Like most of the famous landmarks of Berlin, this grand Baroque and Rococo palace suffered severe damage during WWII.
The worst damage occurred during an intense Allied bombing raid on the nights of November 22 and 23, 1943. The palace was hit directly by firebombs and incendiary devices.
The dome, the lavish ceremonial rooms, together with thousands of historical royal treasures, were entirely destroyed by fire.
Following Germany's defeat in 1945, the palace faced a new threat of total demolition. The initial post-war authorities considered bulldozing the remaining hollow shells completely.
However, a passionate campaign led by Margarete Kühn, the director of the West Berlin State Palaces and Gardens, successfully saved the ruins.
Charlottenburg Palace was painstakingly and meticulously reconstructed over several decades to return it to its pre-war appearance.