Memorial Ruins Himmelpforten Monastery

The Himmelpforten Monastery (German: Kloster Himmelpforten) was a Cistercian abbey on the banks of the Möhne River. Founded in 1246, the monastery existed until its secularization at the beginning of the 19th century.

During the night of 16 to 17 May 1943, the British Royal Air Force carried out Operation "Chastise," targeting the Möhne Dam, located four kilometers upstream. This mission was a response to the extensive German bombing raids on England since 1940. The destruction of the dam unleashed a powerful flood wave—initially more than twelve meters high—that completely swept away the Himmelpforten monastery. Tragically, the local priest and several residents lost their lives.

Today, a monument stands on the site of the former monastery, honoring the memory of the more than 1,200 victims of the Möhne disaster.

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Source

• Text: TracesofWar
• Photos: Kassander der Minoer