During the Second World War Preveza suffered as a result of Italian aerial bombardments that caused extensive damage to buildings and the town’s infrastructure. There were 96 attacks and the town’s stance earned it the War Cross 1st Class in 1942. The Civil War that followed the German withdrawal caused more damage and loss of life. The hardest hit came in June 1948, when on the 30th an earthquake in Lefkada demolished 12% of Preveza’s buildings and the bell tower of the St. Charalambos cathedral.