Google Earth WWII Photos Capture Destruction Of War (PICTURES)

The detailed satellite imagery on Google Earth has let users virtually 'travel the world,' and a new feature is letting them 'time travel,' too.

Google Earth's 'Historical Imagery' upgrade allows users to compare a present-day cityscape with how those locations looked decades before.

The upgrade has allowed Google Earth users to see incredible aerial views of Europe as it appeared after the destruction of World War II, , and compare the devastation to how the cities look today.

The Telegraph explains from where Google Earth obtained the images of the war-torn European cities:

The images of Warsaw were taken by Polish and Soviet pilots. However, photos of the other 39 cities were all taken during RAF and United States Air Force reconnaissance missions - mostly to assess the damage following allied bombing raids.

Composite photographs of over thirty European cities are available. See several in the slideshow below.

• • • • • • Stuttgart, Germany 1943 and today

Comments

[terry63]

10:55 PM on 02/06/2010

O.M.G. the allies bombed, Europe into black and white.

[shthar]

02:45 PM on 02/05/2010

I have to install the stupid google earth?

pass

[HonestJohnnis]

04:43 PM on 02/05/2010

Of course you have to install the application if you want to use one of its features.. Why is that even a question.

[Beaupedia]

05:41 AM on 02/06/2010

Absurd.