Bombing of Kassel in World War II

Kassel World War II bombings
Part of Strategic bombing campaign in Europe

Two people observing fires ravaging the Bettenhausen district after bombing
Date1942-1945
LocationKassel
Belligerents
 United States
 United Kingdom		  Nazi Germany
Commanders and leaders
Carl Spaatz (May 1942 - )
Arthur Harris (1941-)		 Gauleiters, Karl Weinrich,
Karl Gerland

The Kassel World War II bombings were a set of Allied strategic bombing attacks which took place from February 1942 to March 1945. In a single deadliest raid on 22–23 October 1943, 150,000 inhabitants were bombed-out, at least 10,000 people died, the vast majority of the city center was destroyed, and the fire of the most severe air raid burned for seven days. The US First Army captured Kassel on 3 April 1945, where only 50,000 inhabitants remained, versus 236,000 in 1939.

Targets

Bomb damaged buildings in Kassel, Untere Königsstraße

As well as being the capital of the provinces of Hesse-Nassau & Kurhessen, Kassel had some important targets.

Bombing raids

bombing raids on Kassel during World War II
Date Target
17/18 February 1942 10 Wellingtons and 3 Stirlings to Emden, Hamburg, Kassel and Aachen.
27/28 August 1942 Henschel 306 aircraft destroyed/seriously damaged 144/317 buildings, particularly in the city southwest. Three Henschel buildings were seriously damaged, and 43/251 were killed/injured.[1]
2/3 October 1943 The Pathfinder Force (PFF) was not able to find the center of the city, and most bombs into Ihringshausen and Bettenhausen. In addition to considerable damage, an ammunition store was hit.
3/4 October 1943 547 aircraft used H2S radar; the main weight of bombs fell on the western suburbs and outlying towns and villages.
22/23 October 1943 city centre 569 bombers dropped more than 1,800 tons of bombs (including 460,000 magnesium fire sticks) in a concentrated pattern.[2] For deception, the attack used Operation Corona radio spoofing and a Frankfurt diversionary raid. The blaze caused a minor firestorm similar in nature to that at Hamburg. Damage to the main telephone exchange and the city's water pipes hindered firefighting efforts.
18/19 March 1944 11 Mosquitos on a diversionary raid.
30/31 March 1944 34 Mosquitos on diversionary raids to Aachen, Cologne and Kassel.
27/28 September 1944 46 Mosquitos on a diversionary raid.
28 September 1944 Henschel motor transport plant Mission 652: 243 of 262 dispatched B-24s bombed the Kassel/Henschel motor transport plant.[3]
3/4 October 1944 43 Mosquitos.
15/16 October 1944 2 Mosquitos on a diversionary raid.
9/10 November 1944 3 Mosquitos.
27/28 December 1944 7 Mosquitos on Oboe (navigation) trials (some flew over Kassel).
6/7 January 1945 20 Mosquitos.
18/19 January 1945 12 Mosquitos.
21/22 January 1945 76 Mosquitos
2/3 March 1945 67 Mosquitos on a training raid.
8/9 March 1945 176 aircraft; the last heavy raid by the RAF on Kassel.
18/19 March 1945 24 Mosquitos.
20/21 March 1945 16 Mosquitos on a diversionary raid.
External images

Before and after the bombings

After the bombing in 1943

References

  1. ↑ "Campaign Diary". Royal Air Force Bomber Command 60th Anniversary. UK Crown. Retrieved 2009-03-22. February 1942, August 1942, October 1943, November 1943, December 1943 January 1944, February 1944 March 1944, September 1944, October 1944, November 1944, December 1944 January 1945, February 1945 March 1945, April 1945
  2. ↑ Bomber Command October 1943
  3. ↑ McKillop, Jack. "Combat Chronology of the USAAF". usaaf.net. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
    1942: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
    1943: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
    1944: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
    1945: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September


Sources

External sources

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