Moving forward to World War II - The Bayeux Tapestry was now a survivor for almost 880 years, so what exactly was it about this monumental embroidery that attracted those looking to walk in the self-same footsteps as William the Conqueror? They wanted what William achieved. A defeat over England certainly, but even more than that, they wanted to use William’s powerful and emotive story, carefully embroidered into the Tapestry as propaganda to promote their own ends.