Karlstor in Munich May 1945-2

Karlstor in Munich May 1945-2; Photo; Licensed article; Original: 5740×4315; Photographer: Unknown; Licensable; Rights: © Bleek/zb Media.

Karlstor, Munich – May 1945
A US Army truck slowly rolls through the Karlstor, one of the last remaining landmarks of Munich’s historic city centre. The war has left its mark – the buildings on both sides of the gate are in ruins, burnt-out facades tower into the sky, window cavities are empty. But the Karlstor itself still stands, a silent witness to times gone by, surrounded by a city in ruins.
The streets have been made passable, the rubble pushed to the side, but the traces of destruction are omnipresent. The military truck, loaded with American soldiers, drives through the scene of a new beginning – occupation, order and the start of reconstruction.
A few Munich residents stand at the side of the road, watching the passing convoy with silent gazes. Some carry what little they have left with them in bundles, others cautiously venture back onto the streets that were shaken by war just a few weeks ago.
The Karlstor, once part of the medieval city fortifications, has survived many eras – and now also the war. While Munich lies in ruins, it remains as a symbol of the past and a silent witness to the changes to come.