Cologne Cathedral: A Survivor Of World War Ii

The Cologne Cathedral, originally built to house the Three Wise Men’s shrine, was hit by 14 bombs during World War II. However, the building did not collapse and remained standing amidst the ruins of the city of Cologne. The city of Cologne was bombed in 262 separate air raids during World War II, all conducted by the Royal Air Force (RAF).

Cologne Cathedral survived despite 14 hits by aerial bombs

The Cologne Cathedral, constructed between 1248 and 1880, was the target of aerial bombing during World War II. The city of Cologne was subjected to 262 separate air raids by the Allies, resulting in the death of 20,000 civilians. The cathedral itself was hit by 14 bombs but remarkably, it remained standing.

The Cologne Cathedral's survival despite the bomb attacks can be attributed to a combination of factors, including its cultural significance, its role as a navigational landmark, and the technological limitations of the time. Firstly, many in the military wanted to respect the building due to its cultural importance. The cathedral, originally built to house the Three Wise Men's shrine, is the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe and was once the tallest building in the world.

Secondly, the twin spires of the cathedral served as an easily recognizable landmark for Allied pilots raiding deeper into Germany. This may have inadvertently saved the cathedral from complete destruction, as pilots used it as a reference point for their location and navigation. The lower-level bombers, which were more accurate in hitting their targets, may have also played a role in sparing the cathedral, as high-level bombers were known for their inaccuracy.

Additionally, the technology of the day posed significant challenges for targeted bombings. Hitting a specific structure, even one as large and prominent as the cathedral, was extremely difficult with the available weaponry and navigation systems. The attacking forces may not have intended to destroy the cathedral, but instead focused their efforts on industrial and civilian targets to cripple Germany's war industries and sap the morale of its population.

The resilience of the Cologne Cathedral, standing tall amidst the ruins of the city, is a testament to its sturdy construction and a reminder of the devastation inflicted during World War II. Repairs to the cathedral were completed in 1956, and it continues to be a symbol of endurance and a significant cultural landmark.

The twin spires were used as a navigational landmark by Allied aircraft

The Cologne Cathedral, constructed between 1248 and 1880, was the tallest building in the world until 1884. During World War II, the city of Cologne was subjected to 262 separate air raids by the Allies, all carried out by the Royal Air Force (RAF). The first of these bombings occurred on May 12, 1940, and the most notable attack was the first Allied 1,000-bomber raid on the night of May 30-31, 1942, which caused heavy damage to one-third of the city's built-up area. In total, 34,711 long tons of bombs were dropped on the city by the RAF, resulting in the deaths of 20,000 civilians.

Despite being hit by 14 aerial bombs during the war, the Cologne Cathedral remained standing, becoming a symbol of resilience amidst the ruins of the city. Its twin spires, standing at approximately 157 meters tall, served as an easily recognizable navigational landmark for Allied aircraft raiding deeper into Germany. The attacking pilots used the cathedral as a reference point for their location, especially as they ventured further into German territory. This practical use of the cathedral's distinctive structure may have been a key reason why it was not completely destroyed during the bombings.

The cultural significance of the Cologne Cathedral also played a role in its preservation. Many in the military wanted to respect and spare the cathedral due to its historical and architectural importance. Additionally, the lower-level bombers, known for their accuracy in hitting targets, may have intentionally avoided the cathedral as their primary goal was to destroy specific industrial and military targets.

The high-level bombers, on the other hand, were notoriously inaccurate, and it is likely that their bombs fell in various locations across the city. Targeting a specific structure, even one as large as the cathedral, was challenging with the technology available at that time. The survival of the Cologne Cathedral can also be attributed to a combination of factors, including its use as a navigational aid, its cultural significance, and the limitations of bombing technology.

In the post-war period, repairs to the cathedral were completed in 1956, restoring it to its original glory. The Cologne Cathedral stands as a testament to the resilience of the city and its people, serving as a reminder of the devastation caused by the war and the subsequent path to recovery and reconstruction.

The city of Cologne was bombed in 262 separate air raids during World War II

The German city of Cologne was bombed in 262 separate air raids by the Allies during World War II. All of the bombings were carried out by the Royal Air Force (RAF). The first bombing took place on 12 May 1940, and the city would go on to be bombed 31 times by the RAF.

The most notable attack on Cologne was the first Allied 1,000 bomber raid on 30/31 May 1942. The RAF Bomber Command, under the leadership of Arthur Harris, was seeking a way to demoralize the German population and war effort. The War Department believed that they could overwhelm German night fighter and flak defences by making a huge strike in a smaller 90-minute window.

Hamburg was the original choice for the attack, but it was eliminated at the last minute due to poor weather conditions. Additionally, it was advised that Cologne would be a better target because of the RAF’s use of the GEE technology, which allowed them to navigate and bomb more accurately.

RAF Bomber Command drew additional bombers and pilots from nearly every available sphere in order to reach the 1,000 plane mark for the operation. This task was made more difficult when, in the final days before the raid, RAF Coastal Command bombers were pulled from the operation. The Navy had decided that the propaganda benefits of the raid didn’t justify the decreased protection from U-Boat attacks that Coastal Command was responsible for.

In total, 1,047 aircraft were used in the operation, with 868 striking the intended target area and 15 striking alternative targets. The raid on Cologne used mostly incendiaries, and therefore, the majority of the damage was caused by the fires that they started. The Cologne fire brigade authority reported over 5,000 non-residential buildings were damaged, with 3,300 of those destroyed. There were over 1,700 fires classified as “large” by local authorities.

The RAF lost 43 aircraft according to British reports (44 according to German sources). Of those, only 22 were shot down in the vicinity of Cologne itself. A total of 34,711 long tons of bombs were dropped on the city by the RAF, and 20,000 people died during the war in Cologne due to aerial bombardments.

Cologne Cathedral was originally built to house the Three Wise Men's shrine

The Shrine of the Three Kings, also known as the Tomb of the Three Kings or the Tomb of the Three Magi, is a large gilded and decorated triple sarcophagus situated above and behind the high altar of Cologne Cathedral in western Germany. The shrine is believed to contain the bones of the Biblical Magi, also known as the Three Kings or the Three Wise Men.

The relics' journey to Cologne began in Constantinople (now Istanbul). In 314, Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, brought the relics to Constantinople. Constantine then gave the relics to the Milanese bishop Eustorgius, who embedded them in a marble sarcophagus and transported them to Milan on an ox cart. In 1162, Emperor Frederick I (Frederick Barbarossa) besieged Milan, and in 1164, the Cologne Archbishop Rainald von Dassel asked for the trio's remains as spoils of war. The relics were brought to Cologne, where the shrine was built between 1180 and 1225.

The construction of the present Cologne Cathedral commenced in 1248 to house these important relics. The cathedral took 632 years to complete and is now the largest Gothic church in northern Europe. The shrine has undergone periods of damage and restoration, and the last restoration took place between 1961 and 1973 after it was removed from the cathedral during World War II.

During World War II, the city of Cologne was bombed in 262 separate air raids by the Allies, all by the Royal Air Force (RAF). The Cologne Cathedral suffered fourteen hits by aerial bombs during the war but did not collapse. The attacking pilots used the cathedral as a navigational landmark, which may be why it was not destroyed. After the war, repairs to the building were completed in 1956.

The cathedral was completed in 1880, 632 years after construction began

Construction of the Cologne Cathedral began in 1248 but was halted in the years around 1560, leaving it unfinished. Attempts to complete the construction began around 1814, but the project was not properly funded until the 1840s. The edifice was finally completed in 1880, 632 years after construction began.

The completion of Germany's largest cathedral was celebrated as a national event on 15 October 1880, with Emperor Wilhelm I in attendance. With a height of 157.38 m (516.3 ft), it was the tallest building in the world for four years until the completion of the Washington Monument.

The cathedral is a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1996. It is Germany's most visited landmark, attracting an average of 6 million people a year.

The completion of the cathedral in the 19th century was spurred by the Romantic enthusiasm for the Middle Ages and the discovery of the original plan for the façade. The Central-Dombauverein, founded in 1842, raised two-thirds of the enormous costs, while the Prussian state supplied the remaining third. The state saw this as a way to improve its relations with its Catholic subjects.

Work resumed in 1842 to the original design of the surviving medieval plans and drawings, but more modern construction techniques were employed, including iron roof girders. The nave was completed, and the towers were added. The bells were installed in the 1870s, with the largest being St. Petersglocke.

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