A chilling vision of Nazi architectural ambitions in Salzburg reveals how the regime planned to transform the historic baroque city into a monumental propaganda showcase reminiscent of ancient Rome or Athens. Episode 5 of "The Nazis in Salzburg" series by Hans Peter Hasenöhrl exposes the megalomaniacal building projects that were halted only by World War II, while cultural persecution began immediately with the removal of Jewish performers.
The Nazi masterplan envisioned a complete transformation of Salzburg into what planners called a new "Acropolis." The ambitious project included construction of a massive Gau-Halle (regional hall) for mass rallies to worship the Führer, a combat stadium for athletic competitions, a new festival house, and a broad ceremonial ramp connecting these monuments. To realize this nightmarish vision, thousands of forced laborers would have cleared entire forests and demolished the Capuchin monastery, erasing centuries of the city's religious and cultural heritage.
Cultural persecution began immediately upon Nazi occupation, with the swift cancellation of the traditional "Jedermann" (Everyman) performance due to its Jewish connections. A Nazi minister demanded that the famous Salzburg Festival replace this beloved tradition with a "Germanic consecration play" from Lamprechtshausen, fundamentally altering the character of one of Europe's most prestigious cultural events. This represented a systematic effort to eliminate Jewish cultural influence and replace it with Nazi ideology.
The architectural nightmare would have created a totalitarian landscape where visitors to the former archiepiscopal baroque city would feel transported to Julius Caesar's ancient Rome or standing at the foot of the Acropolis in Athens. The Gau-Forum would serve as a venue for mass demonstrations of loyalty to Hitler, while the combat stadium would showcase athletic prowess in service of Nazi physical ideals. An administrative center would house Gestapo operatives spinning their web of surveillance and control across the region.
The final element of this grand design featured a broad access ramp allowing the Gauleiter's armored vehicle to speed dramatically from Linzer Gasse up to the monumental complex above. This theatrical approach route symbolized the Nazi obsession with spectacle and intimidation, designed to overwhelm visitors with displays of power and authority. Only the outbreak and demands of World War II prevented this complete destruction of Salzburg's historic character and its replacement with a monument to totalitarian ambition.
