Ordensburg Krössinsee
Encyclopedia
Ordensburg Krössinsee was placed near the city of Falkenburg in Pomerania
, today Złocieniec Poland
. It was the first of three NS-Ordensburgen, the educational centers for or cadres of the Nazi Party.
. The vast construction of rustic stone buildings with its granite foundations which was built at a cost of 20 million Reichsmarks was officially dedicated on 24 April 1936. On 16 Mai 1941 the Ordensburg was renamed "Die Falkenburg am Krössinsee" (The Castle Falkenburg at lake Krössin) by the Reichs Minister of Labor, Dr.Ley, Robert
. On 29 June 1944, a small portion of the complex was destroyed by fire.
was Otto Gohdes. Cadets, known as Ordens Junkers were required to be at least 5 ft 4 in, between 23 and 26 years old, racially pure and in good health without any physical limitations. At the out break of the war a very high percentage of Junkers were killed in action.
Classes began each morning at 7 am and included studies in philosophy, politics and world history. Afternoons were devoted to military drills, battle tactics, sports and equestrian techniques. The school was recognized for its outstanding equestrian program. The nearby lake provided the means for students to develop rowing and sailing skills.
. These boys between 12-18 years old eventually became the sole occupants of all three Order Castles with the Invasion of Poland (1939)
and the start of World War two.
A fourth was planned at (the historic) Ordensburg Marienburg in West Prussia
, today Malbork Castle
, Poland
.
planned, but not realized facilities:
Pomerania
Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
, today Złocieniec Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. It was the first of three NS-Ordensburgen, the educational centers for or cadres of the Nazi Party.
History
The laying of the foundation stone of Ordensburg Krössinsee was on 22 April 1934. It was planned by the Cologne architect Clemens KlotzClemens Klotz
Clemens Klotz was one of Adolf Hitler's architects. After beginning his career focusing on residential designs in the Cologne area, Klotz received a series of prestigious commissions from the National Socialist Party's German Labor Front...
. The vast construction of rustic stone buildings with its granite foundations which was built at a cost of 20 million Reichsmarks was officially dedicated on 24 April 1936. On 16 Mai 1941 the Ordensburg was renamed "Die Falkenburg am Krössinsee" (The Castle Falkenburg at lake Krössin) by the Reichs Minister of Labor, Dr.Ley, Robert
Robert Ley
Robert Ley was a Nazi politician and head of the German Labour Front from 1933 to 1945. He committed suicide while awaiting trial for war crimes.- Early life :...
. On 29 June 1944, a small portion of the complex was destroyed by fire.
Student requirements
Commander of the OrdensburgOrdensburg
An Ordensburg was a fortress built by crusading German military orders during the Middle Ages. "Ordensburg" was also used during Nazi Germany to refer to training schools for Nazi leaders.- Medieval Ordensburgen :...
was Otto Gohdes. Cadets, known as Ordens Junkers were required to be at least 5 ft 4 in, between 23 and 26 years old, racially pure and in good health without any physical limitations. At the out break of the war a very high percentage of Junkers were killed in action.
Daily routine
Two courses of studies took place here: 1937-38 and 1938-39.Classes began each morning at 7 am and included studies in philosophy, politics and world history. Afternoons were devoted to military drills, battle tactics, sports and equestrian techniques. The school was recognized for its outstanding equestrian program. The nearby lake provided the means for students to develop rowing and sailing skills.
Hitler Youth
In 1937, the cadres began sharing the facility with members of the Hitlerjungen or Hitler YouthHitler Youth
The Hitler Youth was a paramilitary organization of the Nazi Party. It existed from 1922 to 1945. The HJ was the second oldest paramilitary Nazi group, founded one year after its adult counterpart, the Sturmabteilung...
. These boys between 12-18 years old eventually became the sole occupants of all three Order Castles with the Invasion of Poland (1939)
Invasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
and the start of World War two.
Completed Order Castles
The three NS-Ordensburgen were:- Ordensburg Krössinsee, in PomeraniaPomeraniaPomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
- Ordensburg SonthofenOrdensburg SonthofenThe Generaloberst-Beck-Kaserne are barracks of the armed forces of Germany, the Bundeswehr, in Sonthofen in Oberallgäu.- History :The estate was built in 1934 as NS-Ordensburg Sonthofen by the German Labour Front for the NSDAP.Three NS-Ordensburgen existed:*Ordensburg Krössinsee, in...
, AllgäuAllgäuThe Allgäu is a southern German region in Swabia. It covers the south of Bavarian Swabia and southeastern Baden-Württemberg. The region stretches from the prealpine lands up to the Alps... - Ordensburg VogelsangOrdensburg VogelsangOrdensburg Vogelsang is a former national socialist estate placed at the former military training area in the national park Eifel in North Rhine-Westphalia. The landmarked and completely preserved estate was used by the National Socialists between 1936 and 1939 as an educational centre for future...
, EifelEifelThe Eifel is a low mountain range in western Germany and eastern Belgium. It occupies parts of southwestern North Rhine-Westphalia, northwestern Rhineland-Palatinate and the south of the German-speaking Community of Belgium....
A fourth was planned at (the historic) Ordensburg Marienburg in West Prussia
West Prussia
West Prussia was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1773–1824 and 1878–1919/20 which was created out of the earlier Polish province of Royal Prussia...
, today Malbork Castle
Malbork Castle
The Marienburg Castle in Malbork is by area the largest castle in the world. It was built in Prussia by the Teutonic Knights, a German Roman Catholic religious order of crusaders, in a form of an Ordensburg fortress. The Order named it Marienburg...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
Facility details
Finished facilities:
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planned, but not realized facilities:
- hotel
- swimming pool
- water sports facility
Purpose Today
currently the former Ordensburg facility is used by the Polish Army's 2nd Battalion, 12th Tank Brigade.Literature
- Rolf Sawinski: Die Ordensburg Krössinsee in Pommern (Gebundene Ausgabe), Aachen 2004, ISBN 3933608775
External links
- Ordensburg Sonthofen and Krössinsee (in German)