. >> helge had lead a fulfilling adult life despite her early trauma. a fulfilling adult life despite her early trauma. but the horrors of her youth are more and more present in her mind. from the observation tower of saint nicholas, every view of the city is different from when helga was a child. it is a glimpse into the destructive power of war. it is the city district she lived in until the raid. >> she says, the air raid warden came and asked, who did we have here? because i was traveling so much. my mother said, this is our he lga. this is the last thing i heard my mother say. operation gomorrah left at least 35,000 people dead. most were women and children. many burned to death in their homes or the streets. others suffocated in the air raid shelters. a dry spell before the bombing had turned hamburg to a tinderbox. the firestorm ripped through the city at hurricane speed. when the smoke cleared this is what was left of the apartment building. today, newer buildings have taken its place. the once lively neighborhoods were wiped out. today rows of