#ThenAndNow

US tanks pictured in Schevenhütte, Germany, sometime during 1945, vs. modern days. We can see that, quite remarkably, the buildings and architecture captured in the photograph have not changed at all in the 80 years since the end of the war (although the cafe on the left seems to have …

From the architectural diversity of so many wonderful buildings, to grey communist standardization, the Romanian capital is a city which wears both its rich history and deep wounds on its sleeve. Having suffered heavy bombings at the hands of both Allied and Axis forces during the war years, Bucharest is …

Church in Foy, Belgium, near Bastogne, pictured in January 1945 during the Battle of the Bulge, and in 2019. In the historical photograph we see a wrecked Panzer IV tank. The village of Foy was made famous by the exceptional TV Mini Series “Band of Brothers”. The Battle of the …

The Ludendorff Bridge pictured in 1945, compared to modern times. The Bridge was built in World War One at Remagen, Germany, to help German movements over the Rhine river. In early March 1945, it was a critical bridge still left standing, as the Allies achieved a surprisingly quick advance towards …

Bucharest North Train Station, the largest railway station in Romania, Spring of 1948 (according to the top-left banner) vs modern times. Notice the communist insignia in the middle of the historical photograph, and the banners which advertise some kind of conference for a youth organization. By 1948, King Michael I …

A bunker pictured during World War Two has been turned into a flower shop, 1945 vs 2018. It seems like the windmill in the bunker was being reconditioned in the second photograph. Alkmaar went through a rather uneventful occupation by German forces during World War Two. However, the Jewish community …

The bombing of Dresden (13-15 February 1945) has been a highly controversial topic of debate over the years. Trying to force Germany into submission, the British and the Americans bombed a civilian city with little strategic importance, killing around 25.000 civilians in the process. During and after the war propaganda …

The 1945 photo was taken by British forces during the Battle of Weeze, which was part of the Allied operation “Veritable”. The Weeze Town Square, seen in the images, was 87% destroyed during the War. Book suggestion ⤵️ 📖 The Rhineland 1945: The Last Killing Ground in the West (Ken …

Abbey of Monte Cassino, Italy, in ruins after Allied bombings in February 1944, vs 2007. Allied forces wiped the monastery from the face of the Earth believing it was a vantage point for German forces. They were not sure it was, but decided to bomb it anyway in case the …

Ruined Warsaw buildings in 1945, rebuilt and photographed in 2016. Warsaw was effectively flattened by German forces by late 1944, with more than 80% of buildings reported to have been destroyed, but the Polish Capital was rebuilt by the 1970s with the remarkable effort of its people. Book suggestion ⤵️ …