Footsteps of WWII · Berlin & eastern Germany
Dresden Frauenkirche and the 1945 bombing
Memorial · 13–15 Feb 1945
The story
On the night of 13 February 1945 RAF Bomber Command attacked Dresden, followed by the US Eighth Air Force; over three days some 1,300 heavy bombers dropped more than 3,900 tons of bombs, and a firestorm destroyed the old city. The baroque Frauenkirche survived the night but, gutted by fire, its great stone dome collapsed at 10 am on 15 February. Under East German rule the heap of rubble was kept as a memorial against war. It was rebuilt from 1994 using original stones where possible and reconsecrated on 30 October 2005; the new orb and cross were made by Alan Smith, son of an RAF bomber crewman.
What to look for
Look at the exterior: darker, fire-blackened original stones are set among the pale new sandstone. Inside, the twisted original cross from the dome stands near the altar. A memorial room recalls the ruin, and the dome platform gives views over the rebuilt Altstadt.
Plan your visit
Church open to visitors most days, roughly 10:00–11:30 and 13:00–17:30 between services; free. Dome ascent is charged. Times vary with services and concerts, so check the website before you go.
Things change, so check opening times before you travel.
Nearby sites
- Bundeswehr Military History Museum, Dresden · 3 km
- Colditz Castle · 66 km
- Terezín Memorial · 67 km
- Torgau: the Elbe Day meeting · 76 km
All 160 sites in Footsteps of WWII →
Footsteps of WWII: Europe 1939–1945
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