Nazi Training School’s Fate Hangs in Balance as Plans Drag On

Built to train Nazi elites, this towering relic now divides a town. Will it finally confront its past—or stay frozen in limbo?

, and Administrator

2025 November 19 . 9:17 PM

1 min read

This is the picture of a museum plaque on which there is something written and also we can see some... — This is the picture of a museum plaque on which there is something written and also we can see some sculptures on it.

Nazi Training School’s Fate Hangs in Balance as Plans Drag On

A former Nazi training school in Sonthofen could soon become a documentation centre. Built in 1934, the imposing Ordensburg still looms over the town today. Plans for its future, however, remain uncertain as discussions continue. The Ordensburg was constructed as a Nazi leadership school from 1934 onwards. Its massive structure has dominated Sonthofen’s skyline ever since. For years, the site drew public interest, with thousands visiting on guided tours until renovations began in 2011. In 2018, the city council started exploring plans for a documentation centre at the location. Since then, talks about its purpose, funding, and design have carried on. Yet, despite ongoing discussions, no final decisions on construction have been made. The exact form and message of the proposed centre still remain unclear. The project remains in the planning phase, with no confirmed start date for building work. Until then, the future of the former Ordensburg—and what it will represent—stays undecided. The city continues to weigh options for the site’s next chapter.