Königsberg Schloss was bombed and then blown up by the communists.
Rimburg Castle dated from 1276 and is located in Wurmtal on the
German-Dutch border. Several fierce battles took place here in 1944, gravely
damaging the structure.
Augustusburg Schloss at Bruhl near Cologne was completed in 1298.
Towards the end of the Second World War, the castle was badly damaged by
shelling and looting as was the old Kadolzburg Castle in Cadolzburg in
Franconia.
Schloss Putbus was built in the 12th century and was owned by the family of
Putbus until 1945. After World War Two and until the 1950s some renovation
work took place at the castle, but then in 1959, the communist government
made the decision to demolish the castle on ideological grounds. Only parts of it
remain today.
Black Castle, or Braunschweiger Schloss in the city center of Braunschweig
was begun around 1753. The 1944 bomb attacks badly damaged it and its
remains were removed in 1960.
Schloss Brünninghausen in Dortmund dated from 1483 and lasted until
bombing destroyed it in the Second World War. It was not rebuilt.
Schloss Calbe was begun in 965. In the final days of World War II, the castle
was damaged by fire and in 1951, despite the protests of the population, its
remains were removed completely.
Schloss Herrenhausen, Hannover, started life in 1638. It lasted 300 years
until 1943, when British bombing completely destroyed it.
Herzog-Max-Burg, München, was ancient, then rebuilt between 1593 to
1596. After severe war damage it was largely removed and a new building from
1954 stands in its place.
Kieler Schloss, circa 1558 to 1568, was burned out by bombing in 1944 and
its remains were removed after the war.
Stammheimer Schloss, near Cologne was ruined by bombing in 1944 and it
was not rebuilt.
Palais Thurn and Taxis in Frankfurt was erected from 1729 to 1739 and fell
victim to an air assault in 1944 and largely destroyed; Its remains were
dismantled in 1951.
Schloss Hartenstein was built in the 12th century. The remains of the Saxon
castle were destroyed by American bombs on April 20, 1945
Castle Culmitzsch in Thuringia was partly demolished and blown up in
1969-1970.
Residenzschloss Osterstein in Gera dating from the 12th century was burnt
out in 1945 and its remnants demolished 1962. Today, only the former dungeon
and a farm building and Courtyard remain.
Schloss Köstritz, Bad Köstritz, Thuringia was.demolished in 1972.
Schloss Dwasieden was at Sassnitz on the island of Rügen, and was built from
1873 to 1877. In 1948, the was castle blown up for ideological reasons..
Schloss Schleiz in Thuringia was owned by the Count Heinrich von Reuss in
1689 and dated from the14th century. An American bomb attack destroyed it
in 1945.
Schloss Monbijou, another royal palace in Berlin dating from 1649, was
bombed in November 1943 and its ruins demolished in 1959.
Prinz-Albrecht-Palais in Berlin was constructed from 1737 to 1739 After
heavy war damage in 1944, the remains were removed in 1955.
Berliner Schloss (see below)
Potsdamer Stadtschloss, circa 1598, was burned out by bombing in 1945
and its remnants were blown up in 1959-1960.
Schloss Neustrelitz from the early 18th century was burned out in 1945 and
its ruins blown up in 1949.(see elsewhere)
Schloss Dargun in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, circa 1172, was
destroyed by arson in 1945
Schloss Putzar is the name of the ruins of two mansions in Putzar in Pomerania
dating from 1306 and 1545. In the Second World War, it sheltered refugees
and "resettlers" in its buildings, and was then allowed to go to ruin.
Schloss Wolfshagen on Haussee between Brandenburg and
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania was built from 1776 to 1838. World War II
bombing destroyed the palace and the Orangerie. The castle was completely
demolished later.
Schloss Zerbst castle in Saxony-Anhalt was the Royal Palace of the Prince of
Anhalt-Zerbst. It was time mentioned for the first time in 1196. In the Second
World War it was severely damaged by bombs in April of 1945 and it burned
completely; Reconstruction of its foundation walls of the still standing castle
would have been possible, but were rejected due to ideological decisions, and
the west wing was blown up. Only the ruins of the east wing was preserved.
The old castle in Nürnberg was among others completely devastated by
bombs. Johannisburg Palace and Mannheim Palace were among the
countless others that were severely injured, and the German castles in lands
given to the communist governments were either destroyed or taken away from
their rightful owners.
Rimburg Castle dated from 1276 and is located in Wurmtal on the
German-Dutch border. Several fierce battles took place here in 1944, gravely
damaging the structure.
Augustusburg Schloss at Bruhl near Cologne was completed in 1298.
Towards the end of the Second World War, the castle was badly damaged by
shelling and looting as was the old Kadolzburg Castle in Cadolzburg in
Franconia.
Schloss Putbus was built in the 12th century and was owned by the family of
Putbus until 1945. After World War Two and until the 1950s some renovation
work took place at the castle, but then in 1959, the communist government
made the decision to demolish the castle on ideological grounds. Only parts of it
remain today.
Black Castle, or Braunschweiger Schloss in the city center of Braunschweig
was begun around 1753. The 1944 bomb attacks badly damaged it and its
remains were removed in 1960.
Schloss Brünninghausen in Dortmund dated from 1483 and lasted until
bombing destroyed it in the Second World War. It was not rebuilt.
Schloss Calbe was begun in 965. In the final days of World War II, the castle
was damaged by fire and in 1951, despite the protests of the population, its
remains were removed completely.
Schloss Herrenhausen, Hannover, started life in 1638. It lasted 300 years
until 1943, when British bombing completely destroyed it.
Herzog-Max-Burg, München, was ancient, then rebuilt between 1593 to
1596. After severe war damage it was largely removed and a new building from
1954 stands in its place.
Kieler Schloss, circa 1558 to 1568, was burned out by bombing in 1944 and
its remains were removed after the war.
Stammheimer Schloss, near Cologne was ruined by bombing in 1944 and it
was not rebuilt.
Palais Thurn and Taxis in Frankfurt was erected from 1729 to 1739 and fell
victim to an air assault in 1944 and largely destroyed; Its remains were
dismantled in 1951.
Schloss Hartenstein was built in the 12th century. The remains of the Saxon
castle were destroyed by American bombs on April 20, 1945
Castle Culmitzsch in Thuringia was partly demolished and blown up in
1969-1970.
Residenzschloss Osterstein in Gera dating from the 12th century was burnt
out in 1945 and its remnants demolished 1962. Today, only the former dungeon
and a farm building and Courtyard remain.
Schloss Köstritz, Bad Köstritz, Thuringia was.demolished in 1972.
Schloss Dwasieden was at Sassnitz on the island of Rügen, and was built from
1873 to 1877. In 1948, the was castle blown up for ideological reasons..
Schloss Schleiz in Thuringia was owned by the Count Heinrich von Reuss in
1689 and dated from the14th century. An American bomb attack destroyed it
in 1945.
Schloss Monbijou, another royal palace in Berlin dating from 1649, was
bombed in November 1943 and its ruins demolished in 1959.
Prinz-Albrecht-Palais in Berlin was constructed from 1737 to 1739 After
heavy war damage in 1944, the remains were removed in 1955.
Berliner Schloss (see below)
Potsdamer Stadtschloss, circa 1598, was burned out by bombing in 1945
and its remnants were blown up in 1959-1960.
Schloss Neustrelitz from the early 18th century was burned out in 1945 and
its ruins blown up in 1949.(see elsewhere)
Schloss Dargun in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, circa 1172, was
destroyed by arson in 1945
Schloss Putzar is the name of the ruins of two mansions in Putzar in Pomerania
dating from 1306 and 1545. In the Second World War, it sheltered refugees
and "resettlers" in its buildings, and was then allowed to go to ruin.
Schloss Wolfshagen on Haussee between Brandenburg and
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania was built from 1776 to 1838. World War II
bombing destroyed the palace and the Orangerie. The castle was completely
demolished later.
Schloss Zerbst castle in Saxony-Anhalt was the Royal Palace of the Prince of
Anhalt-Zerbst. It was time mentioned for the first time in 1196. In the Second
World War it was severely damaged by bombs in April of 1945 and it burned
completely; Reconstruction of its foundation walls of the still standing castle
would have been possible, but were rejected due to ideological decisions, and
the west wing was blown up. Only the ruins of the east wing was preserved.
The old castle in Nürnberg was among others completely devastated by
bombs. Johannisburg Palace and Mannheim Palace were among the
countless others that were severely injured, and the German castles in lands
given to the communist governments were either destroyed or taken away from
their rightful owners.
Long ago, over forty aggressive French incursions into Germany in the 1600s and numerous bloody sieges by King Louis
XIV's armies resulted in the destruction of nearly every ancient castle within their reach along the banks of the Rhine. The
French armies devastated German land, destroying everything in their path. The situation repeated itself in World War
Two. The Allies hated big buildings where troops might be hiding, and the answer was plain: simply blow them up. In the
eastern areas under communism, many were razed later for purely "ideological" reasons. In a land once noted for its
ancient and beautiful castles, very few German castles remain today, and almost none as they once were. To name just a
handful of those castles destroyed by war.
XIV's armies resulted in the destruction of nearly every ancient castle within their reach along the banks of the Rhine. The
French armies devastated German land, destroying everything in their path. The situation repeated itself in World War
Two. The Allies hated big buildings where troops might be hiding, and the answer was plain: simply blow them up. In the
eastern areas under communism, many were razed later for purely "ideological" reasons. In a land once noted for its
ancient and beautiful castles, very few German castles remain today, and almost none as they once were. To name just a
handful of those castles destroyed by war.
| Castles Kaput |
Above, top to bottom: Schloss Putbus, Braunschweiger Schloss, Berliner Schloss, Schloss Brünninghausen,
Residenzschloss Osterstein, Schloss Herrenhausen, Kieler Schloss, Schloss Monbijou, Prinz-Albrecht- Palais, Schloss
Dwasieden, Potsdamer Stadtschloss, Schloss Zerbst, Schloss Dargun, Karlsruher Schloss, Schloß Rurich
Residenzschloss Osterstein, Schloss Herrenhausen, Kieler Schloss, Schloss Monbijou, Prinz-Albrecht- Palais, Schloss
Dwasieden, Potsdamer Stadtschloss, Schloss Zerbst, Schloss Dargun, Karlsruher Schloss, Schloß Rurich
Another palace blown up after the war was the Berlin Schlossplatz, the Hohenzollern royal palace and winter home to
the Prussian Electors, Kings and Kaisers. It was the center of Berlin for centuries, and the architecture of the entire inner
city had been conceived around the central palace. Originally a medieval castle dating back to the fifteenth century, over
the ages it became a grand residence, expanded and rebuilt in differing architectural styles by various masters. Shortly
after Germany lost the First World War and Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated, the Palace became a museum.
the Prussian Electors, Kings and Kaisers. It was the center of Berlin for centuries, and the architecture of the entire inner
city had been conceived around the central palace. Originally a medieval castle dating back to the fifteenth century, over
the ages it became a grand residence, expanded and rebuilt in differing architectural styles by various masters. Shortly
after Germany lost the First World War and Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated, the Palace became a museum.
| Charlottenburg Palace, top, was thoroughly looted twice in its history, first by Napoleon and then by the Red Army. It was also extensively damaged by bombing at the end of World War Two. The old Zweibrücken Schloss, bottom, was yet another piece of European history levelled by Allied bombs |
Karlsruher Schloss was first constructed by Jakob Friedrich von Batzendorf.
The city was planned with the tower of the palace at the centre and 32 streets
radiating out from it like spokes on a wheel, giving Karlsruhe the name "fan
city" (Fächerstadt). The palace was rebuilt in 1746 and it was later altered by
Balthasar Neumann and Friedrich von Kesslau and again in 1785 by Wilhelm
Jeremias Müller. The palace, along with most of the city, was reduced to
rubble by Allied bombing.
The city was planned with the tower of the palace at the centre and 32 streets
radiating out from it like spokes on a wheel, giving Karlsruhe the name "fan
city" (Fächerstadt). The palace was rebuilt in 1746 and it was later altered by
Balthasar Neumann and Friedrich von Kesslau and again in 1785 by Wilhelm
Jeremias Müller. The palace, along with most of the city, was reduced to
rubble by Allied bombing.
| There are many more castles throughout this site and on the pages under "Plunder". |
Schloß Rurich near Hückelhoven, dating in part from the 13th century,
survived the immense destruction caused by "Operation Queen" on November
16, 1944 which laid waste to several nearby towns and cities only to be hit by
a grenade attack on Christmas of 1944, which caused immense, and in part
irreparable damage. The valuable castle library of over 18,000 volumes was
thoroughly looted by American GIs
survived the immense destruction caused by "Operation Queen" on November
16, 1944 which laid waste to several nearby towns and cities only to be hit by
a grenade attack on Christmas of 1944, which caused immense, and in part
irreparable damage. The valuable castle library of over 18,000 volumes was
thoroughly looted by American GIs
