US-Troops march by Altenkirchen and Ebeleben (SFP 186)

On March 7th 1945 Altenkirchen encountered several aerial attacks by the US-Air force, destroying most of the city.193 buildings were razed to the ground and more than 200 civilians were killed. Both churches, all schools and the rail station were in ruins. The reconstruction of Altenkirchen had been achieved in 1965.

During the Second World the German's forced prisoners of countries occupied by Germany to labor in the field of agriculture in Ebeleben. On April 8th and 9th 1945 US-Troops destroyed several historical buildings, e.g. the the Ebelebener castle. To impede the advance of the US-Army, the German SS blew up some of the bridges. The city later was considered as part of the Soviet zone.