Close Up from the Clock Tower at Munich Town Hall 1945-5

Description

Close Up from the Clock Tower at Munich Town Hall 1945-5 The Munich Old Town was heavily destroyed in 1945, as the city was severely hit 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 destruction
2 Over 50% of the entire city was destroyed, with a higher proportion in the city center.
2 The Old Town was about 90% affected, including many significant historical buildings, churches, and squares.
2 By 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
52 Frauenkirche (Munich Cathedral): Roof structure burned, towers remained intact.
52 Theatiner Church: Dome and facade severely damaged.
52 St. Peter’s Church (oldest church in Munich): Heavily hit, tower damaged.
52 Asam Church: Interior damaged, but not completely destroyed.
Palaces & Residences
52 Munich Residence: Almost completely burned out, only parts of the outer walls remained. Particularly affected were the Old Residence, the Treasury, and the Court Chapel.
52 Nymphenburg Palace: Less damaged than other buildings, but some areas affected.
Town Hall & Squares
52 Old Town Hall: Severely damaged, tower remained intact.
52 New Town Hall at Marienplatz: Parts of the building damaged, but not completely destroyed.
52 Marienplatz: Many surrounding buildings damaged or destroyed.
52 Viktualienmarkt: Large parts destroyed, later rebuilt.
Other significant buildings
52 Feldherrnhalle: Facade damaged, but preserved.
52 National Theater: Almost completely destroyed.
52 Bavarian State Library: Large sections burned, huge loss of historical documents.
The Munich Old Town was one of the most destroyed inner cities in Germany. However, through reconstruction after 1945, often with reconstructions of historical buildings, the original city character was partially preserved, even if modern elements were incorporated.