10 World Famous Landmarks That Were Almost Destroyed

2. The Leaning Tower Of Pisa Was Ordered To Be Destroyed During World War II

American Sergeant Leon Weckstein came remarkably close to destroying the Leaning Tower of Pisa during World War II - after being ordered to do so by his superiors. While fighting around the Italian town in 1943, Weckstein was told to blow up the Tower because it was feared that German snipers were hiding inside the building and picking off Allied soldiers. However, due to severe and overbearing heat, Weckstein claims it was impossible to aim and so he could not take the shot at the building. And, by the time the delay was over, the Allied troops had been attacked by the Axis soldiers and had been forced to fallback. For that reason, the 56-metre-high tower - which leans at a 3.99-degree angle - remains standing to this day, having first been completed back in 1372. However, it does need to be corrected yearly so that its 14,500-ton weight does not topple over on itself...