Stahleck Castle

Towards the end of the 1930s, the castle became a place where the National Socialists indoctrinated young people and young adults with training in Nazi ideology. High-ranking Nazi members visited the castle, including Rudolf Hess in June 1938. His visit gave the definitive impetus to the restoration of the bergfried. The former stump was to be built up to a height of 36 meters and then renamed the Rudolf Hesstoren. Because the existing foundation could not support the building, the old tower was demolished and a complete new building began in November 1938 on a smaller surface. The intervention of the Second World War put a temporary end to the work.

From 1940 to 1942, the castle was used as a lazaret by the Wehrmacht. Subsequently, a re-education camp for young people was set up in the complex. After Luxembourg students were forced to follow education and training courses from November 1940 because they had taken part in a strike, in 1942 students from Esch-sur-Alzette and Echternach were interned to serve a four-month sentence for their protests against the introduction of the service. From January 1943, the castle became a penal camp for young people who had shown insufficient loyalty to the Nazi teachings. After that, the complex became a training camp to toughen young people between the ages of 14 and 18, to instill discipline and order and to prepare them for military service.

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