Until 1937 “Freie Hansestadt”, ever since part of Schleswig-Holstein — in the first place (apart from Thomas Mann...) a town of organs and organists — during the bombing on Palm Sunday 1942 a great deal of the beautiful inner city was destroyed, incl. priceless organs: Schnitger 1699, Domkirche; J.G. Burckert 1591, St. Petri; Hering/Stellwagen 1518/1641 and the famous Totentanzorgel from 1477, both in St. Marien — fortunately the organs of St. Jacobi had timely been dismantled and safely stored; the Aegidienkirche was not struck.