Nordstern

Historie

Nordstern, often erroneously referred to as Neu Drontheim, was the Nazi plan for the creation of a new German metropolis in German-occupied Norway during World War II. It was planned to have a population of around 250,000–300,000 inhabitants.The building site of the city was located 15- southwest of the Norwegian city of Trondheim. Because of the significant strategic importance of Trondheim Fjord to the German military, it was to be constructed in conjunction with a major navy and military base that would give Germany unprecedented maritime control over the North Atlantic area, a move strongly supported by Großadmirals Erich Raeder and Karl Dönitz.Adolf Hitler stated that the city was to become "a German Singapore", and it eventually became one of his favorite architectural projects. During the war itself, the port city was already turned into a major base for German U-Boat submarines, Dora I.Strategic importanceThe conquest of Norway by the Wehrmacht presented the military leadership of the Third Reich with new opportunities for expansion. The city of Trondheim and its accompanying bay were determined to be very favorably located strategically for several reasons. Prior to the outbreak of war, the retired Vizeadmiral and naval strategist Wolfgang Wegener had already long stressed the strategic benefits that acquiring bases along the Norwegian coastline would give Germany.