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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.