The "Miracle in the Cathedral" Photo Album was first posted up on January 20, 2012 into Picasa and has been viewed by 11,981 viewers around the world since this public posting. Google has removed Picasa Images and Albums so that content will now be hosted here.
I thank you for your interest in this history over these many years, and I will work as diligently as I can in the months going forward to insure that these images and history will be available 24/7 in the years ahead. I will also try to correct any errors in the descriptions that may have come to light since the original "post-up" dates in all of my albums. I may also try to improve the quality of all photographs by using a cleaner version of the same image from my expanded collection here. Most of the text paragraphs should remain the same, however, if significant new information is now available, I will update those paragraphs as needed.
The Author. (9-11-2016)
The Woman that survived the bombing inside the cathedral near the small Pulpit on March 4, 1945.
A Love Story of a woman that survived the bombing inside the Cathedral on March 4, 1945 can now be read in two languages here.
The Nave and Small Pulpit at the North side Aisle.
Note the aisle space between the forward and the latter sections of the pews as indicated by sunlight on the floor tiles. This allowed easy access for the priest to the Small Pulpit for delivering his address to a smaller group of worshipers. Anna was probably seated in the most forward section and next to the North Aisle while waiting for her brother-in-law at the moment of the bombing. (See the next image.)
I believe that Anna would have been seated next to the pew end at this North Aisle after perhaps walking about the cathedral after that morning service. As the time grew longer, she sat here waiting and expecting the arrival of her brother-in-law at any moment. (He did not come.) She would have seen the side entrance door in the South Transept from this position, but she continued to patiently wait for his arrival. By 12:42, he still had not arrived, and now the bombers are roaring above in the sky as the bombs that hit the cathedral were falling from the first Bomb Group over the city (the 485th Bomb Group from an altitude of 23,500 feet overhead and releasing 208 bombs, 52 tons of RDX high explosive and all fused at .01 nose and .01 tail).
Delayed fusing allowed the bombs to enter the air space of structures, including this cathedral below the ceiling and the resulting force of the explosion destroyed the roofing, ceiling areas and walls with utter completeness. So strong was the concussion, that it folded the oak pews of the Nave like a deck of playing cards now trapping and protecting Anna at the same time below. She did often state that: "She did not have any broken bones," and was released from the hospital that very evening.
It should also be noted, that the Cathedral was not the target and presented no military value to the Allies. There were however, over 200 box and tank cars on the sidings at the Railroad Station filled with German military supplies. The spread of aircraft in the skies over Szombathely covered an area from the Cathedral to the Railroad sidings at the station. See the Bomb Plots and Photographs here.
The Cathedral Floor Plan
The above image was created several years ago and has been modified as new information and pictures became available here. Additional images showing the extent of damages to the interiors required a need to modify the positions of the explosions that are illustrated above. A short description of these colored notations in the above "Plan View" now follows.
Green Lines: Blast damage that had been photographed in 1945 extended deep into both Transepts, and would place the most forward bomb in the Nave very close to where Anna was sitting at the moment of detonation.
The Blue Wedge: We know that Anna was waiting for about an hour after the morning service ended and she would probably have taken a seat where she would see her brother-in-law enter the South Transept. (Read the story on the website: A Miracle in the Cathedral that was posted on March 2, 2012). In the Google Search Bar, enter the following: Szombathely Cathedral Bombing. Her story can be found in the column on the left in two languages.
The four Red Circles: Indicate approximate locations of bomb explosions. Four bombs have been noted that were described by German soldiers as "3-4 chained mines" hitting the cathedral on March 4, 1945. This was picked up in newspapers of the day and written about in books by Dr. Géfin Gyula, Rev. Toronyi István, and again by authors in modern times.
The Young Sweethearts
The Church where Anna and István were married. (Undated)
Anna holding their daughter in the window. (Undated)
The deterioration of the building stucco finishes at the sidewalk and above are the results of snow that gathers on the surface of the wall in winter. Having lived in Chicago, Illinois for many years, this same condition as well as the adjoining sidewalks, suffered greatly from the long winters, season after season. Below, the same home today after a remodeling project of some years ago.
The family in an undated photograph but probably taken at an earlier time than the following image. Hair bows, dolls and purses were in style in both Hungary and here in California. (I know, having had four sisters to contend with being the only brother.) How universal is this plain vanilla family photograph now found in everyone's old Family Photograph Album.
Anna, István and their children. (undated)
A very typical backyard photograph that can be found in every Family album all around the world. Anna and István seated on a backyard bench with the children arranged behind them by height. The photograph is undated but I would think the late 1950s to mid 1960s would be a good guess.
Sunday Morning 9-16-2012 10:45 am
Two of Anna's children arrive at the Cathedral just prior to the 11:00am. Mass. Mária and László are escorted by the author (with briefcase), and his wife leading our guests to the front entry. The photograph was taken by the youngest daughter, Erzsébet who had arrived earlier on this Sunday morning.
Anna's children with author's wife before the Mass (9-16-2012).
Anna's children, Erzsébet, László, author's wife, and Mária, were welcomed at the entrance to the cathedral where the women were presented with corsages. During the Mass, we all sat in the approximate area of their mother's seating on March 4, 1945 as she waited in the cathedral for her brother-in-law (Chaplin József Tornyos), to arrive back into the cathedral from the Bishop's Palace next door.
In 1945, the Mass began at 10:00 a.m. and was dual purposed: "A Celebration of the Anniversary of Pope Pius the 12th", and "A Day of Adoration of the Eucharist. The service had ended by 11:40 a.m. Seated also in the cathedral at this morning's service was the author's wife (as a little girl in '45), with her family, then unknown to Anna. This family returned home for the noonday meal immediately following this day's Mass.
(Archive records indicate that approximately 3,000 persons were in attendance on that Sunday Morning in March of 1945. Perhaps a hand full of persons still remained inside the cathedral at 12:42 p.m.)
Following the service in 2012, we gather in the Madonna Chapel to view the pews that are the same as their mother had sat in at the Nave on that Sunday in 1945. In Hungarian, my wife details the location and the damage after the bombing to the interiors of the cathedral Nave, and how their mother could have survived under the rubble following the bombing, and who also was released from the hospital that very night without injury.
Altar of the Madonna Chapel.
We leave the Chapel and depart the cathedral with a warm heart knowing that we now have a greater understanding of the events of March 4, 1945, and how the Matriarch of this family survived with her loving husband, to raise another beautiful Hungarian family out of the ruins of war.
We head off to the Főtér for wine and a marvelous lunch together.
It is in my mind, even now (October 12, 2016), how it is possible that a newspaper article in the Vas Népe from 1945, (in fact, a short by-line of an article) now brings together this Hungarian family, this author and his wife from an ocean and continent away, with an unbelievable story all meshing together before the very same cathedral that was so horrifically defaced in 1945.
Lunch at the Pannonia Étterem Garden Restaurant (near the Franciscan Church)
Many more discussions. What a marvelous day we had together, and we promise that we should meet again on another visit to enjoy their city and see the same store that was started by their parents many years ago and is still being managed by the family today.
KOVÁCS SÁNDOR 1893-1972.
The 12th Bishop of the Szombathely Diocese 1944-1972. Upon his shoulders, the great task of rebuilding this Cathedral was now placed. He always stated that he wished to hear the music and the morning Mass while being close to his faithful flock. And so it is.
The small Pulpit after the bombing of 1945.
A view of the small Pulpit at the third column on the north side of the Nave. The image was probably taken from the scaffolding on the south wall with the sun well high in the sky. Heavy debris on the floor of the Nave has now been removed along with the rubble in front of the Pulpit as is shown in the following image. The sided Chapels have been cleared of major rubble, and in the first Chapel you can see signs of the stacking of stones or bricks on a pallet.
A board was placed inside the Pulpit to keep debris from the roof demolition from falling into the Pulpit. Shadow lines on the left side of the image still reflect roof rafters above now void of sheathing and roof tiles. The intensity of sunlight high in the sky would have probably place the time of this photograph in late spring or early summer of 1945.
Photographs from this bombing period show extensive damage to the cathedral and these images can be viewed in other Photo Albums on this site. It shortly became apparent, that following the bombing, a security fence would be needed to protect inquisitive citizens from being hurt by falling debris, who were then flocking to the cathedral in mass. The theft of metal debris and/or broken wood from inside or outside the cathedral could be used for heating and cooking, and this soon became problematic and a safety issue.
The removal of artifacts that had survived the interior explosions were now cause of great concern by the Bishop, his staff, and the contractor. Securing this cathedral was soon mandatory and the surviving items were inventoried, boxed up and taken to a secure location away from the cathedral. At this same time, 195 pieces from the large Altar Painting were gathered up from behind the High Altar and placed into a box for safekeeping.
Now some 68 years later, these remnants of the painting were sent to Budapest, and the story of this great "Labor of Love" in the restoration of this painting will come with images to this website in 2017.
The photographs of the damage to the small Pulpit have been well published in the press and publications from this earlier period. The following two head-on images from the perspective of the floor of the cathedral, now in closer examination, details clues to be found that give greater amplification of the events from this day in March of 1945, as well as the details of the core construction of the cathedral not seen in these modern times.
In the following two images, the resolution of the photograph has been somewhat improved and enlarged for a closer observation of the details now bathed in a softer light.
The above view now exposes the raw core of the original construction of the columns, the return wall into the second chapel on the north side of the Nave. This basic construction began on August 29, 1791 with the laying of the Corner Stone that was then dedicated to the Virgin Mary by the first Bishop, Szily János.
The now exposed original brick, stone and mortar work that goes back over 200 years still retains its original form and strength. The original plaster surface coating has been peeled back by the force of the bomb's exploding in the airspace of the Nave in 1945. Note the two edges of the return wall into chapels, the small Pulpit column and the single column near the altar of the second Chapel. Today,
a Faux-marble finish can be seen on the columns that probably replicates the look of the older original work. This new work continued on long after the Rededication in 1947 and on into the 50's / 60's as money was made available for this work.
The Tester or Sounding Board of the small pulpit was heavily damaged by the blast, now leans to the left, exposing the delicate wood lathing and plaster work and its connection to the column. Often well decorated, as is the "Pulpit" today at the crossing, you can see the decoration on the Tester in Image #2 of this album that would be pre 1945.
The plaster coating now peeled back on both sides of these columns, again indicates positioning of the explosion in the air space of the Nave at the 2-3 o'clock position over the pews. The force of the explosion of the most forward bomb in the Nave exposed the under core fabric of the original construction and the angle lines of the blast would indicate the height of the bomb's detonation to be in the mid-airspace and forward in the Nave before the crossing.
Fusing of the bombs on this day would have been previously set to a delay of 1/2 of a second and this delay could be changed according to the targets. (In this days case, the railroad and warehouse structures along the tracks near by.)
The collapse of the altar painting in the first chapel reveals the penetration of bomb casing fragments through the canvas and impacting the solid wall behind. It also shows a penetration of fragments from an angle of 2 o'clock (see the lower left corner of the image.)
Another interesting remnant from 1945 in the photograph are the hand smears on the dark marble at the front of the Pulpit (bottom), the back wall, and the right side, a two-finger smear on the marble panel facing the front entry to the cathedral. Note also the Chapel side light is dislodged and hanging by its electrical wire. Between 1928-1930, the side lighting was manufactured and installed by Radax L of Vienna, after the cathedral was electrified in 1913.
The bottom of the small Pulpit has been totally decimated along with the hand rest along the top edge. These exposed decorative features may also have been impacted by falling debris from above.
The Plinth (the lowest square member of a column) has been badly spalled exposing the original construction of brick and mortar. Again, the spalling effect is the same as the column above. Note that a ledge or shelf on the return wall to the second Chapel is missing below its memorial just above.
The decorative wrought iron work and railing provided little resistance to the blast due to being shielded by the pulpit. Again, one can see that the core construction now more than 200 years old, was no match for 500 lbs. of RDX High Explosive in 1945.
The rubble at the base of this column would have been from the ceiling areas above. Upon this very base, the magnificent ceiling painting that spanned the length of the nave had been painted.The image is also void of any remnants from the pews, roof framing, or the roofing tiles.
The Rev. Chaplin József Tornyos (Anna's brother-in-law), seen as a young Priest assigned to the cathedral on the left and then many years later. He was involved with a reception at the Bishops Palace next to the cathedral on this Sunday Noon and Anna had waited inside the cathedral for him to arrive. He was to assist her this Sunday in retrieving her husband from the hospital nearby and was waiting for him to arrive near the small Pulpit. At 12:42, God's protecting hand reached down upon her and shielded her from the force of several 500 lb. (high nitrate) exploding bombs about her. Found alive, under a large pile of rubble consisting of roofing beams, tiles, ceiling rubble, and crushed pews, she was rushed to the hospital nearby and released that very same evening. Living a full life with her only Love, she raised a family of three children with her husband and is now pictured below many, many years later.
(12:42 pm. Pacific Standard Time March 4, 2013)
Dear Anna, A note to you on the anniversary of the bombing of the cathedral in 1945. I know you were inside at that time, but with great courage and God's protection, you survived to live a full life and raise three wonderful children with István.
I had the opportunity in 2012 to visit Szombathely again, and I wanted you to know that we met your children, and sat in the very same area of the cathedral that I believed you had sat, near the small Pulpit on that fateful day at the end of the war. The service is now held at 11:00 a.m. and I wanted you to know that my wife, as a little girl then, also attended that same service as you, but had left earlier with her family for the noonday meal.
Your story, written by your children and the photographs that they had provided me of your family, were marvelous indeed, and gave me and all of those who should visit my albums and web site, great insight into you, your husband, and your wonderful family. You can be very proud of them now, and in their early lives, I am sure, they were well trained for life, being schooled and guided by your caring hands and protection.
The cathedral has now been well restored although the ceiling frescoes were lost along with much of the furnishings. The new grand organ is a wonderful thing to hear and the Chapel remains just as you saw it many years ago (frescoes and all).
I am also aware of your experience on the battlefield during the war, searching for your husband and carrying baskets of food and tobacco for him but ultimately, never being able to make contact with him, leaving all that was in your baskets for his comrades. This was indeed courageous and speaks well to your personal fortitude and love for your husband.
For many years now, I have studied the records of the Army Air Corps (as it was called then in those days of WW2), and have spent many long hours documenting this days events that you were so directly involved with on March 4th. 1945.
Your survival of such horrific circumstances was not intended nor was it directed at you or the cathedral on this day. Although heavy damage and loss of life was sustained this day in Szombathely, the documents, the methodology of bombing used by the Air Force then, the pilots and their training, equipment and procedures, that were employed, were no different on this day, as some have claimed.
A small bit of trivia that you should now know follows: Every military officer who served in the Army Air Corps received a military watch that was manufactured by a Swiss company called Longines.
Every mission of the Air Corps was preceded by a Briefing held in the early morning hours just before the takeoff. After the instructions for the mission that day, the critique ended with the setting of the time of these watches.
This process of "hacking the time piece" was the commander's responsibility every day of flight operations and his watch was set to signal that came via a radio (high band) signal from the BBC in England.
All officers at the briefing who were to fly that day, "hacked" their watches to the Commander's watch as timing was critical to the operations, especially to the "join-up" with other bomb groups who left from other airfields on their way to the specific target. The Army Air Force documents from March 4, 1945, indicate the first bomb group over the city on this day released their bombs at 12:42 high over the city, and this was the 485th. Bomb Group of the 15th. Army Air Corps. out of Italy.
May the bells of the cathedral forever ring on this day, and when they do, they shall ring out for you. May God's Blessings be upon you and your husband's Spirit, and upon your children living in Hungary.
Fredrick
The following article (1st page only) tells the story of the BBC PIPS time announcement that was begun in 1924 and continues on into these modern times. It was the standard time reference for all Allied Forces during World War II. Article was published in 1945.
