It is November 8, 1944.

The Allied breach of Germany’s western wall of defense in October 1944

has enabled journalist William Shirer to return to Germany

after a four-year absence.

He has come to Aachen, an ancient city.

It is the place where Charlemagne, the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire,

held court more than a thousand years before,

and where rulers of Western Europe were crowned for six hundred years.

Get full access to Photo of the Day at look.substack.com/subscribe