March 15, 1940: The day the bells went silent. (more) Today in History—March 15: The Nazi Seizure of Church Bells Written by Michele Metych Michele Metych is the lead editor for Today in History at Encyclopædia Britannica. Michele Metych Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Mar. 12, 2026 •History March 15, 1940: The day the bells went silent.© Hulton-Deutsch/Hulton-Deutsch Collection—Corbis/Getty Images; Photo Illustration Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. On this day in 1940, the Nazi Party—by way of Hermann Göring, Adolf Hitler’s second-in-command—issued a decree: “Reclaiming all Bells for War Purposes.” The order called for the seizure of church bells across the land. Today in History is a daily newsletter from Britannica.Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Want to learn more about what happened on March 15, or any...

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