Color Photograph of the exterior of Prora Holiday Complex, Rügen, Germany
Prora is a beach resort on the island of Rügen, Germany, known especially for its colossal Nazi-planned tourist structures. The massive building complex was built between 1936 and 1939 as a Strength Through Joy (Kraft durch Freude or KdF) project. The eight buildings are identical, and although they were planned as a holiday resort, they were never used for this purpose. The complex has a formal heritage listing as a particularly striking example of Third Reich architecture. Prora lies on an extensive bay between the Sassnitz and Binz regions, known as the Prorer Wiek, on the narrow heath (the Prora) which separates the lagoon of the Kleiner Jasmunder Bodden from the Baltic Sea. The buildings extend over a length of kilometres and are roughly 150 metres from the beach. Prora was designed to house 20,000 holidaymakers, under the ideal that every worker deserved a holiday at the beach. Designed by Clemens Klotz (1886–1969), all rooms were planned to overlook the sea, while corridors and sanitation are located on the land side. Each room of 5 by metres was to have two beds, an armoire (wardrobe) and a sink. There were communal toilets and showers and ballrooms on each floor. A large dock for passenger ships was also planned. During WW2, the complex was used as a hospital and training centre. Post 1945, it was occupied by the Soviet and East German Armies. Since 1993, many of the buildings have fallen into ruin, but several parts have been re-developed to include museums, a night club, a youth hostel, and flats.
Size: 4000px × 6000px
Location: Prora, Rügen, Germany
Photo credit: © Paul Grove / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1930, baltic, building, camp, complex, german, germany, holiday, joy, military, national, nazi, prora, ruin, ruins, socialist, strength, ügen
