The Colossus on Rügen (1): Pictures of Prora

 

Prora North.
After the end of World War Two, the Soviet army tried to blow up two of the northern blocks (# 7 and 8). They did not quite succeed, as you can see from this picture. Part of the block is still standing.

 

 

Prora North.
The "finger" sticking out from the main block includes the staircase.

 

Prora North.
This picture shows the western side of the block, which faces inland.

 

 

Prora North.

 

Prora North.
The "finger" with the staircase has collapsed.

 

 

This poster in front of Prora North gives a strong warning in German:

"Lebensgefahr! Betreten strengstens verboten!"

In English: "Mortal danger! No trespassing!"

 

 

Prora North

 

 

Prora North.
The "finger" with the staircase has collapsed.

 

Prora North

  

 

 Prora North.
In this picture you can see the remains of the staircase.
The outer end of the "finger" (the left side of the picture) contains bathrooms and toilets.

 

Prora South.
This picture shows the western side of the complex, which faces inland.

 

 

 Prora South.
The architectural style is quite monotonous, as you can see.

 

 

 Prora South:

This picture shows the entrance to the Prora Museum.

 

 

 Prora seen from the air.
This picture is used on the cover of the book about the complex published by the Prora Museum.

 

Inside Prora South:

The long corridor follows a north-south axis.

 

A room in Prora would have looked something like this:

two beds, a small table with a chair, and a window facing east. 

 

This poster from 1938 promotes Prora as a holiday destination.

The German text says: "Dein Urlaub 1939."

In English: "Your holiday 1939."

 

Robert Ley, 1890-1945.
As head of the German Labour Front (1933-1945) he was the driving force behind the huge holiday project on the island of Rügen. He was imprisoned in 1945 and committed suicide while awaiting trial for war crimes.

 

 

This poster from the cold war gives a strong warning in German.
In English: "Border area. This zone is off limits! No trespassing!"

 

Prora South:

This picture shows eastern side of the blocks, which faces the beach.

 

Prora South:

The eastern side of the blocks facing the beach.

 

Prora South:

The eastern side of the blocks facing the beach.

 

Today the beach is covered with tall trees.

 

The beach in front of Prora.
The short pier marks the spot where the German authorities
planned to build a pier long enough to accommodate cruise ships.

The work was interrupted by the outbreak of war and never completed.

 

 

Prora South

 

* * *

 

Go to the next installment:

 

The Colossus on Rügen (2): A book about Prora

 

* * *