Saturday & Sunday

Saturday and Sunday were”WW2” days!We spent Saturday at the Memorial Museum.This housed Court Room 600 where 21 Nazi Criminals were tried for various war crimes,crimes against humanity. Thirteen were sentenced to hang.Two committed suicide prior to their hanging,5 were committed to life in prison,and three were found not guilty.It was indeed a moving experience to walk in the room and complete the exhibition with head sets ,as well as a short film discussing the history of the evolution of The Hague and the international Court.Neither the USA,Russia or UK signed the agreement.The speaker was one of the American lawyers at the initial signing and was and IS appalled that the USA would choose not to adhere to the Rule of Law.

The prison is still operational and attached to the building and cases are still being held in Court Room 600.

Sunday was the visit to the Documentation Centre and Nazi Party Rally Grounds.We were to be part of an 8 person group tour,but we were number 9 and 10….so a semi private tour.Our tour guide was well informed and we had lots of opportunity to ask questions,see the Parade Rally Fields and climb the stairs to the Platform.There were many photos of the rallies that were in a field that was as large as four football fields and surrounded by 32 huts for SA and SS members.

Hitler had a long standing relationship with Mussolini and wanted to build a Coliseum higher than the one in Rome.The structure was never finished ,but part is now used for the Symphony Orchestra.We were driven inside the structure.It was built to not need speakers,and a loud sound could(and can) be heard.

At the end of this long day,we rested and again when the temperature cooled headed out to explore ,have a beer and a long conversation with a young man who joined our table;about current world issues with hardly any solutions…..how far do you have to travel these days to find a solution!!

So,tomorrow we leave Germany for Prague and more adventures.