally a special note. Tin* Anschluss causes a difficulty, however. The Congress Hall holds some 12,000 persons sitting, and is always packed t'> the doors. This year the same number ot seats will have to accommodate the new part of Greater Germany. But a vast hull for up to 00,000 persons is already under construction, the foundations having been laid in my pitseiire almost two years ago. There will then be space enough. It is only for the actual congress that space is so limited. The demonstrations and pageants take place on one of the large open-air arenas surrounded by seats for, perhaps, up to 80,000 persons. The town Is a mass of contradictions, but the effect is nevertheless pleasing. One strolls past strange-looking towers, now square, but once round, one's way is impeded suddenly by the remains of the city wall, with the deep moat. Balancing carefully on this wall, men and boys in the uniform of modern Ger-

many snatch a quick lunch between pageants. Opposite this wall is the hotel where Chancellor Hitler always stays. He occupies the suite on the first floor, wluch is always reserved for him and his staff during the rally. The hotel differs in no way from hundreds of others, but it ha* become a tradition that the Chancellor stays there. That, by the way, is the case with Nuremberg. One or two of the earlier congresses were held at other towns. Then there was one in this ancient Bavarian town, and the idea stuck. It became tradition. A party rally elsewhere would be unthinkable. Bui there no special reason for this, beyond the modern tradition. Expense also plays a ]>art. It is obviously cheaper to build halls and arenas in one town and make use of them every year than to have new accommodation, even of the mrfst temporary character, in a different citv every year.

porary camp some distance away, equipped with living, washing, ironing and dining tents. The Labour Service men gave a sample c their ability at pageants at Hamburg, during the Recreation Congress, where several score of young men and women from England joined the procession in sports dress. Judging from this, the Labour men should give a brilliant display at Nuremberg this year.

By--

Bertram de Colonna

Then there will be military displays, the police will demonstrate, and all sections, from the Hitler Youth to the Storm Troopers, will play their part. Larger arenas are also under construction, and several hundred thousand spectators will be able to view perform - ances in a few years' time. Tim Taimnr • -ii -t Bridges are alwavs built of wood over etrate mmZ f ag f a '" de " 10 "- th « c-ir.ef roads of Nuremberg. Often the not wt Xfini * marching men pass, four abreast, for We n,en h-h m i arri - e Uh 6h ° Uk?ered of temporary** bridges. 03 ® sauad ?n th „T' a " d °"! At flrst si ?l't it might appear as to thp'w-Jt "uddle, wi" be stripped though such a rally were a serious Mm Th If V y A , *' o, ' k - drawback to business life in such a fihnn Ur ' « \? g ' rls of U ' e small town—Nuremberg has a resident Labour Serv.ce are officially designated, population of only just over 400,000. are likely to demonstrate this year. B ut in reality the party rally means a The men will be accommodated at the boom—hundreds of thousands" of people arge camp half an hours march from arrive to participate, hotels, boardinga town, while the girls have a tem- houses and private lodgings are filled to

the doors, the shops and restaurants, beer shops and cafes are full. Retail sales rise by several hundred per cent during the rally week. But it is not only for the one week. Preparations began at the opening of July, and are now in full swing. Thousands are working in the old-world town to prepare for the coming events. Political Importance Great political events have usually been announced at Nuremberg. For example, it was at the congress that the Four Years' Plan was first announced. And every congress is given a special name. This year it is probable that the Anschluss, or Union with Austria, will lend its nauie in some form or other to the congress. But this is merely my opinion. Only Herr Hitler and, at most, two or three of his very closest collaborators know definitely what they have decided on. The decision, by the way, is always made by Hitler personally. Then the problem of Germans[>eaking peoples outside the Reich frontiers, particularly in Czechoslovakia, is likely to be touched upon. © © © One thing is certain —after the Fuehrer himself the biggest welcome, the most enthusiastic clapping, tlje lbudest cheei-s will be reserved for the first Austrian delegates to take their seat at a Nuremberg congress as representatives of a part of Greater Germany. An appeal to other countries to join Germany in peace plans is also to be expected this year. Then the progress

made during the year, the rebuilding of Hamburg, Berlin, Munich and other towns, the creation of a motor car within the reach of the workers (instalments of 5/ a week plus 1/ insurance suffice), and other new measures will be announced to the assembly representatives. © <© © The Press alone require three or four char-a-bancs to convey them to and from the meeting halls, quite apart from those who have their own cars. Stamped printed notices marked "Freie Fahrt" (free passage) will be placed inside the windscreens, otherwise there would be a poor chance of getting through the streets at procession times. And each Pressman has a special document, bearing his photograph, permitting him to enter all the halls and to pass through the cordons. There is no difference in the documents given the German and foreign Press, but there is a special bureau for each to collect printed matter, photographs and the like. The foreign bureau, for example, has people speaking English and French. Altogether, a party rally is an experience hardly equalled elsewhere. It may not exactly correspond to our ideas of a pageant, but it is what the Germans like best. And it makes a deep impression on all present. Manv diplomats occupy the grandstand. The British Ambassador was present last vear. Doubtless he will be invited in September as well, together with the diplomatic representatives of all the main countries of the world.