Paul Smit  Mick Palarczyk | Features, Photos and TextTwo faces, one philosophy |
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![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSEN 39]
'Völkerschlachtdenkmal near Leipzig.'
Everything looks heavy, the atmosphere is dark and the interior seems to be imported straight from the computer game Doom: the Völkerschlachtdenkmal. It seems as if the granite giants can wake up from their slumber any moment and crush you under their weight. It was built in 1913 as a monument for peace and commemorates the tens of thousands of deceased soldiers that fell one hundred years earlier in an enormous battle against Napoleon.
In reality nothing refers to peace, and everything to megalomanic, brainless Teutonhood. Maybe not so strange, being constructed only one year before the First World War. It shows clearly with which philosophy the country would thrust itself into war. Its Wagnerian, mythical Germanian kitsch makes clear that Germany was in fact ready for Nazism in 1913, ten years before its actual conception. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/139248169_LNQYc-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSEN 39]
'Völkerschlachtdenkmal near Leipzig.'
Everything looks heavy, the atmosphere is dark and the interior seems to be imported straight from the computer game Doom: the Völkerschlachtdenkmal. It seems as if the granite giants can wake up from their slumber any moment and crush you under their weight. It was built in 1913 as a monument for peace and commemorates the tens of thousands of deceased soldiers that fell one hundred years earlier in an enormous battle against Napoleon.
In reality nothing refers to peace, and everything to megalomanic, brainless Teutonhood. Maybe not so strange, being constructed only one year before the First World War. It shows clearly with which philosophy the country would thrust itself into war. Its Wagnerian, mythical Germanian kitsch makes clear that Germany was in fact ready for Nazism in 1913, ten years before its actual conception. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.THUERINGEN 34]
'Wartburg, Eisenach.'
After Luther had been banned following his 95 theses against the catholic church, he was abducted. It was a clever move by Friedrich der Weise (Frederick the Wise) - Luther's protector - to have him kidnapped and then hidden in his own castle, disguised as Junker Jörg. Now everyone thought him to be dead.
Luther's stay in the Wartburg has been of great significance for Germany. On Friedrich's advice (who remained catholic himself) Luther set himself to the enormous task of translating the Bible into ordinary German. It helped keep depression at bay during the months he was isolated in his little room high in the castle (photo). The result wasn't just beneficial to the Reformation, but to the German language as well. Luther had listened to the man in the street to make sure that God's word would be understood. And in doing so he laid the foundation for the modern German language.
Hundreds of tourists a day are being led around the Wartburg and get to see Luther's little room. As the story goes Luther once saw the devil, and in his fear threw the inkpot to its head. Unfortunately the resulting ink spot has disappeared, as too many fingers have touched it. In the course of the centuries Luther's desk disappeared as well, taken home by pilgrims, splinter by splinter, as a souvenir. The desk you see here was taken from the furniture at his parents' home. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/139248097_BH7Dc-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.THUERINGEN 34]
'Wartburg, Eisenach.'
After Luther had been banned following his 95 theses against the catholic church, he was abducted. It was a clever move by Friedrich der Weise (Frederick the Wise) - Luther's protector - to have him kidnapped and then hidden in his own castle, disguised as Junker Jörg. Now everyone thought him to be dead.
Luther's stay in the Wartburg has been of great significance for Germany. On Friedrich's advice (who remained catholic himself) Luther set himself to the enormous task of translating the Bible into ordinary German. It helped keep depression at bay during the months he was isolated in his little room high in the castle (photo). The result wasn't just beneficial to the Reformation, but to the German language as well. Luther had listened to the man in the street to make sure that God's word would be understood. And in doing so he laid the foundation for the modern German language.
Hundreds of tourists a day are being led around the Wartburg and get to see Luther's little room. As the story goes Luther once saw the devil, and in his fear threw the inkpot to its head. Unfortunately the resulting ink spot has disappeared, as too many fingers have touched it. In the course of the centuries Luther's desk disappeared as well, taken home by pilgrims, splinter by splinter, as a souvenir. The desk you see here was taken from the furniture at his parents' home. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.THUERINGEN 33]
'Wartburg, Eisenach.'
After Luther had been banned following his 95 theses against the catholic church, he was abducted. It was a clever move by Friedrich der Weise (Frederick the Wise) - Luther's protector - to have him kidnapped and then hidden in his own castle, disguised as Junker Jörg. Now everyone thought him to be dead.
Luther's stay in the Wartburg has been of great significance for Germany. On Friedrich's advice (who remained catholic himself) Luther set himself to the enormous task of translating the Bible into ordinary German. It helped keep away depression during the months he was isolated in his little room high in the castle. The result wasn't just beneficial to the Reformation, but to the German language as well. Luther had listened to the man in the street to make sure that God's word would be understood. And in doing so he laid the foundation for the modern German language. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/139248085_AFGiM-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.THUERINGEN 33]
'Wartburg, Eisenach.'
After Luther had been banned following his 95 theses against the catholic church, he was abducted. It was a clever move by Friedrich der Weise (Frederick the Wise) - Luther's protector - to have him kidnapped and then hidden in his own castle, disguised as Junker Jörg. Now everyone thought him to be dead.
Luther's stay in the Wartburg has been of great significance for Germany. On Friedrich's advice (who remained catholic himself) Luther set himself to the enormous task of translating the Bible into ordinary German. It helped keep away depression during the months he was isolated in his little room high in the castle. The result wasn't just beneficial to the Reformation, but to the German language as well. Luther had listened to the man in the street to make sure that God's word would be understood. And in doing so he laid the foundation for the modern German language. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSENANHALT 21]
'Ottonic abbeychurch in its stronghold, Quedlinburg.'
Maybe the most beautiful town of Germany: Quedlinburg. In 1994 UNESCO rightly took the complete town center under protection, thus creating the largest world hertitage site of the Germany.
Over a thousand years earlier Finkenherd, now a pittoresque square at the foot of the fortified hill, was an open space in the wood. Heinrich, duke of Saxonia, had left his governmental tasks and went catching finches. The birds had to shine at the singing birds contests he used to participate in, which have continued to exist up until today. Suddenly a group of richly dressed horsemen came forward from the woods and fell on their knees for the amazed Heinrich. They were counts, dukes and nobleman, honouring him as their emperor.
Thus Heinrich der Vogler (Henry the Birdman) became the first emperor of the first Ottonic dynasty, named after his son Otto. Heinrich established his first Paltz, Quiltenburg, on the isolated mound in the forest, immediately behind Finkenherd. Around this hill, which not only holds the fortification but also a beautiful Ottonic abbey church (photos), grew the city of Quedlinburg. Her medieval centre is that big Id advise not to take a townplan. Lose your way and let yourself be surprisedLose your way and let yourself be surprised by the coblestone alleys, the timber framed houses and the medieval squares and churches. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/139247922_mfbdZ-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSENANHALT 21]
'Ottonic abbeychurch in its stronghold, Quedlinburg.'
Maybe the most beautiful town of Germany: Quedlinburg. In 1994 UNESCO rightly took the complete town center under protection, thus creating the largest world hertitage site of the Germany.
Over a thousand years earlier Finkenherd, now a pittoresque square at the foot of the fortified hill, was an open space in the wood. Heinrich, duke of Saxonia, had left his governmental tasks and went catching finches. The birds had to shine at the singing birds contests he used to participate in, which have continued to exist up until today. Suddenly a group of richly dressed horsemen came forward from the woods and fell on their knees for the amazed Heinrich. They were counts, dukes and nobleman, honouring him as their emperor.
Thus Heinrich der Vogler (Henry the Birdman) became the first emperor of the first Ottonic dynasty, named after his son Otto. Heinrich established his first Paltz, Quiltenburg, on the isolated mound in the forest, immediately behind Finkenherd. Around this hill, which not only holds the fortification but also a beautiful Ottonic abbey church (photos), grew the city of Quedlinburg. Her medieval centre is that big Id advise not to take a townplan. Lose your way and let yourself be surprisedLose your way and let yourself be surprised by the coblestone alleys, the timber framed houses and the medieval squares and churches. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BAYERN 00643]
'Cathedral of St. Stephan in Passau.'
Passau is the last German town along the Danube before the Austrian border and maybe the prettiest. Here the Inn (photo) flows into the Danube and the Ilz as well. You never need to search a long time to find a river front promenade. The Inn is green and the Ilz brown, so whatever people sing about the Danube, this never adds up to blue. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/138805883_S65Ko-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BAYERN 00643]
'Cathedral of St. Stephan in Passau.'
Passau is the last German town along the Danube before the Austrian border and maybe the prettiest. Here the Inn (photo) flows into the Danube and the Ilz as well. You never need to search a long time to find a river front promenade. The Inn is green and the Ilz brown, so whatever people sing about the Danube, this never adds up to blue. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.MECKLENBURG 9449]
Limestone cliffs of Jasmund national park, Rügen.
The famous limestone cliffs of Jasmund national park on the island of Rügen, seen in the pinkish winter light of sunset. The picture is taken from the Ernst-Moritz-Arndt viewpoint, called after an artist from the romantic period, who is known for his painting of this spot. Rügen was a favourite destination of German Romantics in those days. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/98497533_MWkrY-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.MECKLENBURG 9449]
Limestone cliffs of Jasmund national park, Rügen.
The famous limestone cliffs of Jasmund national park on the island of Rügen, seen in the pinkish winter light of sunset. The picture is taken from the Ernst-Moritz-Arndt viewpoint, called after an artist from the romantic period, who is known for his painting of this spot. Rügen was a favourite destination of German Romantics in those days. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.MECKLENBURG 9448]
Limestone cliffs of Jasmund national park, Rügen.
The famous limestone cliffs of Jasmund national park on the island of Rügen, seen in the pinkish winter light of sunset. The picture is taken from the Ernst-Moritz-Arndt viewpoint, called after an artist from the romantic period, who is known for his painting of this spot. Rügen was a favourite destination of German Romantics in those days. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/98497514_B5rQF-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.MECKLENBURG 9448]
Limestone cliffs of Jasmund national park, Rügen.
The famous limestone cliffs of Jasmund national park on the island of Rügen, seen in the pinkish winter light of sunset. The picture is taken from the Ernst-Moritz-Arndt viewpoint, called after an artist from the romantic period, who is known for his painting of this spot. Rügen was a favourite destination of German Romantics in those days. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.MECKLENBURG 9445]
Limestone cliffs of Jasmund national park, Rügen.
The Jasmund national park on Rügen preserves beech forests that reach to the edge of the limestone cliffs for which the island is famous. The sea hammers the cliffs during bad weather and pushes them back bit by bit, so now and then a tree is coming down. The beach is made up of flintstones, that come out of the cliffs. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/98497385_q7BjL-Ti-1.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.MECKLENBURG 9445]
Limestone cliffs of Jasmund national park, Rügen.
The Jasmund national park on Rügen preserves beech forests that reach to the edge of the limestone cliffs for which the island is famous. The sea hammers the cliffs during bad weather and pushes them back bit by bit, so now and then a tree is coming down. The beach is made up of flintstones, that come out of the cliffs. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BAYERN 00653]
'St. Pauls church and cathedral in Passau.'
Passau is the last German city before the Austrian border and maybe the prettiest. Here the Inn flows into the Danube and the Ilz as well. You never need to search a long time to find a river front promenade. The Inn is green and the Ilz brown, so whatever people sing about the Danube, this never adds up to blue. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/50100546_ByWQd-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BAYERN 00653]
'St. Pauls church and cathedral in Passau.'
Passau is the last German city before the Austrian border and maybe the prettiest. Here the Inn flows into the Danube and the Ilz as well. You never need to search a long time to find a river front promenade. The Inn is green and the Ilz brown, so whatever people sing about the Danube, this never adds up to blue. Photo Paul Smit.")
[GERMANY.SACHSEN 39]
'Völkerschlachtdenkmal near Leipzig.'
Everything looks heavy, the atmosphere is dark and the interior seems to be imported straight from the computer game Doom: the Völkerschlachtdenkmal. It seems as if the granite giants can wake up from their slumber any moment and crush you under their weight. It was built in 1913 as a monument for peace and commemorates the tens of thousands of deceased soldiers that fell one hundred years earlier in an enormous battle against Napoleon.
In reality nothing refers to peace, and everything to megalomanic, brainless Teutonhood. Maybe not so strange, being constructed only one year before the First World War. It shows clearly with which philosophy the country would thrust itself into war. Its Wagnerian, mythical Germanian kitsch makes clear that Germany was in fact ready for Nazism in 1913, ten years before its actual conception. Photo Paul Smit.
'Völkerschlachtdenkmal near Leipzig.'
Everything looks heavy, the atmosphere is dark and the interior seems to be imported straight from the computer game Doom: the Völkerschlachtdenkmal. It seems as if the granite giants can wake up from their slumber any moment and crush you under their weight. It was built in 1913 as a monument for peace and commemorates the tens of thousands of deceased soldiers that fell one hundred years earlier in an enormous battle against Napoleon.
In reality nothing refers to peace, and everything to megalomanic, brainless Teutonhood. Maybe not so strange, being constructed only one year before the First World War. It shows clearly with which philosophy the country would thrust itself into war. Its Wagnerian, mythical Germanian kitsch makes clear that Germany was in fact ready for Nazism in 1913, ten years before its actual conception. Photo Paul Smit.
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSEN 39]
'Völkerschlachtdenkmal near Leipzig.'
Everything looks heavy, the atmosphere is dark and the interior seems to be imported straight from the computer game Doom: the Völkerschlachtdenkmal. It seems as if the granite giants can wake up from their slumber any moment and crush you under their weight. It was built in 1913 as a monument for peace and commemorates the tens of thousands of deceased soldiers that fell one hundred years earlier in an enormous battle against Napoleon.
In reality nothing refers to peace, and everything to megalomanic, brainless Teutonhood. Maybe not so strange, being constructed only one year before the First World War. It shows clearly with which philosophy the country would thrust itself into war. Its Wagnerian, mythical Germanian kitsch makes clear that Germany was in fact ready for Nazism in 1913, ten years before its actual conception. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/139248169_LNQYc-S.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSEN 39]
'Völkerschlachtdenkmal near Leipzig.'
Everything looks heavy, the atmosphere is dark and the interior seems to be imported straight from the computer game Doom: the Völkerschlachtdenkmal. It seems as if the granite giants can wake up from their slumber any moment and crush you under their weight. It was built in 1913 as a monument for peace and commemorates the tens of thousands of deceased soldiers that fell one hundred years earlier in an enormous battle against Napoleon.
In reality nothing refers to peace, and everything to megalomanic, brainless Teutonhood. Maybe not so strange, being constructed only one year before the First World War. It shows clearly with which philosophy the country would thrust itself into war. Its Wagnerian, mythical Germanian kitsch makes clear that Germany was in fact ready for Nazism in 1913, ten years before its actual conception. Photo Paul Smit.")
[GERMANY.SACHSEN 39]
'Völkerschlachtdenkmal near Leipzig.'
Everything looks heavy, the atmosphere is dark and the interior seems to be imported straight from the computer game Doom: the Völkerschlachtdenkmal. It seems as if the granite giants can wake up from their slumber any moment and crush you under their weight. It was built in 1913 as a monument for peace and commemorates the tens of thousands of deceased soldiers that fell one hundred years earlier in an enormous battle against Napoleon.
In reality nothing refers to peace, and everything to megalomanic, brainless Teutonhood. Maybe not so strange, being constructed only one year before the First World War. It shows clearly with which philosophy the country would thrust itself into war. Its Wagnerian, mythical Germanian kitsch makes clear that Germany was in fact ready for Nazism in 1913, ten years before its actual conception. Photo Paul Smit.
'Völkerschlachtdenkmal near Leipzig.'
Everything looks heavy, the atmosphere is dark and the interior seems to be imported straight from the computer game Doom: the Völkerschlachtdenkmal. It seems as if the granite giants can wake up from their slumber any moment and crush you under their weight. It was built in 1913 as a monument for peace and commemorates the tens of thousands of deceased soldiers that fell one hundred years earlier in an enormous battle against Napoleon.
In reality nothing refers to peace, and everything to megalomanic, brainless Teutonhood. Maybe not so strange, being constructed only one year before the First World War. It shows clearly with which philosophy the country would thrust itself into war. Its Wagnerian, mythical Germanian kitsch makes clear that Germany was in fact ready for Nazism in 1913, ten years before its actual conception. Photo Paul Smit.
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