Greatest cities lost during WWII - (Maximum 5 images per post, Pre-war images only)

[Dzwonsson]

Originally Posted by RS_UK-PL

It is a "lost" city from a different reason. Population transfers after the war changed the city's cultural continuity, language, religion, etc. For example as a result of changing borders of Poland by Big Three, from over 35 well preserved Latin Catholic Churches (originally built for this purpose) in Lwow before the war, there are only about 5 in today's Lviv that are still Latin Catholic. Also, most monuments have been demolished (e.g. the oldest secular monument in Lwow that was built in honour of Stanisław Jan Jabłonowski in 1752-1754). Polish language, which was used by majority of the city between the early 16th century and 1940s was regarded as rubbish after the war, so many museums, libraries, galleries, etc. have been closed (precious artefacts, books and art works were just simply destroyed).

Of course, the city wasn't damaged during the war and that is why its high architectural value was rewarded by UNESCO.

Lwów should have never been mentioned in this thread as it survived the war almost completely undamaged. Following your way of seeing things we could say almost every city of Silesia, Neumark, East Pommerania and Prussia has been lost as its culture, language and religion almost completely disappeard as an aftermath of the population transfers. But no, they have not been lost, at least not in that sense. Many of those cities have been mentioned in this thread, yet, it has nothing to do with population transfers but with the damage that has been done throughout the war. I think we'd all agree that the people who inhabited Breslau, Danzig, Wilno or Lwów after the WW2 did all they could to preserve those cities' heritage.

[rychlik]

Originally Posted by Dzwonsson

Lwów should have never been mentioned in this thread as it survived the war almost completely undamaged. Following your way of seeing things we could say almost every city of Silesia, Neumark, East Pommerania and Prussia has been lost as its culture, language and religion almost completely disappeard as an aftermath of the population transfers. But no, they have not been lost, at least not in that sense. Many of those cities have been mentioned in this thread, yet, it has nothing to do with population transfers but with the damage that has been done throughout the war. I think we'd all agree that the people who inhabited Breslau, Danzig, Wilno or Lwów after the WW2 did all they could to preserve those cities' heritage.

Doesn't Lviv have this great looking Mickiewicz monument? I think it should have been transferred to Poland.

[rychlik]

Found it.


http://photos.wikimapia.org/p/00/01/21/83/04_big.jpg



At least it was not destroyed (to my knowledge).

[RS_UK-PL]

Nice to see you again, rychlik Yes, that monument on the photo above wasn't destroyed. There are few more that were spared. Unfortunately, the oldest monuments were demolished, e.g. monument of Jan of Dukla (1736) and Stanislaw Jablonowski (1752-1754).

[CarltonHill]

MANILA, PHL

Originally Posted by neil02

Another revived building in Manila, The First National City Bank, currently, the Juan Luna E-services Building.













https://www.facebook.com/pages/Juan-...47043202010547

[CarltonHill]

Originally Posted by skyscraper2012

Welcome back to life, Luneta Hotel.

© gangmanila

Originally Posted by skyscraper2012

war time and post war period

Colegio de San Juan de Letran


Manila Post Office


Department of Finance


Manila City Hall


photos by noelatbose 4/6/13

[UnHavrais]

Le Havre 1938

[Mruczek]

Originally Posted by RS_UK-PL

It is a "lost" city from a different reason. Population transfers after the war changed the city's cultural continuity, language, religion, etc. For example as a result of changing borders of Poland by Big Three, from over 35 well preserved Latin Catholic Churches (originally built for this purpose) in Lwow before the war, there are only about 5 in today's Lviv that are still Latin Catholic.

It's not important if they are still Roman Catholic. What is important, is whether or not they survived in the first place (most of them did). And they are mostly well preserved.

Actually, Lwów is one of the last cities of Europe I'd call "lost"; despite of the fact that city got some minor damages during fight in 1939, 1941 (aerial bombardment) and 1944 (street fight).

Originally Posted by CarltonHill

Nice job with Manila reconstruction. Can you please recommend some sources on Manila destruction and reconstruction? This topic looks interesting to me.