The survival of the Cologne Cathedral was not pure luck. Its towering twin spires served as an easily recognizable navigational landmark for Allied bomber pilots, ironically sparing it from targeted destruction. While it endured 14 direct hits, its fundamental stone structure proved resilient. Post-war, the city faced its 'Stunde Null' or Zero Hour. The immense task of clearing an estimated 32 million cubic meters of debris fell largely to the 'Trümmerfrauen' — the rubble women — who tirelessly

Berlin Now & Then - Episode 21: Stunde Null