Why are postcards of Cologne in ruins following WW2 bombing sold in the city?

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As a German, I can't remember seeing such postcards anywhere, though I haven't been to Cologne (except for changing trains). I'm pretty sure it's not meant politically - a tourist shop is surely the last place that would do anything meant to offend tourists (and an unlikely place for a nationalist to own or work at).

But it is certainly true that the devastation suffered by German cities in WWII is an important part of our history and somewhat of a national trauma (and Cologne was one of the worst-hit cities). Postcards depicting destroyed landmarks like churches were sometimes distributed in order to get people to donate for the reconstruction efforts. It's a bit weird to have them show up in tourist shops, but I wouldn't see it as anything other than a bit of history.

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There was a bombing campaign by the RAF only 4 days before the city was captured by the American forces. Perhaps it is to act as a reminder to some of the needless operations against the civilian population right at the end of the war when the outcome was fairly certain.

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