The Prora resort on the coast of Germany’s Rügen Island prides itself on being the longest building complex in the world at 4.5 kilometers. Apart from that, however, the structure has little to be proud of. Built by the Nazis as a holiday resort, its goal was to connect the working class to the Nazi party and ideology – and gain its loyalty – through mass tourism and cultural events. The complex was only later completed and used by the Socialist East German government as a military training site where members of foreign armies and terror organizations also trained.
The site is a scar, a colossal memento from the darkest chapters of German history. While many wish it would be razed to the ground, some see it as an indelible part of German identity and history that must not be forgotten. The film revolves around this debate as it is presented by historians, architects, and others. Prora is currently being redeveloped as a complex with a youth hostel, condominiums, and hotels – but can that redeem it from its gruesome past?