Setting the Scene

The 1929 Wall Street Crash at the end of October was an important catalyst for the Nazi Party's rise to power.

A newspaper headline of the time (the period from the 24th to the 29th October showed a 36% drop in share prices)

It transformed them from a fringe group with only 12 seats in 1928, 102 seats in 1930 to the largest party in Germany with 230 seats by 1932.
The economic collapse destroyed what stability was left of the Weimar Republic and created a desperate population who were open to the "quick and simple" solutions being offered by the Nazis......"Bread & Work".

Following his rise to power, Hitler decided to build a gigantic stage on the outskirts of Nuremberg for all future rallies.

Prior to 1933 the rallies had used existing areas that required little or no modification.

The National Socialists knew that the creation of an area dedicated solely to ceremony had precendents in world history and their main architect, Albert Speer, was greatly influenced by the buildings shown below.

The Ancient Egyptian temple at Karnak (earlier constructions were expanded but the temple was basically complete by 20BC)

The Panathenaic Stadium in Athens. Originally built in limestone for the Panathenaic Games but was rebuilt by the Romans (c. 144 AD) using marble
The new capacity was roughly 50,000

The Circus Maximus, initially built in Rome by the Tarquins around 500BC eventually with a capacity of 250,000 spectators

The Pergamon Altar was built by the Greeks in the first half of the 2nd century BC in Asia Minor (today, Turkey)

The Nazis quickly invented a cult of rituals, symbols and myths designed to mimic the emotional and spiritual intensity of traditional religion while refocusing it entirely on the State and the Führer.
To assist in this political religion, they provided a ceremonial background through a gigantic crash programme of construction which started in time for the 1933 Rally.