Adolf Hitler's plans for a "New World Order" included an ambitious rebuilding of Europe. Linz, the city where Hitler grew up, had a special place in these plans: Linz was to become "Kulturhauptstadt" of Europe - the cultural capital of the new Europe under German hegemony.

The architects Speer, Giesler and Fick all worked on elements of the plans for Linz, which included museums, theatres, libraries, various party buildings, bridges and an opera house. A large, detailed model of the new city was built by Giesler.

Hitler's war prevented more than a few of his plans for a New Europe from being completed, and most did not survive the destruction of Hitler's Germany in 1945. An exception is the Nibelungen Bridge in Linz.