Rotterdam Blitz Memorial

Today exactly 75 years ago the capitulation of the Netherlands in second World War began almost the same way Japen surrendered at the end of WW2... By bombing the entire city of Rotterdam to pieces.*

To remember this event Zadkine was assigned to make a sculpture to visualise the result.

Zadkine created this screaming man with his arms towards the sky while his heart has been ripped out, just like the entire centre of Rotterdam.

Tonight Rotterdam remembers!

Despite almost al the history of Rotterdam was erassed, Rotterdam made a brave decision to become the most modern skyline of Holland instead... and in my opinion they succeded.

ps. press the button 'one year back' and go ahead one day to may 15th 2014 to see some of the damage.

*Wiki:
The objective was to support the German troops fighting in the city, break Dutch resistance and force the Dutch to surrender. Even though preceding negotiations resulted in a ceasefire, the bombardment took place nonetheless, in conditions which remain controversial, and destroyed almost the entire historic city centre, killing nearly 900 people and making 85,000 others homeless. The Germans threatened to bomb the city of Utrecht the next day, which made the Dutch surrender.