Ruins!

This is coolbert:

Here with an article from Der Spiegel, thanks to the tip from the Jungle Trader.

Recently discovered photography from German archives, documenting the Allied bombardment and destruction of Italian Renaissance and post-Renaissance architectural master-pieces. Buildings having immense historical and architectural value.

Destruction used to illustrate in graphic fashion what the fascists deemed as "ALLIED ATROCITY". Behavior on the part of the allied forces reminiscent of the barbarian, destruction wanton and callous, an affront to all civilized persons.

"How the Nazis Used War Rubble as Propaganda"

"As the Allies marched inexorably northward through Italy during World War II, the Nazis set to work photographing the rubble of damaged historical buildings and artwork. The images were supposed to prove that their enemies were cultural barbarians."

"the German military and the Nazi propaganda machinery recognized the potential of using the destroyed buildings to portray the Allies as culturally insensitive barbarians."

This is the ruins of the famous opera house, La Scala. One can only imagine what military value such destruction warranted? So would be the thinking!

Destruction presumably the result of allied saturation bombing. Targets NOT of military value blasted to smithereens. Buildings having withstood centuries of use and exposure to the elements, destroyed in seconds by high-explosives dropped from aircraft. Again, dropped in a callous and unfeeling manner.

Comments:

* The Germans of all people during World War Two [WW2] felt smug enough to make such accusations? So even suggests the author of the Der Spiegel article. German air force commanders did not feel any special inhibitions against saturation bombardment of allied cities during the war.

* These images were taken by professional photographers? The use of black and white photography during wartime is most effective? There is the artistic touch and flair to all these images as well.

* Rome had been declared an "open city". NOT militarily defended and not having military value. The historic ruins of ancient Rome were not subject to bombardment of any sort? Other Italian cities were not declared to be an "open city"? To include Florence, Siena, Venice?

* It can be suggested too, that at least in the case of the abbey of Monte Cassino, the saturation bombardment by the massed allied air forces ONLY made the situation worse from a military standpoint! Created at certain key points a cratered terrain moonscape that made forward movement of the allied forces that much more difficult!!

* In the aftermath of WW2, the American Congress held only two investigations regarding the war effort. One was an investigation concerning the debacle at Pearl Harbor. The second investigation concerned the entire nature and conduct of the Italian Campaign. Take it for what it is worth!!

coolbert.