Before And After Pictures Showing How Europe Has Changed Over Time

World War II in Europe erupted when the Germans attacked Poland. Germany had allies such as Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania. Some European countries that fought against the Axis powers were Britain, the Soviet Union, and France. These before and after pictures show the destruction of war, different places, people, monuments, and the landscapes of Europe.

Burning Peterhof Palace after the Nazi invasion. September 1941. Before photo: Unknown author, after photo: Sergey Larenkov.

On June 14, 1940, troops of the German Wehrmacht occupied Paris. The picture shows the victory parade of the German 30th Infantry Division on the Avenue Foch in front of General Kurt von Briesen (1886–1941). Before photo: Deutsches Bundesarchiv, after photo: Nicolai Wolpert.

Catholic house transformed by the Germans into a cinema. 1941. Before photo: Unknown author, after photo: Filip.

Captured German soldiers at Juno Beach shortly before their deportation to England. In the background, the villa “Denise et Roger” can be seen. It is one of the most famous places from the time of D-Day. June 6, 1944. Before photo: Ken Bell, after photo: Lena.

A crowd celebrates the arrival of Allied troops during a victory parade for the liberation of Paris, when shots from a sniper on one of the rooftops are suddenly heard. The Parisians quickly scatter for cover. Although the city was officially abandoned by the Germans, small bands of snipers remained active, which made the victory celebrations dangerous. August 29, 1944. Before photo: National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, after photo: Nicolai Wolpert.

The city center and US troops in June 1944. Several US vehicles are parked on the Quai de Caligny west of the rotary bridge. Before photo: Unknown author, after photo: Hegemonus.

The south side of the Aachen Town Hall at Katschhof at the end of World War II. The town hall is one of the most important buildings in the historic center of Aachen. It was repeatedly rebuilt and expanded over many centuries. The oldest part of the monument is the Granusturm from the time of Charlemagne. During World War II, the town hall suffered badly from several bombing raids. On July 14, 1943, the roof and both city hall towers burned out, and the steel skeletons of the tower domes, bent by the heat, dominated the appearance of the town hall for several years. Rebuilding followed in the 1950s; the two tower caps were the last to be finished, in 1978. Before photo: Stadtarchiv Aachen / Stadtbildstelle, after photo: Nicolai Wolpert.

Captured German soldiers await their transport at the railway station in Bernières-Sur-Mer. Today, the old station building serves as the tourist office. 1944. Before photo: Unknown author, after photo: Lena.

Priest 105mm self-propelled guns of the French 2nd Armoured Division in front of Notre Dame in Paris, August 26, 1944. Photo of the Imperial War Museum (IWM). Before photo: IWM (BU 127), after photo: Nicolai Wolpert.

German soldier in Alkmaar at the Langestraat. 1941. Before photo: Unknown author, after photo: Regionaal Archief Alkmaar.

In May 1943, the Allies dropped specially developed “bouncing bombs” on select dams in Germany’s industrial heartland. The Möhne dam was the hardest hit, and 1,600 civilians died in the flooding. The attack was dramatized in the film The Dam Busters (1955). Before photo: Schalber, after photo: jamesvdm.

August 1944. Since 1940, Paris had been occupied by German troops. As the Allied army approached the capital, this encouraged the Parisian population to resist. A general strike broke out, followed by open revolts. Barricades were erected everywhere in the city, including here on the rue St. Placide, and around August 20, the Resistance took control of the city. Although militarily inefficient, these barricades had a symbolic character for the Paris uprising. Before photo: Jean-Jacques Lebel, after photo: Nicolai Wolpert.

The villa “Denise et Roger” is one of the most famous places from the time of D-Day. The region around Bernières-Sur-Mer was liberated by Canadian soldiers on June 6, 1944. Before photo: Archives Nationales du Canada, after photo: Lena.

German officers in the headquarters of the Wehrmacht in Huize Voorhout in Alkmaar. 1942. Before photo: Unknown author, after photo: Regionaal Archief Alkmaar.

In the background is the Assumption Cathedral. 1941. Before and after photo: Lena.

San Lorenzo, Rome after the Allied bombing on July 19, 1943. Before photo: LaRepubblica, after photo: GoogleMaps.

Paris in September 1944, shortly after the recapture. To protect against potential German counterattacks, an anti-aircraft gun was provisionally installed by American soldiers in the park of the Palais de Chaillot. Before photo: Anonym, Agence Gamma Rapho, after photo: Nicolai Wolpert.

Destroyed tram and houses on the Rentforterstrasse in Gladbeck at the end of World War II. The house with the gabled facade in the background is the main entrance of the St. Barbara hospital. Today there are no more tramways in Gladbeck. 1945. Before photo: Vestische Straßenbahnen GmbH, after photo: Nicolai Wolpert.

The Opéra Garnier decorated with swastikas for a festival of German music during the Occupation of Paris. The Germans organized a series of concerts in the occupied city, including performances by the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Herbert von Karajan. 1941. Before photo: Deutsches Bundesarchiv, after photo: Nicolai Wolpert.

Barricade on the Pont Neuf at the intersection with the Quai de Conti, August 1944. Since 1940, Paris had been occupied by German troops. As the Allied army approached the capital, this encouraged the Parisian population to resist. A general strike broke out, followed by open revolts. Barricades were erected everywhere in the city, and around August 20, the Resistance took control of the city. Although militarily inefficient, these barricades had a symbolic character for the Paris uprising. Before photo: Bibliothèque Nationale de France, after photo: Nicolai Wolpert.

June 1944. Before photo: A. Grimm (Bundesarchiv), after photo: Lena.

A school building destroyed by Nazi bombing. 1941. Before photo: Unknown author, after photo: Sergey Larenkov.

On September 10, 1943, Porta San Paolo was the scene of the last attempt by the Italian army to prevent the German occupation of Rome. On the evening of the 9th, the 21st Infantry Division “Granatieri di Sardegna” moved toward the center, engaging in fierce fighting on the Via Laurentina (Tre Fontane locality), around the Exposition Hill (current EUR district), and Forte Ostiense. The German troops marched on the Via Ostiense toward the heart of Rome. Despite the overwhelming numerical and arms superiority of the enemy, the walls of Porta San Paolo became a defensive strongpoint of resistance, protected by barricades and vehicle carcasses. The grenadiers fought there with courage, alongside numerous civilians. Before photo: ComunediRoma, after photo: StuartSW6.

Wehrmacht soldiers in the city of Schagen in The Netherlands. 1940. Before photo: Foto Niestadt, after photo: Regionaal Archief Alkmaar.

San Lorenzo after the bombing in 1943, with Princess Marie-José inspecting the damage. Before photo: Instituto Luce, after photo: GoogleMaps.

Aerial shot of Lodz made near the end of World War II (1942) compared with Google Earth’s view from 2017. Before photo: Unknown author, after photo: Google Earth.

An old bunker is now used as a plant shop. The old photo was taken in 1945, the new one in 2018. Before photo: Unknown author, after photo: Regionaal Archief Alkmaar.

September 9, 1943. Before photo: LaRepubblica, after photo: StuartSW6.

After parts of the city were liberated by the Allies, horse carts brought food to those who had taken refuge in the Abbey of Saint-Étienne. July 10, 1944. Before photo: National Archives Canada, after photo: Lena.

Mobilization of Dutch soldiers before the “Ambachtsschool” in Alkmaar, The Netherlands. 1939. Before photo: Unknown author, after photo: Regionaal Archief Alkmaar.