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Somehow, here I immediately thought "Cologne"...
American troops storm the south bank of the Pasig River during the American assault on the Walled City on February 23, 1945 during the Battle of Manila National Archives and Records AdministrationQuote:
Originally Posted by Ovidio
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This aerial view shows the destruction of the German city of Cologne caused by Allied air warfare against Nazi Germany during World War II. The Cologne Cathedral, which suffered blast and shell damast Nazi Germany during World War II. The Cologne Cathedral, which suffered blast and shell damage, stands erect on the west bank of the Rhine river on March 12, 1945. At right, half submerged in the waters of the Rhine is the Hohenzollern Bridge.ge, stands erect on the west bank of the Rhine river on March 12, 1945. At right, half submerged in the waters of the Rhine is the Hohenzollern Bridge.
I've been there...and they had to do lots of repairs to that cathedral with red brick and concrete. Lots of bullet pockmarks left and damage left to remind them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Rochester
Yep, but it still was a miracle that it was not directly hit by any bombardments.
The damages were pretty marginal, considering the devastation all around the area.
I've been hundreds of times there since 1986, when we visited the city with the school.
One of my favourite German cities, together with Hamburg and Bremen.
I was told at one time it had been used a a nav point so it had been spared but when you look at the surrounding area, it just didn't take a direct hit. One side was almost entirely red brick though with a few parts inserted. It sure came close.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ovidio
Yep, but it still was a miracle that it was not directly hit by any bombardments.
The damages were pretty marginal, considering the devastation all around the area.
Not sure I would call it marginal
Destroyed building of Cologne Cathedral after Allied bombing in Cologne, Germany. HD Stock Footage - YouTube
No I guess not but the rest of the city by comparison... I walked around inside and you'd never know. I only saw one bullet mark inside on the marble beside a burial so went out that door and saw the little figures you saw sitting on the street. Some were shot away and others were fine. Then exploring the other end I see the brickwork. Inside was nice though. Looking at pics online there doesn't appear to be anything of what I saw remaining. Maybe they restored everything.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Rochester
Monti Cassino before and after
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Yes...my dad was there and other friends that told me they stood there and watched the US bombers do their first strikes. Canadians sat there for one year on that front. I haven't had the chance to go yet.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Rochester
Considering what had happened all around it, the cathedral was really spared.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Rochester
The restauration was also another great job.
If I remember right, the only thing which was not restored 100% like originally are the windows.
But I might be wrong here.
Was sort of my point. I guess I better dig out my pics today and try to show you guys what I'm talking about. I'll have to take pictures of pictures. It looks like restoration carried on and they redid the brick parts the the little figures of the saints that showed damage in 1980.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ovidio
I had a 1 day stopover in Koln on the way back from the Golan Heights and took advantage of the opportunity to walk around the city. A friendly German citizen snapped this picture of me standing on the bank of the Rhine next to the Hozenhollern bridge with the cathedral in the background. Years later the local library is getting rid of books that aren't getting read so I picked up several, one of them being "Under the Bombs" by Earl Beck which chronicles the difficulty of life for the average German citizen during the war. Interestingly, there is a picture of the bridge after it was dropped into the river from the same viewpoint as my picture.
Can only upload one pic at a time.
Last picture
Nice! I’ve been there so often…
I really like Köln. And Kölsch;)
OK, pictures of pictures. There was no digital in 1980 so...here's the damage from gunfire and the old cathedral itself but no shot of the red brick wall. You can see the door arch and the little guys all shot to crap. A bullet went through that door and struck the base of the alter, was still a nice deep pock. That drew my attention, was on leave from UN duty in Nicosia. I'd seen lots of bullet marks. I guess after all the other, this was not much to worry about. Looks like it's all repaired now though.
You made me laugh at 5:52 in the morning.Quote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
Bob
The city started off as Colonia Agrippina, which was the provincial capital of Germania Inferior and a major Roman military base until the Franks move in after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. when I was stationed in Europe I made it a point to visit Roman points of interest as Roman military history is one of my hobbies.