NS-Ordensburg Vogelsang

Monumental Nazi architecture. The National Socialists built the huge complex of buildings to form young people and young men into the new Nazi elite. Today you can visit exhibitions on Nazi ideology and the history of the fortress. If you walk through the huge corridors or stand in the courtyard, a shudder will come over you.

The castle is open daily from 10am to 5pm and there is also a food court.

Museum and memorial, excellently restored. It is worthwhile to schedule time here. Public tours daily at 14.00.

The NS-Ordensburg Vogelsang is a built by the National Socialists in the Eifel above the Urft dam on the mountain Erpenscheid building complex at Schleiden-Gemünd in North Rhine-Westphalia. The facility served, in contrast to the SS Junker School and the Reichsführerschule, the NSDAP between 1936 and 1939 as a training ground for the offspring of the NSDAP leadership squad. The listed part of the buildings covers a gross floor area of more than 50,000 square meters and is after the congressional buildings in Nuremberg with almost 100 acres of built-up area as the largest structural legacy of National Socialism in Germany.

After the Second World War, the complex was taken over by British forces, which set up the military training area in the surrounding area on 6354 ha. From 1950 to the end of 2005, the infrastructure was taken over by Belgian military forces, who set up a barracks there under the name "Camp Vogelsang" and used and managed these and the military training area until 2005.
Source: Wikipedia

In and around the castle Vogelsang there are different independent, but also guided sightseeing opportunities.
For example, the permanent exhibitions "Determination: Master man, NS-castles between fascination and crime" and the "National Park Eifel" are highly recommended.
Further information and opening times at: vogelsang-ip.de

The former NS-Ordensburg Vogelsang is now an international point to remember the importance of human rights and international cooperation.

This is a historical place, which also looks a little dark. But his transformation from Nazi squadrons to a military training ground that was not accessible for decades to a valuable memorial in a wonderful national park is well worth the visit.

An absolute recommendation in the Eifel. Very interesting exhibition and guided tour of the area.

Great views and beautiful paths

A great view over the grounds below overlooking the lake and its surroundings ..

Attractive plant with a fantastic view

The Ordensburg Vogelsang has been extensively restored and converted into an information center.
For me personally, it still radiates too clearly the ideology of a cruel Nazi regime. Although the view from up here is fantastic, I avoid this place if possible.
Certainly not to deny that part of inglorious German history, but because it is simply awful. When visibility is poor, only the gloomy buildings dominate and make the ideology of a despicable dictatorship clearly palpable.

- The buildings with almost 100 hectares of built-up area - after those in Nuremberg - the largest structural legacy of National Socialism in Germany.
- The building was financed by funds from expropriated trade unions and employers' associations.
- The Cologne-based architect Clemens Klotz got the planning contract -
 the name is program.
- The torchbearer at Thing-Platz (also called Solstice Square) is a 5m high, martial-muscular figure of the Aryan "master race" to be bred according to Nazi ideology.

SOURCE: Wikipedia and others

Highly recommended is a guided tour (90 min) in the Ordensburg, the tour is very informative and you can see a lot, what is otherwise hidden (officer's casino and cinema)

Vogelsang IP is the hiking center of the Eifel National Park: the well-known hiking trails Eifelsteig and Wildnis Trail run across the area and several circular routes around and over the Urftsee invite you to explore the area. The new Forum Vogelsang with visitor center houses a Nazi documentation, the National Park Center Eifel, an Eifel panorama, a conference area and a panoramic restaurant with an outdoor terrace. The two exhibitions "Purpose: Master Man | Nazi order castles between fascination and crime "and" Wildnis (t) räume "inform comprehensively and appealingly about the history, the backgrounds and goals of the former NS-Ordensburg and the Eifel National Park.

Great view over the Eifel and the Urfttalsperre.

We went through a tower tour and I highly recommend it. Our guide was able to tell a lot about the history of Vogelsang and also a few about the region itself. From the tower you have a very good view and can grasp the size of the terrain well.

Always worth a visit.

Highly recommended was the ascent to the tower as part of a tower tour

The homepage of Vogelsang IP:
vogelsang-ip.de/de

Highly recommended is a visit to the tower. You can learn a lot about the complex and have a great view

Just worth seeing, super nice view.

A poster explains very impressively the fate of the inhabitants of the village Wollseifen.

Great view of the Ruhrsee

Today Vogelsang Castle is a memorial to the madness of National Socialism. In addition to insights into the deviant ideologies of the Nazi era, there are now a number of exhibitions and events there. More information about current tours and events can be found on the homepage.

Mystic place, if you walk around like this. Really great view over the dams you have. 👍

The view gives an idea why the place was chosen for the Kaderschmiede in the National Socialism.