Wreath-laying ceremony unites Uk and Germany

Wreaths, Coventry Cathedral

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited the Coventry Cathedral ruins on 5th December 2025 to take part in a wreath-laying ceremony. He was greeted by the Bishop of Coventry, the city’s lord mayor and several other important people of Coventry. The President was joined by his wife, Elke Budenbender, on the final day of their state visit to the UK. A wreath was also laid on behalf of the Duke of Kent, Prince Edward, to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the Coventry Blitz, which was last month. Following the ceremony, a prayer service was held to highlight the cathedral’s commitment to peace, led by the Dean of Coventry. Members of the public and press gathered in and around the ruins, observing a moment of silence as the wreaths were placed.

The Coventry Blitz was a devastating series of air raids on the city of Coventry carried out by Germany’s air force during World War two.  The attack was codenamed “Moonlight Sonata”. 500 Luftwaffe bombers on the evening of the 14th of November 1940, continuing into the morning of the 15th of November, destroyed most of the city centre. Specifically, the 14th-century Gothic cathedral, thousands of homes and factories. I spoke to a survivor who was a child at the time of the raids, who currently works at the Midland Air Museum. He explained his experience on the night of the 14th. “The entrance to our shelter collapsed from the blast, which buried my sister, mum, and i under rubble. All I remember was having dust in my mouth”. AT the time, Coventry was a major centre for war production. The aim was to cripple its industry; however, instead, it ended in 554 deaths, and approximately as many people were unaccounted for. The attack became a defining moment in British wartime history.

Coventry Cathedral

The last German state visit took place in 1998 when Queen Elizabeth II hosted President Roman Herzog at Windsor Castle, so it’s been 27 years since the last visit, making this an iconic moment of history, underlining the significance of the UK and German relations in the modern era.  I spoke to a History Professor at Coventry University who highlighted how far the two nations have come since the war, “especially at a time when international relations are being re-evaluated. This visit reminds us of the importance of reconciliation; it also keeps the memory of what Coventry faced for what they went through during the Blitz for future generations”

Ceremony