“A true church of the empire” those were Goebbels words. He stood right here at the Heidelberg Thingstätte. He dedicated this very place in 1935. It wasn’t just any theatre. This egg-shaped amphitheatre was built during the Third Reich. It was part of the Nazi Thingspiel movement. Imagine 8000 people seated here. Another 15000 standing. All listening to Nazi propaganda.
The Thingstätte’s history is complex. It’s a stark reminder of a dark chapter in German history. But it also has a more recent story. Until 2017 unofficial Walpurgis Night celebrations took place here. Thousands gathered. Fire dancers jugglers and music filled the air. It was a wild scene a complete contrast to its Nazi past. Then a forest fire broke out. A young man was seriously injured. The city banned further celebrations.
The Thingstätte’s construction was quite an undertaking. Architect Hermann Alker designed it. The original plan was even grander 10300 seats and room for 20000 more. The project was ambitious. It involved creating access roads and providing water and electricity. The cost was around 600000 Reichsmarks. Most of it was paid by the city. Nazi propaganda exaggerated the role of the Reich Labour Service. Professional builders did most of the work.
The acoustics were a challenge. Early Thingstätten had poor sound. This one was built with 8 microphone lines 17 on-stage microphones and 7 loudspeakers. This allowed for sound recordings and radio broadcasts. It also amplified lead actors. The plans for other Thingstätten were modified based on the lessons learned here in Heidelberg.
The Thingstätte’s location was carefully chosen. It was partly a counterpoint to a First World War cemetery on another peak. It was meant to showcase Nazi culture to foreign visitors. However by 1936 the Thing movement was losing favor. The Mayor renamed it Feierstätte or celebration site. The Heidelberg Thingstätte remains a protected cultural monument. It’s a place where history echoes. It’s a reminder of both the propaganda and the community spirit it once fostered. Today it stands silently. A testament to a complicated past and a complex present. A true church of the empire indeed. A potent symbol of power and control. Yet also a stage for community gatherings. Now a silent witness on the Heiligenberg.