On December 5, 2025, German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier stood solemnly among the ruins of Coventry Cathedral, a site forever marked by the devastation of World War II. Accompanied by his wife Elke Budenbender and the Duke of Kent, Steinmeier laid a wreath of black, yellow, and red flowers—Germany’s national colors—on the old cathedral’s altar, which still bears a cross fashioned from charred roof timbers and the haunting words "Father Forgive" inscribed on the wall behind. The gesture, timed to coincide with the 85th anniversary of the Coventry Blitz, was more than symbolic; it was an act of remembrance, atonement, and a testament to the enduring power of reconciliation.
The Coventry Blitz, which occurred on the night of November 14, 1940, was one of the most concentrated attacks on a British city during the war. According to BBC, 568 people were killed and 4,300 homes destroyed. The Luftwaffe’s bombs left the 14th-century Gothic cathedral a roofless ruin and shattered much of the city, yet the event also planted the seeds for an unlikely friendship between former enemies. As Steinmeier himself noted during his state visit, "Flourishing cities grew out of the ashes. Enemies became friends. That is our common history—and it shows what is possible when people have the courage to pursue reconciliation."
The president’s pilgrimage to Coventry capped a three-day state visit to the United Kingdom, the first by a German head of state in 27 years. The last such visit occurred in 1998, when Queen Elizabeth II hosted president Roman Herzog at Windsor Castle. This year’s visit, marked by both solemnity and celebration, was filled with reminders of how far British-German relations have come since the dark days of the 1940s.
Throughout his trip, Steinmeier made clear that the lessons of the past remain relevant as Europe faces new threats. In a passionate address to the British Parliament, he urged unity in the face of modern challenges. “We must stand together for what defines us,” he told MPs in the Palace of Westminster. “We stand firm when our values are threatened. We defend democracy. We defend freedom. We stand together—as allies, as partners, as friends.” He went on to express deep gratitude for the reconciliation achieved after 1945, saying, “After the terrible devastation that Germans inflicted on the continent in two world wars, that is not something to be taken for granted, but a gift.”
The visit was not just about commemorating the past. Steinmeier and his hosts—King Charles III, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and the Duke of Kent—used the occasion to celebrate the cultural and historic ties between their nations and to look forward, especially in the face of Russian aggression in Ukraine. During a lavish banquet at Windsor Castle, the German president and King Charles III exchanged toasts that highlighted efforts to build a common front against destabilizing forces in Europe. As reported by The Independent, Steinmeier described Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as “an attack on the rules-based order that was built in Europe following World War II,” and called on European nations to “stand up as one for what defines us.”
The renewed sense of partnership was underscored by concrete steps taken earlier in 2025. Britain and Germany signed the Kensington Treaty, a landmark agreement aimed at deepening cooperation on defense, migration, and the fight against climate change. The treaty also includes plans for a German-British electricity interconnector, set to be completed by 2028, and youth mobility agreements designed to ease obstacles for students. Steinmeier praised these projects as signs of growing trust and collaboration, even as he acknowledged the challenges posed by Brexit. “After Brexit, people were disappointed and sometimes unable to understand the decision,” he said in Parliament’s royal gallery. “But both sides decided not to stay stuck in these feelings. Don’t look back in anger, as one of the most famous songs by Oasis puts it so well.”
Steinmeier’s use of pop culture references—he cited the recent reunion of Oasis brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher as a metaphor for UK-Europe relations—brought a touch of warmth and humor to his diplomatic overtures. “Cool Britannia is alive! Our relations may have changed, but, my dear Britons, our love remains,” he quipped, urging both countries to look to the future rather than dwell on past grievances.
Coventry itself stands as a powerful symbol of this forward-looking spirit. The city is twinned with the German cities of Kiel and Dresden, both of which suffered devastating aerial bombings during the war. The Dean of Coventry, the Very Reverend John Witcombe, led a prayer service at the new cathedral, consecrated in 1962, to highlight the church’s commitment to peace and reconciliation. "Coventry and Dresden share a story shaped by destruction, rebuilding, and courageous friendship," he said. "Yet our gathering stands for more than the bond between two cities. It speaks of the enduring partnership between the United Kingdom and Germany—nations that have walked through the devastations of war, embraced reconciliation, and now stand side by side as advocates for peace in Europe and across the world."
The Duke of Kent’s presence at the ceremony was especially poignant. As the royal patron of the Dresden Trust, which works to build bonds between the people of Britain and Dresden, he has long championed reconciliation efforts. His participation, alongside German and British air force personnel, underscored the commitment to remembrance and to preventing the tragedies of the past from repeating themselves.
Steinmeier’s itinerary also included meetings with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and a wreath-laying at the tomb of the late Queen Elizabeth II. At every turn, the German president emphasized the importance of unity, not just between Germany and the UK, but across Europe as a whole. Speaking at London’s historic Guildhall, he urged Europe to "redefine our role and discover a new self-confidence," praising the City of London’s innovative spirit and calling on the continent to "catch up in the digital economy." He insisted, “In future, we Europeans can only be strong if we redefine our role and discover a new self-confidence.”
The timing of this diplomatic overture is hardly accidental. As European nations grapple with the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and question the reliability of traditional allies like the United States, there is a renewed urgency to strengthen intra-European bonds. As historian Martin Farr of Newcastle University observed, “War’s been mentioned in this visit. War, in some part, has occasioned the visit and its importance. And so the historical echoes are really very profound, I think.”
In the end, Steinmeier’s visit to Coventry—and to the United Kingdom more broadly—served as a vivid reminder of the power of memory, the necessity of reconciliation, and the ongoing work required to preserve peace. The ruins of Coventry Cathedral, once a symbol of destruction, now stand as a testament to hope, friendship, and the belief that, even after the darkest nights, flourishing cities—and flourishing alliances—can rise from the ashes.
