Nuremberg at night!  On 2 January 1945, the medieval city center was systematically bombed by the Royal Air Force and the U.S. Army Air Forces and about ninety percent of it was destroyed in only one hour, with 1,800 residents killed and roughly 100,000 displaced.

Nuremberg was a heavily fortified city during WWII. Despite this intense degree of destruction, the city was rebuilt after the war and was to some extent, restored to its pre-war appearance including the reconstruction of some of its medieval buildings. However, the biggest part of the historic structural condition of the old Imperial Free City was lost forever.

Bridge over the Pegnitz River in the old town center

City wall tower and dome in the old city center with the half moon in the sky

Church and monument in the old town center