Air raids on Eisenach

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From February 1944 to February 1945 there were seven air raids on Eisenach with the dropping of more than 400 tons of bombs, mostly in daytime attacks by 160 four-engine strategic bombers of the 8th Air Force of the US Army Air Forces . In November 1944, the British Royal Air Force also bombed downtown Eisenach several times in night raids . Armaments industry ( BMW ) facilities were destroyed , but the city's residential areas in particular suffered severe damage. 177 of 5,000 buildings were totally destroyed, 120 badly hit and 2,500 damaged to various degrees. Among them were important cultural buildings. At least 324 residents were killed in the bombs. From April 1 until the occupation of the city by US forces on April 6 1945 made artillery fire and fighter-bomber attacks by the US Army, with further building damage and at least 43 deaths among civilians.

Attack planning

Eisenach was intended as a target for the British RAF Bomber Command under the code name "Sturgeon" ( sturgeon ). The deputy of Arthur Harris , Commander in Chief of Bomber Command, was Air Vice-Marshal Robert Saundby , who, as an avid fisherman , provided a fish code to all of the German cities that were coming into selection .

Harris planned a thousand bomber attack on the target complex Eisenach, Erfurt , Gotha , Weimar and Jena as early as 1942 . In November 1942, Eisenach was included in a concept by British Air Marshal Charles Portal for "cremation bombings" on a large number of German cities. In 1943 Harris wanted to get the approval of the Americans with their 8th air fleet for massive joint attacks on the central German "Small Ruhr Area" (including Eisenach). Eisenach also appeared on a revised city attack list submitted to Harris Portal in January 1945.

The individual air strikes

B-17 "Flying Fortress" of the US Army Air Forces throwing a bomb
American B-24 "Liberator"
British mosquito bomber (1944)

The population of Eisenach experienced a total of 847 air raids between 1939 and 1945 , of which 439 times in 1944 and 266 times in 1945. The air warnings lasted a total of 915 hours, 450 hours in 1944 and 285 in 1945.

  • February 24, 1944 : On this day the first bombs fell on Eisenach. As part of the Big Week for the destruction of the German aircraft industry, the 2nd Bombardment Division of the 8th Air Force had the order to attack the Gothaer Waggonfabrik with its production of twin-engine Bf 110s . Of the 239 B-24 bombers, however, 44 aircraft dropped 116 tons of incendiary bombs over Eisenach between 1:16 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. from an altitude of 4,000-5,000 meters. According to the war diary of the 8th Air Force, the reason for the “mistake” of the “lead bombardier” of the command machine was the lack of oxygen under his mask. It is more likely that the group was pushed off its course by German hunting machines. Many bombs fell in the open field and in the vicinity of the Dürrerhof , but a school, the district hospital and residential buildings, especially on Kasseler Strasse, were hit by fire bombs. There were 41 dead. A combined attack on Gotha and Eisenach had already been planned for February 20, 1944 with 87 B-17 “Flying Fortress” , but was canceled due to the weather conditions.
  • July 20, 1944 : At around 11:30 a.m., the 8th Air Force attacked the BMW facilities and residential areas with explosive and incendiary bombs from a height of 6,000 to 7,000 meters: 130 pieces of 500 lb general purpose bombs and 488 pieces of 100 lb incendiary bombs. Tiefenbacher Allee and Graf-Keller-Strasse were particularly hard hit. There were 28 deaths, including four nurses from the district hospital. 500 residents became homeless. In the war diary of the 8th Air Force it is stated that 10 B-24 bombers of the 2nd Bombardment Division attacked Bad Salzungen with 29.5 tons of bombs on that day , there is no mention of Eisenach. However, no air raid was recorded in Bad Salzungen.
  • September 11, 1944 : On this day the third and heaviest air raid on Eisenach took place - 4 days after the withdrawal of the heavy German 8.8 cm anti-aircraft batteries, which were stationed around the city, for use at the front. Around noon, 71 B-17s of the 1st Bombardment Division of the 8th Air Force dropped 177.5 tons of bombs from a height of 8,000 to 9,000 meters on the "alternative target" Eisenach: 807 pieces of 500 lb general purpose bombs. The BMW area in the city by the racetrack was badly hit , as was the well-camouflaged BMW aircraft engine factory in Eisenach in the forest at Dürrerhof, but not as badly. Many residential buildings, especially in the vicinity of the inner-city BMW plant, were destroyed or damaged. There were 194 fatalities that day in Eisenach.
  • September 13, 1944 : 12 B-24 aircraft of the 2nd Bombardment Division of the 8th Air Force dropped 28.4 tonnes of bombs on Eisenach as an "alternative target": 115 500 lb general purpose bombs. During the "September attacks", the tram hall (with many people) was also badly hit, so that the Eisenach tram traffic was switched off. Some of the population had fled to the surrounding area, which is one of the reasons why the attack, which was not so severe, claimed fewer lives than the previous one. However, together there were over 200 fatalities.
  • 23/24 November 1944 (other information: November 20-23): In the war diary of the British RAF as "Minor Operations" are recorded the nightly individual attacks by nine high-speed bombers of the Mosquito type with air mines on residential areas in the inner city. There they laid "large parts of the city center in ruins" and Heuser classified them as "terrorist attacks". Among other things, the Bachhaus and the Lutherhaus were destroyed, the south wing of the Residenzschloss badly damaged, the town hall damaged, as well as many buildings on Frauenplan, Lutherplatz and Schmelzerstraße destroyed or damaged. 10 deaths are reported. After this experience, extinguishing water ponds were created on Karlsplatz , in front of the train station and at four other places in Eisenach.
  • February 9, 1945 : 24 B-17s of the 1st and 3rd Air Divisions of the 8th Air Force attacked Eisenach from 12:58 to 13:35 with 59.1 tons of bombs from a height of 7,000 to 8,000 meters. 200 high explosive bombs and a large number of stick bombs and 12 kilogram incendiary bombs fell on the city. Among other things, parts of the town hall complex (the old Ratswaage) and the Eichelsche House were destroyed along with the east side of the market square and the city savings bank in Karlstrasse was damaged. Damage was caused to the Demmer factory and the racetrack. A camp for foreign workers was hit in the Karolinen Valley. There were 12 deaths in total. For February 6, 1945, the war diary of the 8th Air Force still contains an alleged previous attack on February 6 with 13 B-17 bombers of the 1st Air Division with a bomb load of 30 tons, which, however, did not have to be registered in Eisenach, but fell elsewhere got to.
  • Artillery bombardment at the beginning of April 1945 : Eisenach was under American artillery bombardment from April 1st to April 6th and experienced low-flying attacks. After an ultimatum the day before and leaflets were dropped ("razed to the ground"), heavy artillery bombardment with over 5,000 salvos took place on April 6th from 2:00 am to 6:30 am, mainly from Wartenberg. The southern district in particular suffered, the already damaged Bachhaus received a direct hit, and further damage was caused to the Hainstein, in the Johannistal, in Kapellenstrasse, Barfüßerstrasse and Predigergasse, as well as in the Weststadt and the city center. 43 civilians and 36 soldiers were killed. The last Wehrmacht units left the city during the night, and at 8:00 a.m., Mayor Rudolf Lotz handed them over to the US troops.

Material losses and numbers of victims

The inner-city BMW plants with their vehicle production were largely destroyed, the BMW aircraft engine plant in Dürrerhof was hardly hit. "In all the attacks, the residential areas of the city also suffered great damage" "(The 7 bombing raids 1944/45) sometimes caused devastating damage. ... Some buildings could not be rebuilt. In this respect, the structural appearance of the city in those years of war and which then changed significantly in some places ". 177 of 5,000 buildings were totally destroyed, 120 badly hit and 2,500 damaged to various degrees. The many homes destroyed contributed significantly to homelessness in the city, which was overcrowded with 84,000 people in early April 1945, including evacuees, refugees, the military, foreign workers and prisoners of war.

324 residents of Eisenach (former city area) were killed by bombs, or 321 people fell victim to the air raids. It is not clear from these figures whether foreigners are included. Anyway, it's probably just civilians, and soldiers aren't included. The Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge states that there are 360 ​​bomb victims from Eisenach in the central cemetery. One explanation for this higher number could be that the Volksbund also counted the 43 civilian victims of artillery fire and low-flying attacks in early April 1945. This would make the number of victims more complete.

Loss of and damage to cultural buildings

The following information is based on the standard work “Fate of German Architectural Monuments in the Second World War”, chapter “Eisenach” by Rudolf Zießler.

Badly hit cultural buildings

Frauenplan and Bachhaus on April 6, 1945
  • The Alte Residenz ( market square, corner of Lutherplatz and Esplanade ) was badly affected by the British mosquito attack with air mines on November 23, 1944, as was the extension of the customs yard.
  • The Creutznach house from 1539, which was incorporated into the old ducal residence, was severely damaged, especially the northern gable end and the tower.
  • The “archive vault”, the east wing of the residence, was completely destroyed and later removed.
  • The “Marstall”, the south wing of the residence, was completely destroyed and the ruins torn down. The damaged fountain decoration was recovered.
  • The town hall (Markt 1) suffered air pressure damage in the air mine attack on November 23, 1944. The attack on February 9, 1945 caused further serious damage to the roof, as well as a partial fire inside. The stability was endangered.
  • The Ratswaage (Markt 2), united with the town hall, was destroyed on February 9, 1945, the ruins were removed.
  • The Lutherhaus was partially destroyed by an air mine on November 23, 1944, especially the north and west gables were affected.
  • The Bachhaus (Frauenplan 21) suffered considerable damage to the roof structure, the windows and the interior on November 23, 1944 from the effects of air mines. At the same time, the residential development opposite, including the old drawing school, was completely destroyed. The artillery bombardment on April 6, 1945 again caused considerable damage to the building.

Light to moderate damage

Burial places

Graves with bomb victims in the Eisenach cemetery

At the municipal central cemetery of Eisenach am Wartenberg there are five graves in honor of the victims of war and tyranny, including 321 bomb victims. The Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge states: "360 bomb victims from Eisenach are resting on another burial ground". The Volksbund probably counted the victims of the artillery and fighter-bomber attacks. The tombs are laid out jointly for bomb victims and German soldiers.

literature

  • Reinhold Brunner : Eisenach as it used to be . Wartberg-Verlag, Gudensberg-Gleichen 1992, ISBN 3-925277-88-9 .
  • Reinhold Brunner: Turbulent times, Eisenach between 1919 and 1945 . Wartberg-Verlag, Gudensberg-Gleichen 1994, ISBN 3-86134-180-8 .
  • Reinhold Brunner: That was the 20th century in Eisenach . Published by City of Eisenach. Wartberg-Verlag, Gudensberg-Gleichen 2000, ISBN 3-86134-970-1 .
  • Reinhold Brunner: History of the city of Eisenach . Wartberg-Verlag, Gudensberg-Gleichen 2004, ISBN 3-8313-1460-8 .
  • Reinhold Brunner: The end of the war. Eisenach in April 1945 . Wartburgland history. Issue 5 Eisenacher Geschichtsverein eV 2004.
  • Herbert Eilers: Eisenach and the end of the Second World War . Heimatblätter (supplement to the Eisenacher press). Episode 53, March 1995.
  • Roger A. Freeman: Mighty Eighth War Diary . Jane's. London, New York, Sydney. 1981 ISBN 0-531-03735-5 .
  • Olaf Groehler : bombing war against Germany . Akademie-Verlag, Berlin 1990. ISBN 3-05-000612-9 .
  • Lothar Günther: The aerial warfare between Rhön and Rennsteig 1944/1945. Wehry-Verlag, Untermaßfeld. 3rd edition 2011, ISBN 978-3-9813902-0-9 .
  • Eberhard Hälbig and Rainer Lämmerhirt: Air War in the Eisenach-Gotha-Hainich-Werratal-Thuringian Forest area 1943–1945 . Publishing house Rockstuhl, Bad Langensalza. 2nd edition 2013, ISBN 978-3-86777-348-5 .
  • Eberhard Hälbig (Ed.): BMW Flugmotorenfabrik Eisenach 1939–1945 . Publishing house Rockstuhl, Bad Langensalza. ISBN 978-3-95966-136-2
  • Artur Heuse: Bomber over Eisenach . Heimatblätter ´93 of the Eisenacher country (supplement to the Eisenacher press). Edited by Paul-Josef Raue. Pp. 141-148. ISBN 3-924269-61-0 .
  • Artur Heuse: Bomber over Eisenach . Heimatblätter (supplement to the Eisenacher press). Episode 59, September 1995.
  • Rudolf Zießler: Eisenach (Eisenach district) . In: Götz Eckardt (Hrsg.) Fates of German architectural monuments in the Second World War . Henschel-Verlag, Berlin 1978. Volume 2. pp. 471-474.

Reinhold Brunner is the Eisenach city ​​archivist and chairman of the Eisenach Historical Society, Eberhard Hälbig is an Eisenach aerial warfare historian.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Groehler, p. 178.
  2. ↑ Fish code names , (British original, PDF; 292 kB), German translation (PDF; 214 kB), on: bunkermuseum.de ( Bunkermuseum Emden ), accessed on September 26, 2017
  3. ^ Olaf Groehler : Bomb war against Germany . Akademie-Verlag, Berlin 1990. pp. 35, 69, 74, 179, 385
  4. ↑ Artur Heuse: bombers over Eisenach . Heimatblätter, Eisenach, September 1995
  5. ^ Roger A. Freeman: Mighty Eighth War Diary. 1981
  6. ↑ Artur Heuse: bombers over Eisenach . Heimatblätter, Eisenach, September 1995
  7. ↑ Reinhold Brunner : Moving times. Eisenach between 1919 and 1945 . Wartberg-Verlag 1994, p. 65
  8. ^ Lothar Günther: The air war between Rhön and Rennsteig . Wehry-Verlag, Untermaßfeld 2011. p. 113
  9. ↑ Artur Heuse: bombers over Eisenach . Heimatblätter, Eisenach, November 1993
  10. ^ Roger A. Freeman: Mighty Eighth War Diary . 1981
  11. ↑ Artur Heuse: bombers over Eisenach . Heimatblätter Eisenach, November 1993
  12. ↑ Reinhold Brunner: That was the 20th century in Eisenach . Wartberg-Verlag, 2000. p. 46
  13. ↑ Artur Heuse: bombers over Eisenach . Heimatblätter Eisenach. September 1995
  14. ↑ Artur Heuse: bombers over Eisenach . Heimatblätter Eisenach. November 1993
  15. ↑ Reinhold Brunner: The end of the war. Eisenach in April 1945 . Wartburgland history. Issue 5 Eisenacher History Association 2004
  16. ↑ Herbert Eilers: Eisenach and the end of the Second World War . Heimatblätter, Eisenach. March 1995
  17. ↑ Herbert Eilers: Eisenach and the end of the Second World War . Heimatblätter, Eisenach. March 1995
  18. ↑ Reinhold Brunner: Eisenach as it used to be . Wartberg-Verlag 1992. p. 57
  19. ↑ Herbert Eilers: Eisenach and the end of the Second World War . Heimatblätter, Eisenach. March 1995
  20. ↑ Reinhold Brunner: Moving times. Eisenach between 1919 and 1945 . Wartberg-Verlag 1994. p. 65
  21. ↑ Herbert Eilers: Eisenach and the end of the Second World War . Heimatblätter, Eisenach, March 1995
  22. ↑ Herbert Eilers: Eisenach and the end of the Second World War . Heimatblätter, Eisenach. March 1995
  23. ^ Reinhold Brunner: History of the city of Eisenach . Wartberg publishing house 2004.
  24. ↑ a b War cemeteries - places of remembrance, commemoration and learning: Eisenach . Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge eV, accessed on March 15, 2020 .
  25. ^ Website of the cemetery on Eisenach.de , accessed on June 23, 2015