View of ruins from the Carillon at the Town Hall Tower in Munich 1945-3

Description

View of ruins from the Carillon at the Town Hall Tower in Munich 1945-3 The old town of Munich was heavily destroyed in 1945, as the city was severely hit by 74 allied air raids during the Second World War. Particularly in the years 1944 and 1945, there were massive bombings that reduced large parts of the historical old town to rubble.
Extent of destruction
1 Over 50% of the entire city was destroyed, with an even higher rate in the city center.
2 The old town was affected by approximately 90%, including many significant historical buildings, churches, and squares.
3 By the end of the war in 1945, Munich was a landscape of ruins, but many buildings were later rebuilt.
Important damaged or destroyed architectural monuments
Churches
1 Frauenkirche (Munich Cathedral): Roof structure burned, towers remained intact.
2 Theatinerkirche: Dome and facade heavily damaged.
3 St. Peter’s Church (Munich’s oldest church): Severely hit, tower damaged.
4 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.
2 Nymphenburg Palace: Less damaged than other buildings, but some areas affected.
Town Hall & Squares
1 Old Town Hall: Severe damage, tower remained intact.
2 New Town Hall at Marienplatz: Parts of the building damaged but not completely destroyed.
3 Marienplatz: Many surrounding buildings damaged or destroyed.
4 Viktualienmarkt: Large parts destroyed, later rebuilt.
Other significant buildings
1 Feldherrnhalle: Facade damaged but remained intact.
2 National Theatre: Almost completely destroyed.
3 Bavarian State Library: Large parts burned, massive loss of historical documents.
The old town of Munich was one of the most heavily destroyed inner cities in Germany. However, due to the reconstruction after 1945 – often with reconstructions of historical buildings – the original character of the city was partially preserved, even though modern elements were integrated.