Bombing of the palaces

[neva]

While reading the posts and sometimes in the books we read about  parts of the palaces or specific buildings as "destroyed during the war"... It is beyond my comprehension as to why would people bomb history and heritage!
Does anyone know if 1) imperial palaces were bombed on purpose 2) were they bombed from air or ground 3) exactly what was their use during the war (did the Germans convert them to offices for their army etc..?!

Thanks.

neva

[londo954]

Remember that after the revolution the Palaces were converted to government offices, Therefore prime targets anyway. The Winter Palace was bombed regularly duuring the seige...specifally targetted by mortar fire and from the air. Hitler had little regard for the history of the countries he invaded his blitzkreig bombing was for total destruction. Some historians beleive also that he was mentally stuck in 1914 (official plans for Barbarossa called teh city St. PEtersburg) Making the Winter Palace the prime target. The Suburban Palaces (Pavlovsk, Gatchina and Tsarskoe Selo) were taken over by teh nazi's and looted. they were used to house troops, as Army headquarters or headquarters for the Gestapo. Remember that these towns grew around the Palaces making them a central and logical place to make headquarters. As to the senseless destruction at the end. It makes no sense to me either the need to totally destroy the landmarks. The Spanish Blue Brigade I understand was housed in a wing of the Catherine Palace. The pavilions in teh Imperial Park were used for target Practice hence the destruciton of the English Palace at Peterhof. As the old saying goes WAR IS HELL !!!!

[neva]

Thanks for the info londo. It is sad that what is built over decades can be destroyed in a second.

neva

[londo954]

It sure is...if you go to the tzarskoe Selo website and the Peterhof website you can see photos of the destruction of these Palaces....they were little more than bombed out shells...it is a triumph to teh Russian craftsmen that they were so expertly destroyed....

[londo954]

Sorry for the typo is should read RESTORED not destroyed....also the Pavlvosk webiste has some phtos of teh destruction

[Alan]

It was Hitler's plan to wipe St Petersburg off the face of the earth.
Alan

[Russian Art Lover]

What I find particularly unpleasant was the decision to use part of the Alexander Park as an SS cemetery! I cannot remember which part exactly - was it the area beyond the pond in front of the palace?

[EmmyLee]

I don't know if there were graves elsewhere in the park, but there were plenty of soldiers buried right in front of the palace.

[Robert_Hall]

I think most, if not all, military graves  have been exhumed and repatriated.  There is international respect  for war graves, even amongst enemies.

[newfan]

Hey Robert
That's so true, now I know why there are WWII German cemeteries in Slovakia and they  are very well taken care of by the Germany .I always found that little strange as a kid

[Robert_Hall]

IMO  anyone who dies in uniform, deserves respect. I am a die hard pacifist, but I have a  huge respect  for those who serve, if if opposed to me.

[Russian Art Lover]

I don't know if there were graves elsewhere in the park, but there were plenty of soldiers buried right in front of the palace.

Yes, that is what I was thinking of, you are right - there was no actual cemetery, only burials in front of the palace.

[Tatiana Z]

I think most, if not all, military graves  have been exhumed and repatriated.  There is international respect  for war graves, even amongst enemies.

It is wery sad , but this graves of Germain  soldiers are there today , in front of Alexander Palace .
They were not exhumed and repatriated. Sorry ......

http://gazeta.aif.ru/online/aif/1383/06_01

[Vladimir_V.]

It is wery sad , but this graves of Germain  soldiers are there today , in front of Alexander Palace .
They were not exhumed and repatriated.

It was done in 2007-2009.
Look Tsarskoe Selo website: http://www.tzar.ru/info/newsarchive/?id=2822

[TimM]

Sadly, what the Nazis did was their intended goal, they were known for destroying historical buildings.

If they had invaded the U.S., could see them doing the same thing to Mount Vernon, Montecello (sp?), and other historical homes.