Südkaserne (South Barracks), Nuremberg

South Barracks is a large former military complex on the southern edge of Nuremberg’s former Nazi Party Rally Grounds. Built between 1937 and 1939, the austere red-brick-and-stone complex was designed under the direction of Heinrich Himmler for the Protection Squadron. Officially described as an accommodation facility rather than barracks, it housed the Protection Squadron Signals School during the Second World War and was regarded as one of the most important barracks complexes in the Third Reich.

The main building contained around 1,000 rooms, with a monumental entrance decorated with a large eagle. Mosaics adorned parts of the interior, including swastika designs in the former ballroom. The complex also included a kitchen, casino, garages, and horse stables, illustrating the extensive infrastructure required to support the Nazi regime and its organizations.

For tourists, the building is particularly interesting because its austere architecture contrasts with the monumental Congress Hall, Zeppelin Field, and Great Road nearby. Together, these sites reveal how extensively the Nazis reshaped Nuremberg for political spectacle and mass mobilization.

In 1945, the US Army occupied the complex and renamed it Merrell Barracks. Today, different sections have civilian uses, including government and customs offices, while the Z-Building has become a cultural centre hosting concerts and other events. The surviving complex is best understood as part of Nuremberg’s broader landscape of remembrance, offering a tangible reminder of the scale and organization behind the Nazi regime.