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Old Town losses in The Netherlands
Klassiker #205
Speaking about the destruction of Rotterdam and other towns I would like to give some additional information.
- The casualty rate of the Rotterdam bombing in May 1940 was indeed relatively low considering the destruction of 25.000 houses. But I think for different reasons than you are mentioning. During the bombing of May 14 residential districts were indeed a target for the Luftwaffe; the bombing was ordered by Hermann Göring himself in order to force the Dutch to surrender. However in the previous days there were already small strategic air attacks near the old town and the inhabitants were able to flee their houses before the the big air raid. In 1943 there were almost as many casualties during an air raid aimed at at the port, but hit a nearby residential area.
- You are right that large parts of the old town of Rotterdam consisted of slums, and I think that a large part of the old town would have been demolished anyhow, even without the bombing. Parts of the old town however were quite valuable, especially along the old canals and the St. Laurens church. Taking into account the rutheless attitude of Rotterdam city authorities in the 1970s and 1980s (despite massive protests they managed to demolish the most valuable Art Nouveau church in The Netherlands for example) probably not much would have left from old Rotterdam.
-In terms of losses of valuable old towns, then Middelburg should be mentioned in the first place, the medieval provincial capital of Zeeland. A large part of the old town was destroyed by the Luftwaffe in 1940, 3 days after Rotterdam. However the rebuilding was carried out in a very sensitive way, somewhat similar of Münster and Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Even a rare 100 % reconstruction was permitted in the 1960s.
- The old town of Arnhem was destroyed about 50 pct during Operation Market Garden and afterwards, and during the 1960s and 1970s a lot was spoiled in an unnecessary way.
This is even more painful for the old town of nearby Nijmegen. Half of the very beautiful old town was destroyed by an RAF air raid (an error) and the fighting during market Garden in 1944. But another 1/3 of the medieval old town near the river was levelled between 1955 and 1975 during one of the notorious 'city reconstructions' similar like Exeter or some East German towns.
Also the old towns of Venlo and Groningen were badly hit. In the latter case some historic buildings around Market square could be reconstructed these days, but they won't do that because reconstruction is almost taboo in our country.
Klassiker #205
Speaking about the destruction of Rotterdam and other towns I would like to give some additional information.
- The casualty rate of the Rotterdam bombing in May 1940 was indeed relatively low considering the destruction of 25.000 houses. But I think for different reasons than you are mentioning. During the bombing of May 14 residential districts were indeed a target for the Luftwaffe; the bombing was ordered by Hermann Göring himself in order to force the Dutch to surrender. However in the previous days there were already small strategic air attacks near the old town and the inhabitants were able to flee their houses before the the big air raid. In 1943 there were almost as many casualties during an air raid aimed at at the port, but hit a nearby residential area.
- You are right that large parts of the old town of Rotterdam consisted of slums, and I think that a large part of the old town would have been demolished anyhow, even without the bombing. Parts of the old town however were quite valuable, especially along the old canals and the St. Laurens church. Taking into account the rutheless attitude of Rotterdam city authorities in the 1970s and 1980s (despite massive protests they managed to demolish the most valuable Art Nouveau church in The Netherlands for example) probably not much would have left from old Rotterdam.
-In terms of losses of valuable old towns, then Middelburg should be mentioned in the first place, the medieval provincial capital of Zeeland. A large part of the old town was destroyed by the Luftwaffe in 1940, 3 days after Rotterdam. However the rebuilding was carried out in a very sensitive way, somewhat similar of Münster and Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Even a rare 100 % reconstruction was permitted in the 1960s.
- The old town of Arnhem was destroyed about 50 pct during Operation Market Garden and afterwards, and during the 1960s and 1970s a lot was spoiled in an unnecessary way.
This is even more painful for the old town of nearby Nijmegen. Half of the very beautiful old town was destroyed by an RAF air raid (an error) and the fighting during market Garden in 1944. But another 1/3 of the medieval old town near the river was levelled between 1955 and 1975 during one of the notorious 'city reconstructions' similar like Exeter or some East German towns.
Also the old towns of Venlo and Groningen were badly hit. In the latter case some historic buildings around Market square could be reconstructed these days, but they won't do that because reconstruction is almost taboo in our country.
