The blitz, Berlin 1945, and Ukraine today

Seeing the heartrending and terrifying images coming out of Ukraine, I am reminded of Greta Briggs poem written under the blitz.

The bombs have shattered my churches

Have torn my streets apart.

But they have not bent my spirit

And they shall not break my heart

In April 1945 under day and night bombardment in Berlin very similar sentiments appeared in makeshift signs pinned to ruins:

“Our walls are breaking but not our hearts.” Both quoted in Api’s Berlin Diaries

Perhaps both show how ineffective is the bombing of civilians, although the toll and human suffering are enormous.

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