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Reims Cathedral, France, after German bombing, WW1
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Reims Cathedral, France, after German bombing, WW1
Two views of Reims Cathedral, France, after bombing by the Germans during the First World War. Date: September 1914
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Media ID 14122754
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Bomb Bombed Bombing Burned Burnt Carving Carvings Damage Germans Reims Rheims Ruin Ruined Sculptures Towers
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EDITORS COMMENTS
Two evocative views of the revered Reims Cathedral in France, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, captured in the aftermath of devastating German bombing during the opening months of the First World War in September 1914. The images reveal the cathedral's once-magnificent facade, now marred by the destructive force of war. In the first photograph, the west front is shown, its ornate carvings and sculptures partially obscured by the thick, acrid smoke that billows from the ruins of the adjacent buildings. The cathedral's iconic twin towers, standing defiantly amidst the destruction, bear witness to the relentless bombardment that reduced much of the surrounding city to rubble. The second photograph offers a closer look at the cathedral's north transept and the adjacent tower, which appears to be on the brink of collapse. The once-intricate stone carvings and sculptures are now disfigured, their details obscured by the ravages of fire and bombing. The sense of loss and devastation is palpable, as the historic and cultural significance of this medieval monument is brought into sharp relief. The Reims Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of French heritage, had been a target of the German army due to its strategic importance as the coronation site of numerous French kings. The bombing marked the beginning of a long and destructive campaign that would see much of the city's architectural and cultural heritage destroyed during the First World War. These haunting images serve as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of war on cultural treasures and the indelible mark it leaves on history.
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