In case you have been asking the question, or you wanna know why Germany didn’t destroy Eiffel Tower during World War II? There are plenty of reasons for that in the Nazis minds. The Eiffel Tower is a wrought-iron lattice tower on the Champ de Mars in Paris, France. It is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower.
The German soldiers probably left it be simply because of the fact that it was constructed from 1887 to 1889 as the centerpiece of the 1889 World’s Fair. To them, it was an honor to have preserved that historical essence.
In addition to that, the site has since become a global cultural icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The Eiffel Tower is the most visited monument with an entrance fee in the world: 6.91 million people ascended it in 2015. It was designated a monument historique in 1964, and was named part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Why Germany Didn’t Destroy Eiffel Tower During World War II?
According to information gathered from history not too far from us, when Hitler gave the order to the general operating in France who was Dietrich Von Choltitz to burn Paris, he never executed the order. There are no true explanations why he disobeyed Hitler but at that point he thought Hitler became insane. Nowadays he is known as the Nazi who saved Paris. Here we shall be listing out some of the substantial reasons to the question, why Germany didn’t destroy Eiffel Tower during World War II?
The Eiffel Tower is a cousin of sorts to the Statue of Liberty.
Before the Eiffel Tower was built, Eiffel’s firm was asked to design the internal frame for the Statue of Liberty, a task assigned to his trusted employee, Maurice Koechlin. They proved their iron handiwork with Lady Liberty first.
There’s a post office in the Eiffel Tower
Tucked into the first floor of the Tower next to the gift shops, there is a tiny post office. Pick up une carte postale and a stamp and have it mailed from the Eiffel Tower’s post office and it will be delivered with the unique postmark.
The Eiffel Tower doubled as a scientific laboratory
Mr. Eiffel housed a meteorology lab on the Tower’s third floor where he performed studies in physics, aerodynamics, and built a wind tunnel. Eiffel opened the doors of the laboratory to other scientists to use for the experiments, too, and cosmic rays were discovered there.
There’s a secret apartment at the top
When Gustave Eiffel designed his namesake tower, he cleverly included a private apartment for himself where he hosted famous guests, like Thomas Edison. The apartment is now open for the public to tour.
The Eiffel Tower moves
The massive iron structure is wind resistant and will sway during a storm. If the weather is bad enough, it can even move. Wind isn’t the only thing that can make the enormous Tower move, though—the heat of the sun also affects the Tower, causing the iron to expand and contract up to 7 inches.
The Eiffel Tower is covered in names of scientists
French scientists and engineers working in the 19th century were not forgotten by history—not only did they lend their names to Parisian streets, but 72 of their names are also engraved on the Eiffel Tower. The engraved tributes were covered up, but thanks to a restoration effort, they are once again visible and eagle-eyed visitors can see names like Foucault, Dumas, and Perrier cut into the iron.
It takes a lot of work to keep the Eiffel Tower looking good
Every seven years, around 60 tons of paint are applied to the tower. It not only keeps the so-called Iron Lady (La dame de fer) looking good, but it also helps keep the iron from rusting.
There’s a Champagne bar at the top
If you’re brave enough to reach the top of the Tower, reward yourself with a glass of champagne from the Champagne Bar built into the top floor. There’s nothing like a glass of bubbly with a spectacular view.
There’s a military bunker underneath the Eiffel Tower
Underneath the Tower’s south pillar sits a snug bit of history—a secret military bunker that may connect to the nearby Ecole Militaire via a long tunnel. The bunker has now been turned into a small museum and tour groups can explore the diminutive space.
