The Frauenkirche - Dresden's symbol of war and reconstruction

Witness History

BBC

History, Personal Journals, Society & Culture

4.4 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 14 March 2022

⏱️ 10 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In 2005 Dresden’s Lutheran church, the Frauenkirche, opened its doors to the public for the first time in 60 years. The Frauenkirche in the East German city of Dresden was destroyed in 1945 by British and American bombing. The church remained in ruins for over 40 years. Then, in 1993, a painstaking project began to piece the church back together and restore it to its former glory. Josephine Casserly talks to Thomas Gottschlich who was one of the architects leading the reconstruction.

PHOTO: Ruins of the Frauenkirche in Dresden, Germany after the WWII bombing in 1945. (Probst/Ullstein Bild via Getty Images)

Transcript

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0:00.0	Just before this BBC podcast gets underway, here's something you may not know.
0:04.7	My name's Linda Davies and I Commission Podcasts for BBC Sounds.
0:08.5	As you'd expect, at the BBC we make podcasts of the very highest quality featuring the most knowledgeable experts and genuinely engaging voices.
0:18.0	What you may not know is that the BBC makes podcasts about all kinds of things like pop stars,
0:24.6	poltergeist, cricket, and conspiracy theories and that's just a few examples.
0:29.7	If you'd like to discover something a little bit unexpected, find your next podcast over at BBC Sounds.
0:36.0	Thank you for downloading the Witness History Podcast from the BBC World Service with me Josephine
0:46.9	Cassily.
0:48.3	This week we're looking at the stories behind five historic buildings from around the world. At this time of war we're starting with a historic Baroque church in the German city of Dresden.
0:58.3	It was reduced to rubble during World War II but later rebuilt peace by peace.
1:04.0	I spoke to the architect behind the reconstruction.
1:07.0	Peace be with you.
1:10.0	Charlem Alachm.
1:12.0	Fridesemit is all. In October 2005,
1:15.0	2005, Dresden's Church, the Frauenkur opened its doors to the public for the first time in 60 years.
1:25.0	The church itself was full, but crowds of people joined the service from outside,
1:30.0	wrapped up in coats and scarves and singing from hymn sheets.
1:33.2	It was a big day, it was cold but sunshining.
1:41.1	It was cold but sun shining. We had a lot of visitors coming in until the day
1:48.5	before it was the building site and with this opening it was open to the public.
1:54.7	How are you feeling?
1:55.9	I felt relieved, I felt very happy.
	...

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