Perhaps the name Langwasser sounds like a simple geographical descriptor. But it carries within it a tale of transformation. Langwasser means long water. It comes from a small stream on its eastern edge. This area in southeastern Nuremberg became a prototype. It was the model for the satellite town concept in the 1960s.
Let’s journey back to the early 20th century. Picture this area heavily wooded. It was part of the sprawling Nürnberger Reichswald. A devastating fire swept through between 1917 and 1919. The area was cleared. It then served as farmland.
Now, shift your perspective to the Nazi era. From 1934, this cleared area became significant. It hosted tent cities and encampments. The Reich Labor Service and Hitler Youth were housed here. Permanent camps arose for the SS, SA, HJ and RAD. The Langwasser camp was the largest. It could hold 200,000 people.
With the outbreak of World War II, rallies stopped. The camp transformed. It became Stalag XIII-D. This was a prisoner-of-war camp. It held up to 150,000 prisoners. Remarkably, in August 1940, a special Olympics took place here. Prisoners from various nations competed.
The district of Langwasser began to take shape after the war in 1949. For a decade, it was a mix of refugee camps and temporary housing. Construction of permanent homes started in the 1950s. Many German refugees from Silesia and Sudetenland settled here.
During the Nuremberg trials, the facilities saw another purpose. Twenty-one SS witnesses were moved here in 1946. The US Army used it as an internment camp.
Langwasser’s modern history began with Nuremberg’s decision. The city planned a community. It was marketed as “living in the country.” An architectural contest in 1956 led to construction. This continued into the 1990s.
Langwasser is well-connected. The Nuremberg U-Bahn serves it via the U1 line. Langwasser Süd is the terminal. There are five U1 stations in Langwasser. Buses offer another option. They serve several stops in the area.
Today Langwasser is primarily a residential area. Yet, it echoes with stories of forest fires, Nazi rallies, war prisoners and refugees. It stands as a testament to Nuremberg’s capacity. It shows the ability to rebuild and redefine itself. It balances suburban life with echoes of a complex past.