Hello German people
I live in [Strassburg](https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stra%C3%9Fburg) which in the North East of France, we got occupied from time to time trough history, by Germany and then given back to France.
I have read an article saying that during WW2 (I hope it’s ok to talk about this here), a architectural contest was made to transform Strassburg into possibly a “cultural beacon” of the third Reich.
We obviously have some traces of Germany being there, buildings, streets names and inscriptions. But I just wonder what if they could have did this project, would my town be better than it is now ?
We will never know and it’s probably (?) better, I guess ? My parents and most people I know, says at least that everything is done better in Germany, and [Kehl](https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kehl) which is the town the closest when we cross the frontier.
The infrastructures, the roads… I guess it’s known that you have some efficiency for sure, and good ideas.
Anyway I just wanted to talk about this, know what you feel/think about it and share what I learned.
9 comments
Strasbourg is a city in France and that’s about all I feel and think about it.
As someone who finds linguistics interesting, I thought it was cool when I found out the local historical dialect is a German dialect, not a French one. I was very confused the first time I was there and the street signs were also in something that looked like German as well as French.
Your view on history is quite interesting since Straßburg (and most of Elsaß-Lothringen for that matter) was a German city that got annexed by France multiple times during history as part of French expansion into German lands.
To your question: the Nazis couldn’t even finish their projects in Nürnberg and Berlin, the German economy at the time was only focused on war. A project like you described it could have never happened under these circumstances.
Straßburg is a German city that was occupied by France in 1681 and temporarily returned to Germany from 1871 to 1918 and again 1940 to 1945. Certainly a city at the crossroads of history and both countries.
From what I know about it, German Imperial architecture was already prominently present in the city before the Nazis liberated it in 1940. I don’t know anything about this contest you speak of, but it’s unlikely that if would have much improved the city from an architectural point of view. The Nazis had grandiose plans for Berlin and elsewhere too, but these were often impractical and the aesthetic value of their buildings is debatable. Personally I find the architecture from the late 19th century much prettier while also imposing.
Also, wheter “everything is done better in Germany” is highly debatable. Infrastructure wise, Germany is im decline since about the 1980s, with the exception of some improvements to East Germany after the wall came down. Other countries have long since caught up. Compare the TGV in France with the ICE in Germany for example, or even modern Spanish highways with the typical stretch of Autobahn in constant state of disrepair.
Well, [here’s a digital reconstruction of what Berlin would have looked like](https://www.bz-berlin.de/data/uploads/multimedia/archive/00398/germania_achse_398248a.jpg) if the Nazis had got their way.
And here are some examples of a few small projects that were actually started (but not all of them completed):
* [Fehrbelliner Platz](https://www.rbb24.de/content/dam/rbb/rbb/rbb24/2021/2021_07/imago-images/fehrbelliner-platz.jpg), Berlin
* [Tempelhof Airport](https://files.structurae.net/files/photos/2055/berlin/img_2223.jpg), Berlin
* [Air Ministry building](https://entwicklungsstadt.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/EWS-FINANZMINISTERIUM-2.jpg), Berlin (now the finance ministry building)
* [Charlottenburg tax office](https://www.kirchenaustritt.de/sites/default/files/berlin/finanzamt-charlottenburg.jpg), Berlin
* [Congress Hall](https://www.akg-images.de/Docs/AKG/Media/TR3_WATERMARKED/6/4/5/3/AKG7865392.jpg), Nuremberg
I’m not sure the Nazis would have improved [Strasbourg](https://cdn.thecrazytourist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/ccimage-shutterstock_1653418657.jpg).
Strasbourg indeed is a treasure with the medieval city center, the ill canals, and the Wilhelminian Neustadt. The whole of Alsace is really picturesque and a very unique blend between German heritage and French lifestyle. From personal experience native Alsacians don’t like Germans, because a big part of Baden identity is making fun of Alsacians. On the other hand, the French centralism has neglected the Alsacian identity.
And yes, German infrastructure in rural areas is better than in France.
>I live in Strassburg which in the North East of France
Thanks for the geography lesson.
>we got occupied from time to time trough history, by Germany and then given back to France.
No you got occupied and stolen by France.
Not sure if you are trolling or just clueless but as others have pointed out most of the valuable architecture you see in Straßburg is German. That goes for every building up to the 17th century (from the minster to Haus Kammerzell) and the vast Gründerzeit quarters (1870-1914). There are some French highlights like the Palais Rohan but that’s it.
Are you a troll?
Strasbourg citizen here.
Traces??? Wtf??? The whole city’s architecture is basically German.
You also seem to know absolutely nothing about the history of Alsace.
Your post is really gross, uninformed and quite simply ridiculous.
Strassburg always has been a german City . Since the name is from old high german straze and Burg. The Name is attested since 589.
The native langauge of elsass always was Elsässisch a high german Dialect.
Elsass just got taken by france in 1681.
Elsasser are acctually germans (Except of those who moved to Elsass from different Parts of france.)even thought some would beat you up for calling them germans today.
Elssäsisch is also almost dead.