View from the Carillon at Munich City Hall on Rubble 1945-1

Description

View from the Carillon at Munich City Hall on Rubble 1945-1 The old town of Munich was heavily destroyed in 1945, as the city was severely affected by 74 allied air raids during World War II. Especially in the years 1944 and 1945, there were massive bombings that left large parts of the historic old town in ruins.
Extent of the destruction
1 Over 50% of the entire city was destroyed, with the ratio being even higher in the city center.
1 About 90% of the old town was affected, including many significant historical buildings, churches, and squares.
1 By the end of the war in 1945, Munich was a landscape of ruins, yet many buildings were later rebuilt.
Critical damaged or destroyed landmarks
Churches
1 Frauenkirche (Munich Cathedral): Roof structure burned, towers remained intact.
1 Theatinerkirche: Dome and facade heavily damaged.
1 Peterskirche (Munich’s oldest church): Severely hit, tower damaged.
1 Asam Church: Interior damaged, but not completely destroyed.
Palaces & Residences
1 Munich Residence: Almost completely burned out, only parts of the outer walls remained. Especially affected were the Old Residence, the Treasury, and the Court Chapel.
1 Nymphenburg Palace: Less damaged than other buildings, but some areas affected.
City Hall & Squares
1 Old Town Hall: Extensive damage, tower remained intact.
1 New Town Hall at Marienplatz: Parts of the building damaged but not completely destroyed.
1 Marienplatz: Many surrounding buildings damaged or destroyed.
1 Viktualienmarkt: Large parts destroyed, later rebuilt.
Other significant buildings
1 Feldherrnhalle: Facade damaged but preserved.
1 National Theatre: Almost completely destroyed.
1 Bavarian State Library: Large parts burned, massive loss of historical documents.
Munich’s old town was one of the most severely destroyed inner cities in Germany. However, through reconstruction after 1945—often with restorations of historical buildings—the original character of the city was partially preserved, even if modern elements have been incorporated.