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FRANCE -During the First World War (1914-1918) and the Second World War, casinos were closed.
Given the grandeur of their buildings, they had several destinations:
1- Transformation in military hospitals
2- Occupation by German forces for the most diverse purposes (in general in these cases the casinos were preserved)
3- Demolition by German forces to use their materials (for example, the Casino de Ouistreham - Riva Bella whose materials were used for the construction of the Atlantic Wall, and the Casino Jetée Promenade de Nice, dismantled for the use of their metallic materials for the manufacture of cannons, bombs, etc.)
4- Some of the casinos were bombed by both parties to the conflict and were partially or completely destroyed.
Very affected were the casinos located on the north coast (Normandy) that were bombarded by the Allies in preparation for landing and beyond.
1-HOSPITALS
2- USED BY GERMANS
ARCACHON
Casino d´Arcachon transformed in Soldatenheim (soldier´s home) for the German Army.
Photo from http://www.leonc.fr/eyrac/deganne/index.htm
LA ROCHELLE
Germans transformed the casino into a soldier's home (Soldatenheim) for the 'Werhmacht Heer'.
Its terrace overlooks the ocean and is located at the entrance to the port of La Rochelle.
In 1943, the marines of the submarine 3.U-Flotilla took possession of it (U-Bootsheim). Photo ant wording from http://www.u-boote.fr/casino.htm
3- DEMOLISHED TO USE THE MATERIALS
LA JETÉE PALACE - NICE
The metallic structure of the casino. Tempting amount of metals to produce war artefacts
4- DESTROYED BY BOMBINGS
CASINO MALO LES BAINS WW I
Bombed by German Army
CASINOS DE ROYAN WWII
ROYAN -CASINO MUNICIPAL and CASINO DE FOCILLON-On January 5, 1945, during the bombing of the city by the Allies, the casinos were destroyed.
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