Onlookers watch the commissioning of the carillon at Munich City Hall 1945-7

Description

Onlookers watch the commissioning of the carillon at Munich City Hall 1945-7 The Munich old town was heavily destroyed in 1945 as the city was severely hit by 74 allied air raids during World War II. Particularly in the years 1944 and 1945, there were massive bombardments that reduced large parts of the historic old town to rubble.
Extent of the destruction
f• Over 50% of the entire city was destroyed, and the rate was even higher in the city center.
ff• The old town was affected by about 90%, including many significant historical buildings, churches, and squares.
f• At the end of the war in 1945, Munich was a landscape of ruins, but many buildings were later rebuilt.
Important damaged or destroyed monuments
Churches
f• Frauenkirche (Munich Cathedral): Roof truss burned, towers remained intact.
ff• Theatinerkirche: Dome and facade heavily damaged.
ff• Peterskirche (oldest church in Munich): Heavily hit, tower damaged.
ff• Asam Church: Interior damaged, but not completely destroyed.
Castles & Residences
ff• Munich Residenz: Almost completely burned out, only parts of the outer walls remained. Particularly affected were the Old Residence, the Treasury, and the Court Chapel.
ff• Nymphenburg Palace: Less damaged than other buildings, but some areas were affected.
City Hall & Squares
ff• Old Town Hall: Severe damage, tower remained intact.
ff• New City Hall on Marienplatz: Parts of the building damaged, but not completely destroyed.
ff• Marienplatz: Many buildings in the vicinity damaged or destroyed.
ff• Viktualienmarkt: Large parts destroyed, later rebuilt.
Other significant buildings
ff• Feldherrnhalle: Facade damaged but preserved.
ff• National Theater: Almost completely destroyed.
ff• Bavarian State Library: Largely burned, huge loss of historical documents.
The Munich old town was one of the most severely destroyed city centers in Germany. But through reconstruction after 1945 – often with reconstructions of historical buildings – the original character of the city was partially preserved, even though modern elements flowed in.