Print

    Nazi Legacies: Eagle's Nest and the Warsaw Uprising

    Nazi Legacies: Eagle Nest and the Warsaw Uprising

    Written by: Dr. Dushka H. Saiyid
    Posted on: August 31, 2016 | | 中文

    (l-r) Francisco Franco, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini

    Only 21 years had elapsed since the end of the 1st World War, when the German invasion of Poland led to the outbreak of the 2nd World War on 1st of September 1939. It was the deadliest conflict in the history of mankind with 80 million dead, culminating in the use of the nuclear bomb and its attendant horrors. These wars brought an end to the European domination of the world that had begun in the late 15th century with the discovery of sea routes, the concomitant increase of trade, and the eventual spread of colonialism to Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

    European subjugation of the “natives” was underpinned by an ideology of racism evident in the colonies, and used to justify slavery. Kipling’s poem, “The White Man’s Burden” is an ironic justification of colonialism. Racism was not just practiced overseas in far off lands, it was endemic to European society, manifest in the treatment of the only significant ethnic minority in their midst, the Jews: kept in ghettoes, not given the rights of citizens, discriminated against and intermittently made victims of pogroms.

    A recent trip to Warsaw and to Hitler’s retreat, the Eagle’s Nest, were a reminder of the dark forces unleashed by Nazism. The rationalism of the Enlightenment pushed these tendencies into the background, but they surfaced under Hitler with a cold ferocity as millions of Jews were sent to gas chambers under a premeditated scheme. The Nazi ideology, based on racism, met with little resistance from appeasers, and found collaborators in Vichy France as well as amongst the Fascists of Italy and Spain.

    Nazi Legacies: Eagles Nest and the Warsaw Uprising

    Historic pictures of Eagle's Nest

    It was a half-day’s tour from Salzburg to the Eagle’s Nest, Hitler’s retreat in the Bavarian Alps with beautiful vistas of the countryside. The Eagle's Nest is perched above the town of Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps at a height of over 1600 feet. Martin Bormann, Hitler’s powerful personal secretary, commissioned the construction of the retreat as a 50th birthday gift for Hitler from the Nazi party. It is a marvel of German ingenuity and engineering: three thousand men worked on the project round the clock, and it took 13 months to complete, but not before twelve had died during its construction.

    Nazi Legacies: Eagles Nest and the Warsaw Uprising

    Mantelpiece of Italian marble that was presented by Mussolini to Hitler

    The road going up the hill is narrow and only one-way traffic operates on it. A short walk through a well-lit tunnel takes you to the original brass and Venetian glass elevator that zooms up the visitor 131m to the Eagles Nest. Hitler's retreat is well preserved with a historic fireplace gifted by Mussolini (Italian marble), original windows and beams in the main conference room, as well as in the adjacent wood paneled tearoom, where Eva Braun socialized. Hitler took a number of major decisions here, and visited the place seventeen times, but not for overnight stay. Tourists wander around this rather simple retreat with panoramic views, where the Nazi leadership once plotted world conquest.

    Nazi Legacies: Eagles Nest and the Warsaw Uprising

    The room where Hitler held his meetings, now a cafeteria

    Hitler had expressed the need for lebensraum, or living space, in the areas inhabited by Slavs as far back as 1925 in his autobiography, Mein Kampf. The Slavic territories were to be the source of raw material and food for the superior Aryan Germanic race, thus preventing food shortages that Germany had experienced during World War I.

    The rising against German occupation of Poland began on August 1, 1944, when the Germans were retreating from the eastern front, and the Russians had reached the outskirts of the city. In a typical Stalinist move, the Soviet army held back and did not cross the river Vistula, allowing the Germans to regroup and destroy the Polish resistance that fought for 63 heroic days, without suitable equipment to counter the well-armed Germans.

    Nazi Legacies: Eagles Nest and the Warsaw Uprising

    A museum dedicated to the Warsaw Uprising was opened in 2004. Considered one of the best museums of Warsaw, it is interactive with old photographs, videos, posters, uniforms and some equipment, and a replica of an old B24 bomber suspended in one of the large halls. A portrait of Father Jozef Stanek or “Rudy” stares back at you; the young man was hanged by the Germans for participating in the resistance, as the Nazis had also targeted the Catholic Church in Poland. The resistance was so widespread and popular that even children played a role in it, carrying messages, mail and helping fight fires. The Little Insurgent Monument has been put up in Old Warsaw in recognition of their contribution. Brave attempt has been made to reconstruct the old town of Warsaw, which was destroyed during the struggle.

    Nazi Legacies: Eagles Nest and the Warsaw Uprising

    Father Jozef Stanek (L), The Little Insurgent Monument in Old Warsaw (R)

    As Islamophobia sweeps through Europe and the USA, with the French reactions particularly reprehensible, and Donald Trump the Republican nominee for the Presidency, the deeply entrenched racism in the Western Civilisation is once again rearing its ugly head.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021