Duisburg was bombed a number of times by the Allies during World War II. The most devastating air raids on Duisburg occurred during October 1944 when the city was bombed by the Royal Air Force (RAF).
Duisburg was a major logistical centre in the Ruhr Area and location of chemical, steel and iron industries, Duisburg was a primary target of Allied bombers. Not only the industrial areas but also residential areas were attacked by Allied bombs. As an entry to the Ruhr, the city received daily warnings of bombing raids in 1943.
In the period 1939 to 1945 the Royal Air Force dropped a total of 30,507 tonnes (67 million pounds) of bombs on Duisburg.
Battle of the Ruhr
During the "Battle of the Ruhr" in 1943, 577 British bombers destroyed the old city on 12/13 May, with 1,574 long tons; 1,763 short tons (1,599 t) of bombs: 96,000 people were made homeless.
Operation Hurricane
In October 1944, Duisburg became the main target in Operation Hurricane a joint RAF Bomber Command and USAAF Eighth Air Force operation.
On 14 October 1944 just after daybreak, RAF Bomber Command sent "1,013 aircraft ... to [bomb] Duisburg with RAF fighters providing an escort. 957 bombers dropped [... 3,574 long tons (3,631 t)] of high explosive and [... 820 long tons (830 t)] of incendiaries on" the city for a loss of 14 aircraft. The same day the Eighth Air Force sent 1,251 heavy bombers escorted by 749 fighters to bomb targets in the area of Cologne. Later the same day, during the night of 14 October/15 October, 1,005 RAF bombers returned to Duisburg in two waves about two hours apart, and dropped a further 4,100 t (4,040 long tons) of high explosive and 490 long tons (500 t) of incendiaries for the loss of seven aircraft. The same night a further 230 aircraft destroyed Brunswick.
During Operation Hurricane nearly 8,900 long tons (9,000 t) of bombs fell on Duisburg in less than 24 hours, but the damage to Duisburg is difficult to assess because much of the documentation including the final report (Endbericht), is not held by the Duisburg state archive (Stadtarchiv). Extant records mention "Very serious property damage. A large number of people buried." and that at the Thyssen Mines III and IV eight days production was lost.
Chronology
See also
- List of strategic bombing over Germany in World War II
References
Bibliography
Further reading
- Cooper, M. (1981). The German Air Force 1933–1945: An Anatomy of Failure. London: Jane's. ISBN 07106-0071-2.
- Middlebrook, Martin; Everitt, Chris (1985). The Bomber Command Diaries: An Operational Reference Book, 1939–1945 (1st ed.). New York: Viking. ISBN 978-185780-033-3.
- Tooze, Adam (2006). The Wages of Destruction: The Making and Breaking of the Nazi Economy. London: Allen Lane. ISBN 978-0-7139-9566-4.
- Webster, C. K.; Frankland, Noble (1961). Butler, J. R. M. (ed.). The Strategic Air Offensive Against Germany: 1939–1945. History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series. Vol. II. London: HMSO. OCLC 163349860.
- Webster, C.; Frankland, N. (2006) [1961]. Butler, James (ed.). The Strategic Air Offensive against Germany 1939–1945: Annexes and Appendices. History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series. Vol. IV (facs. pbk. repr. Naval & Military Press, Uckfield ed.). London: HMSO. ISBN 978-1-84574-350-5.
