Name/Title
StereographEntry/Object ID
2023.055.3.0127Description
A black and white stereograph. Image is of a large cathedral overlooking a village. Above the image "W87 (Star)" is printed, below the image "18731 The World Renowned Cathedral at Reims, France, Ruined by the Germans." is printed, to the left of the image "Keystone View Company Copyrighted Manufacturers MADE IN U.S.A. Publishers" is printed, to the right of the image "Meadville, Pa., New York, N. Y., Chicago, Ill., London, England." is printed. On the reverse the following is printed:
--731
-HE WORLD RENOWNED CATHEDRAL OF REIMS, FRANCE, RUINED BY THE GERMANS
Before us, marvellous in symmetry and beauty, even through shamefully defaced, towers the Cathedral of Reims, one of the architectural glories and historic shrines of France.
This magnificent sanctuary of religion was bombared and cruelly shattered by the Germans after they were driven out of Reims in Spetember, 1914. They tried to justify their action by the false claim that the towers were being used for purposes of observation by the French, though as a matter of fact the great building was in use as a hospital. Nevertheless the enemy shelled it until the roof fell in, filling the interior with ruins, while some of the delicate stone columns of the towers were demolished and the pricelss stained glass windows and countless pieces of exquisite stone carving were shattered.
It was concerning the wanton mutilation of the Reims Cathedral that a distingusihed German officer, Majro General von Ditfurth, made his arrogant and infamous declaration in a leading German newspaper, the "Hamburger Nachrichten", in November, 1914, saying: - "It is of no consequence if all the monuments ever created, all the pictures ever painted, and all the buildings ever erected by the great architects of the world were destoryed, if by their destruction we promote Germany's victory over her enemies. Let neutral peoples and our enemeies cease their empty chatter, which is no better than the twittering fo birds. Let them cease their talks about the Cathedral at Reims and about all the curches and castles of France which have shared its fate. These things do not interest us."
Copyright by the Keystone View CompanyCollection
Photograph Collection