Leitner had travelled to Reinsdorf to investigate a 1935 explosion at the nearby TNT production facility. The explosion, she wrote, occurred at an underground facility that had expanded at a breakneck pace. Whereas it had employed 2000-3000 workers in 1933, now it took on 12,000.
According to official reports, 78-90 good german workers perished in the conflagration. Hitler and Göring descended on Reinsdorf to pay respects- an archival photo shows the former extending a hand to seated grievers. Foreigners, and former socialists and communists were rounded up as suspected saboteurs.
Generous reconstruction benefits followed. That year, the first bricks were set for this simple, octagonal water tower. It rests between a clean athletic field, a cluster of homes, and the local fire house. On an early March Sunday just minutes before noon, the only suggestion of habitation is the whining of screws being driven by a power tool.
No comments:
Post a Comment