A black and white arial photograph shows the inner city of Mainz at an angle. All the multi-story buildings are reduced to skeletons. Two churches are only empty hulls, including in parts the huge ancient cathedral, which has the main roof missing but intact towers.

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   Wolfgang Lucht (w_lucht@mstdn.social)'s status on Friday, 28-Feb-2025 05:08:47 JST Wolfgang Lucht

   My home city of Mainz on the Rhine goes back to Roman foundations - the 22nd legion was stationed there. The mighty cathedral is over 1000 years old.

   On Feb. 27, 1945 - 80 years ago - just a month before the war ended in the city - Mainz was totally destroyed by bombing. After this last attack, 80% of it stood in ruins.

   It was a consequence of nationalist, racist, fascist government, carried to the end by an adoring population. It took just 12 years from taking power to total devastation.