Air raids on Augsburg
Augsburg suffered severe damage from air raids during World War II , mainly because the city was the seat of important armaments companies (including Messerschmitt AG and MAN ). Augsburg was bombed more than ten times and was exposed to two major air raids. Command background of the attacks was the "statement to carpet bombing" ( area bombing directive ) of the Air Ministry on 14 February 1,942th
Attacks
In the first small attack on August 17, 1940, the Royal Air Force dropped six bombs.
April 17, 1942
meaning
The air raid of April 17, 1942 (Operation "Margin") is considered to be one of the most daring of the entire Second World War. The destination was the MAN plant . The RAF Bomber Command wanted to hit the marine diesel engine manufacturing facility for submarines while testing the capabilities of their new Lancaster bombers . The attack, carried out unexpectedly and precisely by day, deep in enemy territory, was also intended to spread fear and terror. It was expected to be a propaganda success on the British side. Augsburg was chosen because the factory halls on the Lech were easy to see and the city had relatively weak anti-aircraft protection at the time.
procedure
The approach of the bombers stationed in Waddington and Woodhall Spa took place in broad daylight without an escort , first over the English Channel at an altitude of only 15 meters (50 feet) in order to fly under the radar and make the attack by German fighters more difficult, then over France. However, four bombers have already been shot down over France near Sens (Yonne) . The eight remaining aircraft began the actual attack on the MAN at 8:00 p.m. from a height of two kilometers. They quickly sank to the ground to avoid the flak . The altitude was so low that when attempting to hit the planes, the flak aimed so low that it even hit houses. Each plane carried four 450 kg bombs. Two Lancasters crashed during the attack, one shortly afterwards.
Direct consequences
Initially declared a success, the bombing only led to engine production being down for several weeks. Five bombs failed, only a few machines in production were actually destroyed. The Haindl paper mill and the mechanical cotton spinning and weaving mill were also unintentionally lightly hit. Twelve Augsburgers died in the attack and over 20 were injured. The Royal Air Force then carried out no similar attack.
25./26. February 1944
meaning
In the largest, devastating bomb attack on the night of February 25th to 26th, 1944, large parts of Augsburg city center were destroyed. The attack was aimed at the Messerschmitt works and the main train station as a southern German railway junction and possibly other targets.
procedure
The attack on Augsburg was carried out with 594 aircraft, 461 Lancaster bombers , 123 Halifax bombers and 10 Mosquito bombers . 17 aircraft were shot down, four destroyed in collisions. The anti-aircraft gun resistance was not very strong. Although the attack was considered militarily successful due to its unexpected accuracy, the consequences of the attack on that clear night for the civilian population and the historic city center were devastating. This is exactly why the attack was criticized. As the bombs, which were actually expected to be used to hit the industrial sites in the outskirts, did not materialize, the destruction mainly affected the historic city center.
The bombardment took place in two waves. At 2 p.m. on February 25, 199 American planes dropped 370 tons of explosives bombs and 134 tons of incendiary material. 130 people from Augsburg and 250 concentration camp prisoners died as a result. The attack was part of Operation Big Week , which was supposed to hit the German arms industry.
During the so-called “bomb night”, the American and British attackers then used 250,000 stick incendiary bombs, 45,000 phosphor canisters, 12,000 liquid bombs and 240 explosive bombs. At around 10 p.m., 248 Lancaster bombers flew over Augsburg, three hours later 130 Lancaster bombers and 115 Halifax bombers . Not all Augsburgers had expected this second, nocturnal wave.
Direct consequences
730 people died and 1,335 were injured in these bombings . 85,000 Augsburg residents were left homeless, and almost a quarter of all apartments were destroyed. There were 246 large and medium fires and 820 small fires. Fighting the fire was made more difficult due to frozen water and hydrants, the temperature was minus 18 degrees Celsius.
February 1945
On February 22nd and 23rd, 1945 the railway area was attacked and badly damaged. On February 27, a bombardment hit the depot.
The February 22nd and 23rd attacks were part of Operation Clarion by the United States Army Air Forces . With this, all available means of transport of the Germans should be destroyed in a joint action within only two days. A total of several thousand aircraft attacked railroad lines, bridges, ports and roads.
Effects of the bombing
After the attack in 1944, almost half of the population left the city. It was only after the attack that an air raid shelter for 1,200 people was built under Wittelsbacher Park .
Large parts of the historic Augsburg city center were destroyed. The former building of the Augsburg Stock Exchange also fell victim to the attacks. The square occupied by the building is now the town hall square, which shapes the image of the city.
Even after the war ended, duds were still found. The discovery of a 1.8-ton air mine led to the evacuation in Augsburg on December 25, 2016 .
See also
literature
- Markus Pöhlmann : It was just as if everything was going to burst. Augsburg in the bombing war, Munich 2019 , ISBN 978-3-86222-282-7 .
- Markus Pöhlmann: Luftangriff (e) , in: Stadtlexikon Augsburg (online) from August 26, 2010.
Web links
- “The city of Augsburg in the bombing war 1939–1945” by Markus Pöhlmann in www.historicum.net
- History and technology of the air defense with contemporary witness reports of the great attacks of 1942 and 1944
- Royal Air Force website: Attack on Augsburg, April 17, 1942 ( Memento of November 27, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
- Royal Air Force website: Attack on Augsburg, diary April 17, 1942
- Royal Air Force website: Attack on Augsburg, diary 25/26 February 1944
Individual evidence
- ^ Augsburg, 17th April 1942 - 5th paragraph ( Memento of November 27, 2007 in the Internet Archive )