Budapest was completely bombed during World War II – PHOTO GALLERY
The assault on Budapest in 1945 left hardly any buildings intact, almost everything was destroyed and in shambles.
World War II left Budapest in pieces. Those who were not fighting on the frontlines or were not deported or prisoners of war had to re-build the once glorious Budapest, one of Europe’s gems, wrote PestBuda. Here are some pictures of the wrecked capital.
József Kővágó, mayor of Budapest (1945-1947) wrote in his work, “Budapest’s fight for a new life,” that almost 3.8 per cent of houses were destroyed, and 23.1 per cent of them sustained severe damages. Only 26 per cent of them stayed intact. Dr Béla Makos adds that out of 18,854 apartments, only 4541 were untouched, despite a few glass damages and small scratches. Forty per cent of buildings owned by the capital were either completely destroyed, were life-threateningly dangerous or needed serious repairs. All 209 of the schools were wiped out. Széchenyi Bath sustained 15 per cent, Gellért Bath 70 per cent, Rudas Bath 90 per cent and Rác Bath 95 per cent of damages.
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Because of the central position of the Buda castle, it took a lot of bullets and bombs. Thankfully most of its walls and structure remained unharmed, but many decorations were utterly destroyed.
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The hotels on the bank of the Danube were demolished. Carlton, Grand Hotel Dunapalota and Grand Hotel Hungária all burnt down beyond repair.
Some of the buildings, unfortunately, ceased to exist forever. Even if they did manage to escape the bombs, many buildings were torn down by communists, and new ones were built in their place.
Source: pestbuda.hu