Platzl and Hofbräuhaus in Munich in May 1945

Platzl and Hofbräuhaus in Munich in May 1945; Photo; Licensed article; Original: 5740×4315; Photographer: Unknown; Licensable; Rights: © Bleek/zb Media.

Hofbräuhaus Munich – May 1945
The famous Hofbräuhaus, once a symbol of Bavarian pub culture, stands in May 1945 as a badly damaged ruin in the middle of the destroyed city. The façade is riddled with bullet holes, parts of the roof have collapsed and only emptiness can be seen from the burnt-out window cavities. Where once there was conviviality, music and the sound of beer mugs, there is now rubble and dust.
On the street in front, American soldiers move between the remains of the former landmark. Some stop for a moment and look at the building – perhaps they sense the significance of this place for the history of the city. A few Munich locals creep cautiously through the scenery, searching for anything of value, while life slowly but inexorably reshapes itself.
The Hofbräuhaus, once a meeting place and later abused by the National Socialists, now stands as a memorial to the war – a relic of the past in a city preparing for reconstruction.