Chapter 241 Strassburger Munster

Our Vacation in France

6/4/2010

Strassburger Munster

Before we knew it, it was over. We had buzzed down Hitler's speed unlimited Autobahn in 1976 as fast as Kathy and our 4 cylinders would allow us (maybe 120 Km/hr) . Herds of wandering cows impeding our path from time to time thru various villages. I would say that looked just like Kathy in high boots, but she would  deny it. This sight may look strange to some, but I ushered cows across the road in my day as well.

We wanted to hit Strasbourg, France for a lunch of wine and cheese or an éclair and cappuccino at an outdoor cafe but I cannot recall a lot of the specific details. (I've been called out lately for less than 100% reporting accuracy). On the way out of town, Kathy was able to get this snap of a merely bourgeois church just as a remembrance.

We had been amazed by the cathedrals in town and I believe we walked around this one pictured with the flying buttresses . I did not even attempt a picture there as it would not fit in the viewfinder. Recently I received another batch of Nazi WHW glass from an ebayer in Vetschau, Germany (2 wks with volcanic delay). It included this Strassburger Munster, or  Strasbourg Cathedral, or Cathedral of Notre Dame. A German was the primary architect and I guess the Nazis felt like they owned it after their invasion. There is some kind of connection with Munster, Germany. While checking out that aspect, I found that 91% of old Munster might have been destroyed in the Allied bombing on 25 Oct 44. That was the same date Dad had bombed Munster.*

All this is trivial, compared to the real story. Check out a picture  of the real size of this cathedral. Construction started in 1015, dare I say for God's sake. And it was the tallest building in the world until 1874. Yet the Nazis have allowed me to hold the enormous 466 foot spire comfortably within my grasp here. The dozen breathtaking  360 photo series 

allow you to explore this monument inside and out day and night easily like a tourist, yet from your desktop. The 13th century stained glass windows you'll see, were taken by the Nazis to their salt mines but recovered after the war. I am enjoying this trip to Strasbourg thru cyberspace now far more than when I actually went there.

*[Neumunster, which is hundreds of miles further north, not to confuse - but in the interests of accuracy- is listed on Dad's certificate, and it was also a part of that day's ETO mission, but the 489th BG lists Munster as does radio operator John Foster's diary. I talked with John this week, but he doesn't have internet so could not set up a procedure to nail down details any further. ]

A note on my Vetschau, Germany contact. Dad had also bombed that area of Eschweiler and Aachen -one mile from Vetschau. This was one site of the Army's breaching of the Siegfried Line and the tank trap impediments: these Dragon's teeth in Vetschau.