| Pachelbel's City: Six Centuries lost in an Hour |
For centuries, Nürnberg was renowned for her beauty and dignity. Her
narrow lanes were trod by some of the greatest people in history, and she
breathed life into many of the finest craftsmen, musicians, artists and
scientists that mankind ever produced. Truly a cradle of European culture,
her glorious churches, grand residences, ancient walls and old castle quietly
rested by the banks of the river, enchanting and fragrant with history long
before the dawn of twentieth century. Nürnberg posed no critical threat
and her ancient town center certainly had no military significance.
However, in the bombing campaign instituted at the end of the war, when
German defenses were all but absent, cultural targets became the primary
goal of some operations, especially if deemed "idealogical centers".
narrow lanes were trod by some of the greatest people in history, and she
breathed life into many of the finest craftsmen, musicians, artists and
scientists that mankind ever produced. Truly a cradle of European culture,
her glorious churches, grand residences, ancient walls and old castle quietly
rested by the banks of the river, enchanting and fragrant with history long
before the dawn of twentieth century. Nürnberg posed no critical threat
and her ancient town center certainly had no military significance.
However, in the bombing campaign instituted at the end of the war, when
German defenses were all but absent, cultural targets became the primary
goal of some operations, especially if deemed "idealogical centers".
| The End of an ancient City |
St.Sebald's church was built in the 13th-century, and its organ, once played by Pachelbel, had been the
world's oldest, dating from 1440. It was destroyed in the Allied bombing of World War II. In just one 53
minute raid, over 6000 “blockbuster” high explosive bombs and over a million firebombs were dropped
on Nürnberg, needlessly destroying over six centuries of history in less than an hour.
world's oldest, dating from 1440. It was destroyed in the Allied bombing of World War II. In just one 53
minute raid, over 6000 “blockbuster” high explosive bombs and over a million firebombs were dropped
on Nürnberg, needlessly destroying over six centuries of history in less than an hour.
| The St.Sebald Church where Pachelbel played, before and after. |
Lorenzkirche, below, was older and began its life in 1270 as a Catholic church, but converted to
Lutheranism in the 16th century. In the Allied bombing, this house of God suffered a major direct hit not
only once, but four times, along with 25 minor hits.
Lutheranism in the 16th century. In the Allied bombing, this house of God suffered a major direct hit not
only once, but four times, along with 25 minor hits.
Lorenzkirche took four direct hits in Allied bombing as well as 25 smaller hits.
The RAF had already dropped 1,500 tons of bombs on the city as early as August 10, 1943, and another
1,500 tons on August 27, leaving over 4,000 dead at a cost of 49 Allied bombers. While the few military
targets were damaged in raids of 1943 and 1944, there were also increasing terror attacks on the city's
civilian residential areas. The catastrophic vengeance attack of January 2, 1945 was calculated to utterly
destroy the medieval city center. 1,800 residents were killed in this one attack and another 100, 000 left
homeless and without shelter. Even more attacks would follow on the beleaguered wreck of a city and
8,000 of its surviving civilian population died as a result. Frauenkirche was built around 1360. The
western gable was created by great master Adam Kraft in 1506–1508. The church was almost completely
destroyed; only the walls of the nave and the façade survived. Before and after, below
1,500 tons on August 27, leaving over 4,000 dead at a cost of 49 Allied bombers. While the few military
targets were damaged in raids of 1943 and 1944, there were also increasing terror attacks on the city's
civilian residential areas. The catastrophic vengeance attack of January 2, 1945 was calculated to utterly
destroy the medieval city center. 1,800 residents were killed in this one attack and another 100, 000 left
homeless and without shelter. Even more attacks would follow on the beleaguered wreck of a city and
8,000 of its surviving civilian population died as a result. Frauenkirche was built around 1360. The
western gable was created by great master Adam Kraft in 1506–1508. The church was almost completely
destroyed; only the walls of the nave and the façade survived. Before and after, below
When the first "big international effort to pass judgment on man's savagery" took place in the ruins of
Nürnberg at the Allied sponsored War Crimes Trials, the subject of strategic bombing was carefully
avoided. Because Nürnberg was an "ideological" center of a distasteful enemy government, there were 38
allied air raids on Nürnberg in the waning days of World War Two. In the final assault, 795 Allied
bombers unleashed their fury over the old city. 95 of them were lost and 545 RAF airmen died, more in
that one night than during the entire battle of Britain. Centuries of culture and history were smashed into
oblivion unnecessarily. When it was over, 90% of the historic buildings were completely destroyed and
the city's pre-war population was halved.
Nürnberg at the Allied sponsored War Crimes Trials, the subject of strategic bombing was carefully
avoided. Because Nürnberg was an "ideological" center of a distasteful enemy government, there were 38
allied air raids on Nürnberg in the waning days of World War Two. In the final assault, 795 Allied
bombers unleashed their fury over the old city. 95 of them were lost and 545 RAF airmen died, more in
that one night than during the entire battle of Britain. Centuries of culture and history were smashed into
oblivion unnecessarily. When it was over, 90% of the historic buildings were completely destroyed and
the city's pre-war population was halved.
In their own words: A description of the January 2 attack by the RAF bombers is chilling: "Nuremberg as
a scene of so many disappointments for Bomber Command, finally succumbed to this attack. The centre
of the city, particularly the eastern half, was destroyed. The castle, the Rathaus, almost all the churches
and about 2,000 preserved medieval houses went up in flames." Then it added, almost as an afterthought:
"the industrial area in the south, containing the important Man and Siemens factories, and the railway
areas were also severely damaged. It was a near-perfect example of area bombing."
a scene of so many disappointments for Bomber Command, finally succumbed to this attack. The centre
of the city, particularly the eastern half, was destroyed. The castle, the Rathaus, almost all the churches
and about 2,000 preserved medieval houses went up in flames." Then it added, almost as an afterthought:
"the industrial area in the south, containing the important Man and Siemens factories, and the railway
areas were also severely damaged. It was a near-perfect example of area bombing."
| The Hans Sachs memorial eerily survived the carnage and stood lonely vigil over the smoldering remains of his destroyed city. Dürer's house, right. |
1645
1945
1945
15th Century
