| Münster, Neumünster, Neuss, Neustrelitz, Neuwied, Nürnberg, Nordhausen, Offenburg, Ohrdruf |
| Münster |
Between September, 1944 and March, 1945 there were 50 more air raids directed
at the cathedral city, of which the last and most devastating was on March 25,
1945 toward the end of the war. 112 heavy bombers dropped over 1,800 high
impact bombs and 150,000 incendiary bombs. The fabulous cathedral sustained
direct hits on the western porch and the nave, and was filled with unexploded
bombs, leaving the nave and towers roofless. The Prior responsible for the church
treasures was dead. On the evening of April 2, 1945, the Allies took the town
anyway. Up to this time there were 1,128 air alarms and 112 air raids in
altogether. The bombs amounted to altogether 32,000 high- explosives, 642,000
staff incendiaries and 8,100 phosphorus (napalm) bombs. With the numerous
attacks more than 1,600 humans died. Of 33,737 dwellings once in the city, only
1,050 remained intact, and more than 60% were mostly or completely
destroyed.The infrastructure broke down completely
at the cathedral city, of which the last and most devastating was on March 25,
1945 toward the end of the war. 112 heavy bombers dropped over 1,800 high
impact bombs and 150,000 incendiary bombs. The fabulous cathedral sustained
direct hits on the western porch and the nave, and was filled with unexploded
bombs, leaving the nave and towers roofless. The Prior responsible for the church
treasures was dead. On the evening of April 2, 1945, the Allies took the town
anyway. Up to this time there were 1,128 air alarms and 112 air raids in
altogether. The bombs amounted to altogether 32,000 high- explosives, 642,000
staff incendiaries and 8,100 phosphorus (napalm) bombs. With the numerous
attacks more than 1,600 humans died. Of 33,737 dwellings once in the city, only
1,050 remained intact, and more than 60% were mostly or completely
destroyed.The infrastructure broke down completely
2.5 million cubic feet of debris and rubble stood in place of hundreds of years of history. Burned out
towers of the medieval churches jutted up in the ruined city, the 14th to 18th century buildings all
gone The piled up rubble caused a flood disaster by February of 1946. These gigantic heaps of
rubble had to be removed for traffic to flow again. Young kids, women and old people had to do this
all over Germany because the men were either dead, missing or prisoners.
towers of the medieval churches jutted up in the ruined city, the 14th to 18th century buildings all
gone The piled up rubble caused a flood disaster by February of 1946. These gigantic heaps of
rubble had to be removed for traffic to flow again. Young kids, women and old people had to do this
all over Germany because the men were either dead, missing or prisoners.
The ancient city center of Münster was almost obliterated and 91% destroyed by allied bombing by
both British and Americans, with the loss of nearly all historical buildings. With the first air raid on
May 16,1940, an industrial camp was destroyed. By December 23, further attacks followed. In the
nights between July 6th and 10th, 1941, the first surface bombardments came. After a large-scale
night attack on June 12, 1943, in which the target was the Cathedral entry, and in a daylight raid on
October 10, 1943, large parts of the city center were destroyed or heavily damage.
both British and Americans, with the loss of nearly all historical buildings. With the first air raid on
May 16,1940, an industrial camp was destroyed. By December 23, further attacks followed. In the
nights between July 6th and 10th, 1941, the first surface bombardments came. After a large-scale
night attack on June 12, 1943, in which the target was the Cathedral entry, and in a daylight raid on
October 10, 1943, large parts of the city center were destroyed or heavily damage.
Substantial parts of the water pipe lines were destroyed as well as electricity and gas supply. Roads
were not any longer passable. 24 schools as well as a majority of the hospitals were destroyed, so
that only 400 beds remained to treat the wounded.
were not any longer passable. 24 schools as well as a majority of the hospitals were destroyed, so
that only 400 beds remained to treat the wounded.
| Neuss |
The city erected the first fortifications for defence at the beginning of the 12th century, when Neuss
was chartered as a city. It belonged to the archbishopric of Cologne until the French Revolutionary
Wars. In 1474–75, Charles the Bold of Burgundy, supporting the archbishop in a quarrel with the
chapter of Neuss, unsuccessfully besieged the city for a year.
was chartered as a city. It belonged to the archbishopric of Cologne until the French Revolutionary
Wars. In 1474–75, Charles the Bold of Burgundy, supporting the archbishop in a quarrel with the
chapter of Neuss, unsuccessfully besieged the city for a year.
Neuss on the Rhine was one of the oldest towns in Germany. Under Roman Emperor Augustus, the
Romans established a huge military camp called Novaesium around 16 B.C south of Neuss, and
shortly afterwards a civil settlement was founded at the site. It soon became a flourishing trade center.
Romans established a huge military camp called Novaesium around 16 B.C south of Neuss, and
shortly afterwards a civil settlement was founded at the site. It soon became a flourishing trade center.
Between 1940 and 1945, Allied bombers flew 136 air raids on ancient,
medieval Neuss because of its proximity to Düsseldorf, and in ten large scale
attacks dropped approximately 12,000 high-explosive bombs,130 aerial
mines,102,500 staff incendiary bombs, 6,300 phosphorus bombs and 70
phosphorus canisters, destroying the hospital, schools, churches and
transforming the ancient city into rubble and killing 900 civilians. On New
Years Eve of 1945, they destroyed the medieval center. Only 189 dwellings
were still intact out of 7,100 by the end of war.
medieval Neuss because of its proximity to Düsseldorf, and in ten large scale
attacks dropped approximately 12,000 high-explosive bombs,130 aerial
mines,102,500 staff incendiary bombs, 6,300 phosphorus bombs and 70
phosphorus canisters, destroying the hospital, schools, churches and
transforming the ancient city into rubble and killing 900 civilians. On New
Years Eve of 1945, they destroyed the medieval center. Only 189 dwellings
were still intact out of 7,100 by the end of war.
| Neuwied |
The oldest proof of human settlement in the area of today's Neuwied is an ice-age hunting
encampment, and since Celtic and Roman time the area was permanently settled. It is on the right
bank of the Rhine river near the mouth of the Wied stream. Neuwied was mentioned in documents
from the 8th century, and was the home of the Wied counts from before 1129. It obtained municipal
rights in 1653 from Ferdinand III.
encampment, and since Celtic and Roman time the area was permanently settled. It is on the right
bank of the Rhine river near the mouth of the Wied stream. Neuwied was mentioned in documents
from the 8th century, and was the home of the Wied counts from before 1129. It obtained municipal
rights in 1653 from Ferdinand III.
Neuwied was a fifth, or almost 20%, destroyed by Allied bombing.
| Nordhausen |
Nordhausen is a 1080 years old Saxon German town at the southern edge of the Harz mountains
in Thuringia. Emperor Friedrich II declared Nordhausen an Imperial City on July 27,1220.
On August 24, 1944, 11 B-17 Flying Fortresses of Mission 568 bombed the airfield at Nordhausen
as a "target of opportunity". The British repeatedly struck Nordhausen, murdering around 8,800
civilians. On April 3 and 4, 1945 three-quarters of the town was destroyed by more bombing raids.
The labor camp nearby was bombed purportedly because it was "mistaken for a German munitions
depot" by the US. This bombing killed thousands of inmates which were later erroneously reported
as being killed by Germans. 20% of Nordhausen's civilian population was killed by Allied bombing
before the US Army gave it to the communists.
in Thuringia. Emperor Friedrich II declared Nordhausen an Imperial City on July 27,1220.
On August 24, 1944, 11 B-17 Flying Fortresses of Mission 568 bombed the airfield at Nordhausen
as a "target of opportunity". The British repeatedly struck Nordhausen, murdering around 8,800
civilians. On April 3 and 4, 1945 three-quarters of the town was destroyed by more bombing raids.
The labor camp nearby was bombed purportedly because it was "mistaken for a German munitions
depot" by the US. This bombing killed thousands of inmates which were later erroneously reported
as being killed by Germans. 20% of Nordhausen's civilian population was killed by Allied bombing
before the US Army gave it to the communists.
| Ohrdruf |
J. S. Bach was orphaned, and from the ages of 10 to 15
he went to live with his eldest brother, Johann Christoph
Bach, who was the organist at the Michaeliskirche in the
Thuringian town of Ohrdruf. It contained an historic
three-manual Austrian baroque organ in a historic, and it
was here that Bach learned about organ construction.
It was destroyed along with other treasures by Allied
bombing in 1945 and only a tower fragment remains
he went to live with his eldest brother, Johann Christoph
Bach, who was the organist at the Michaeliskirche in the
Thuringian town of Ohrdruf. It contained an historic
three-manual Austrian baroque organ in a historic, and it
was here that Bach learned about organ construction.
It was destroyed along with other treasures by Allied
bombing in 1945 and only a tower fragment remains
Charlemagne sent out missionaries in 793 under the Frisian Ludger to convert the Saxons. Ludger
built his church and cloister on the right bank of the river Aa, on the height called the Horsteberg: it
was the monastery ("monasterium") from which Münster derives its name. In 805, he travelled to
Rome to be ordained a bishop, and soon founded a school. The combination of ford and crossroad,
marketplace, episcopal center, library and school established Münster's as a Cathedral city.
built his church and cloister on the right bank of the river Aa, on the height called the Horsteberg: it
was the monastery ("monasterium") from which Münster derives its name. In 805, he travelled to
Rome to be ordained a bishop, and soon founded a school. The combination of ford and crossroad,
marketplace, episcopal center, library and school established Münster's as a Cathedral city.
Münster was a leading member of the Hanseatic League. In 1534, the
Anabaptists took power in the what was called the Münster Rebellion,
and founded their own democratic state, but in 1535, when the town
was recaptured, the Anabaptists were tortured to death. At the Peace
of Westphalia in 1648, the legal foundations upon which modern
Europe was built were laid. Munster was to remain Roman Catholic.
Anabaptists took power in the what was called the Münster Rebellion,
and founded their own democratic state, but in 1535, when the town
was recaptured, the Anabaptists were tortured to death. At the Peace
of Westphalia in 1648, the legal foundations upon which modern
Europe was built were laid. Munster was to remain Roman Catholic.
| Nürnberg (see under Featured Cities) |
| Neustrelitz |
Neustrelitz is an old Pommeranian town and today the capital of the district of Mecklenburg-Strelitz,
birthplace of Germany's most beloved queen who stood up to Napoleon. Queen Luise of Prussia,
born Princess of Mecklenburg- Strelitz. The village of Strelitz was first mentioned in 1278 and it
grew to a small town in the following centuries. In the 17th century Strelitz was a part of the duchy
of Mecklenburg-Güstrow, which ceased to exist after the death of the last duke in 1695. Afterwards
the new duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was established (1701). This small duchy contained the
present-day district and an enclave around Ratzeburg, which is today situated in Schleswig-Holstein.
Its Baroque Schloß (palace) was destroyed in 1945, when it was enslaved by communism, but the
palace gardens (Schloßgarten) still exist.
birthplace of Germany's most beloved queen who stood up to Napoleon. Queen Luise of Prussia,
born Princess of Mecklenburg- Strelitz. The village of Strelitz was first mentioned in 1278 and it
grew to a small town in the following centuries. In the 17th century Strelitz was a part of the duchy
of Mecklenburg-Güstrow, which ceased to exist after the death of the last duke in 1695. Afterwards
the new duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was established (1701). This small duchy contained the
present-day district and an enclave around Ratzeburg, which is today situated in Schleswig-Holstein.
Its Baroque Schloß (palace) was destroyed in 1945, when it was enslaved by communism, but the
palace gardens (Schloßgarten) still exist.
| Offenburg |
Offenburg is a city located in today's Baden-Württemberg. The city is first mentioned in historical
documents dating from 1148. By 1240, Offenburg had already been declared a Free Imperial City.
Offenburg was the target of 1944 bomb attacks which, beside the railway facilities, destroyed the bell
tower and stained-glass windows of an ancient church.
documents dating from 1148. By 1240, Offenburg had already been declared a Free Imperial City.
Offenburg was the target of 1944 bomb attacks which, beside the railway facilities, destroyed the bell
tower and stained-glass windows of an ancient church.
Neumünster is one of four independent towns in Schleswig-Holstein, first recorded in 1127 when the
Neumünster Abbey was founded. The first bomb attack from the air was in 1941, followed by more
bombings, the worst of them on April 13, 1945. After the end of the War, Neumuenster had a wave
of refugees and a severe housing
Neumünster Abbey was founded. The first bomb attack from the air was in 1941, followed by more
bombings, the worst of them on April 13, 1945. After the end of the War, Neumuenster had a wave
of refugees and a severe housing
| Neumünster |
