| Ancient Trier and its Neighbors |
1600 houses were completely destroyed, and numerous ancient buildings obliterated.
Between December 16, 1944 and January 2, 1945, the U.S.A.F. and the R.A.F.
dropped altogether 1,467 metric tons of bombs. The only undamaged structures left of
ancient Trier were the old Roman ruins. The bombers had hit the ancient cathedral, the
oldest Romanesque church in Germany, and with one direct hit, the bell had shaken
loose and fallen through the tower. Liebfrauenkirche, left, an early Gothic structure
dating from the 13th century was badly damaged, and the 18th century Paulinuskirche
had a hole in its roof. In both structures, all the irreplaceable stained glass windows
blew up and precious manuscripts were lost to the world forever.
Between December 16, 1944 and January 2, 1945, the U.S.A.F. and the R.A.F.
dropped altogether 1,467 metric tons of bombs. The only undamaged structures left of
ancient Trier were the old Roman ruins. The bombers had hit the ancient cathedral, the
oldest Romanesque church in Germany, and with one direct hit, the bell had shaken
loose and fallen through the tower. Liebfrauenkirche, left, an early Gothic structure
dating from the 13th century was badly damaged, and the 18th century Paulinuskirche
had a hole in its roof. In both structures, all the irreplaceable stained glass windows
blew up and precious manuscripts were lost to the world forever.
Trier, shown above in the 16th century, barely survived the War. On August 14, 1944, over 11,000 incendiary bombs
fell into the oldest section of the city which held many historic architectural monuments of the Roman and medieval times.
fell into the oldest section of the city which held many historic architectural monuments of the Roman and medieval times.
In December, 1944, there were three heavy air raids on Trier. On December 19, thirty
British bombers let loose 136 tons of high explosive bombs and two days later, British
and American bombers dropped 427 tons of bombs, including incendiaries. Two days
later, another 700 tons of bombs plastered the city. 420 people were killed, but many
had fortunately already fled the city
British bombers let loose 136 tons of high explosive bombs and two days later, British
and American bombers dropped 427 tons of bombs, including incendiaries. Two days
later, another 700 tons of bombs plastered the city. 420 people were killed, but many
had fortunately already fled the city
Nearby Prüm is a medium sized city in the Westeifel in the Rhineland-
Palatinate. Formerly a district town, today it is in the joint municipality
of Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm, a district bounded by Luxembourg, Belgium
and the districts of Euskirchen, Vulkaneifel, Bernkastel-Wittlich and
Trier-Saarburg. The abbey and the city of Prüm were subordinate
directly to the Holy Roman Emperor in medieval times.
Palatinate. Formerly a district town, today it is in the joint municipality
of Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm, a district bounded by Luxembourg, Belgium
and the districts of Euskirchen, Vulkaneifel, Bernkastel-Wittlich and
Trier-Saarburg. The abbey and the city of Prüm were subordinate
directly to the Holy Roman Emperor in medieval times.
Prüm Abbey is a former Benedictine abbey in Prüm/Lorraine, now in the Diocese of Trier, founded
by a Frankish widow Bertrada and her son Charibert, count of Laon, in 720. The eastern parts of the
district, including the town of Kyllburg, were property of the bishop of Trier. When Prussia gained all
these regions about 1815, it established the three districts of Bitburg, Prüm and Trier. There were 25
Allied bomb attacks on Prüm, heavily damaging the town and Abbey, below.
by a Frankish widow Bertrada and her son Charibert, count of Laon, in 720. The eastern parts of the
district, including the town of Kyllburg, were property of the bishop of Trier. When Prussia gained all
these regions about 1815, it established the three districts of Bitburg, Prüm and Trier. There were 25
Allied bomb attacks on Prüm, heavily damaging the town and Abbey, below.
Bitburg was settled over 2000 years ago and was first mentioned as “Vicus Beda”. Emperor
Constantine I expanded the settlement to a castle around 330, the central part of which forms the
town center to the present day. Bitburg is first documented around 715 as “castrum bedense”. It
subsequently became part of Franconia. In 1262, the castle gained municipal rights and in the middle
of the tenth century the city came under the county (later a duchy) of Luxembourg, and in 1443
under the county of Burgundy. After 1506, the place belonged first to the Spanish Netherlands, and
from 1714 to the Austrian Netherlands. In 1794, the city came under French administration. In 1815,
by the resolution of the Congress of Vienna, Bitburg was transferred to the Kingdom of Prussia,
where until 1822 it belonged administratively as district town to the province of Niederrhein, and
afterwards to the Rhine province. Bitburg was industrialized in the 20th century and this spelled its
doom. On December 24, 1944, Bitburg was 85% destroyed by air raids, and later officially
designated by the Americans as yet one more German “dead city”. The French did not withdraw
their last occupying troops until the end of the 1980s. Below, Bitburg before and after.
Constantine I expanded the settlement to a castle around 330, the central part of which forms the
town center to the present day. Bitburg is first documented around 715 as “castrum bedense”. It
subsequently became part of Franconia. In 1262, the castle gained municipal rights and in the middle
of the tenth century the city came under the county (later a duchy) of Luxembourg, and in 1443
under the county of Burgundy. After 1506, the place belonged first to the Spanish Netherlands, and
from 1714 to the Austrian Netherlands. In 1794, the city came under French administration. In 1815,
by the resolution of the Congress of Vienna, Bitburg was transferred to the Kingdom of Prussia,
where until 1822 it belonged administratively as district town to the province of Niederrhein, and
afterwards to the Rhine province. Bitburg was industrialized in the 20th century and this spelled its
doom. On December 24, 1944, Bitburg was 85% destroyed by air raids, and later officially
designated by the Americans as yet one more German “dead city”. The French did not withdraw
their last occupying troops until the end of the 1980s. Below, Bitburg before and after.
