Here stands a silent witness a once ugly part of history. This is the Thingstätte Stone. It now mellows with age. Today we explore this unique and historically significant site.
The Thingstätte Stone, or Thing Place, was built in the 1930s. It helped maintain a nationalist society. It was part of a cult of faith in the National Socialist movement. The Nazis wanted to redesign German cultural life. New Nazi architecture was key to their plan.
These sites hosted rallies and torchlight processions. Flags and choirs filled the space. A local newspaper described it as a place of worship for the National Socialist faith. Only about 50 of the originally planned 400 Thingstätte Stones were completed. Hitler and Goebbels decided radio and film were better for inspiring people.
The Heidelberg arena was one of the first built. Speer was born in Heidelberg. Goebbels earned his PhD at Heidelberg University. He called it a living breath of the German soul. He also called it a focal point of imperial thought.
Construction began in 1934. At the foundation stone ceremony, the mayor hoped the red sandstone would become a site for new seeing and hearing. It opened the following year on the June solstice. Goebbels addressed the crowd. He called it the true church of the Reich and National Socialism in stone.
He said they had given their style and view of life a lively expression. He said these sites were the state parliaments of their time. He believed the German people would walk to these stone sites. They would confess their new life in cultic games.
Nazi architecture was made to last. The Thingstätte Stone has done just that. Step through the gates past the square stone pillars. You stand at the back of the stage. Gaze out into the wide-open space. The monumentality hits you. It’s big.
The 56 rows of stepped stone rise 25 yards in height. They provided seating for 8000 people. There was room for 5000 more standing. The opening hosted over 20000 eager participants.
The round stage area is backed by a stepped wall. There is a building for dressing rooms. Two small semi-circular stages mark the front edge. The Thingstätte Stone’s echoes tell you it was meant to be a sacred place. It celebrated the Nazi hero cult. Imagine red and black Nazi flags flapping. Torches blazed. People chanted.
The original space had sophisticated equipment. It had a sound mixer with loudspeakers. The natural acoustics are amazing. Standing at the top, you can hear someone speaking in a normal voice on the stage nearly 200 yards away.
This has made it an excellent venue for musical performances. Jazz concerts, rock, and opera nights have been held here. Placido Domingo and Montserrat Caballé have performed here.
From the 1980s until 2017, Walpurgisnacht was celebrated every May 1st. Thousands descended on Heidelberg. There was no electricity. Forest fires were frequent due to candles and bonfires. In December 2017, the city banned future Walpurgisnacht celebrations.
Today, local officials seem ambiguous about promoting the Thingstätte Stone. It’s preserved as a monument. Access is not easy for large crowds. Parking is limited. It is rarely used today.
The feeling of sacred history is intense here. The name Holy Mountain is no accident. This was a Celtic site millennia ago. Early Germanic tribes prayed here. So did the Romans. The Germans built the amphitheater on top of ancient Celtic ruins.
A younger generation has fewer dark images of why this amphitheater was built. Let the past settle. Never forgotten but left behind. Enjoy the sunshine. Feel the fresh breeze. Breathe the clear air.
This spot is more than a relic of the past. It can be a living testament. It shows our understanding of past horrors. It confirms our commitment to a world built on tolerance and justice. The Thingstätte Stone is free and open. There are no barriers.