In 1938, the last year of peace, the accommodation trade in Munich still had about 14,000 hotel beds "on offer". In 1945, only 300 hotel beds were available. Munich was in ruins. The city had suffered 66 heavy air attacks.

At the start of the war, the social life initially continued as in peacetime at the hotel Vier Jahreszeiten. But soon there was nothing left. Gloom descended on the hotel. The first bombs in 1943 had caused the hotel only minor damage. But in April 1944, the hotel almost completely burnt down.

The hotel business had to be suspended soon afterwards. On May 1 1945, the US Army entering Munich requisitioned the rest of the hotel in order to accommodate officers in it.