This article is about the World War II bombing campaign. For the battle during World War II, see Battle of Königsberg.
The bombing of Königsberg was a series of attacks made on the city of Königsberg in East Prussia during World War II. The Soviet Air Force had made several raids on the city since 1941. Extensive attacks carried out by RAF Bomber Command destroyed most of the city's historic quarters in the summer of 1944. Königsberg was also heavily bombed during the Battle of Königsberg, in the final weeks of the war.
With the aim of retaliation for German airstrikes on the capital of the USSR, Moscow in 1941, Joseph Stalin ordered the Soviet Air Force to bomb Königsberg. Eleven Pe-8 bombers attacked the city on 1 September 1941. The Soviets did not lose a single bomber in the raid.[1] The Soviet Air Force bombed the city again on 26 July 1942,[2] 27 August 1942[3] and 15 July 1943.[4] On the night of 28 April 1943,[5] a bomber dropped an 11,000-pounder on the city's area, the largest bomb in the Soviet inventory.[6]
No. 5 Group carried out the first RAF attack on Königsberg on the night of 26/27 August 1944, using 174 Avro Lancasters. The target, which was at the extreme range for the planes, demanded a round trip of 1,900 miles (3,100 km) from bases in England. Planes from RAF Skellingthorpe (Lincs) could not return to base and diverted to RAF Tain in northern Scotland after 10 hours and 35 minutes' flying time (cf. 11 hours and 20 minutes' return to base three days later.[7]) Despite losing only four aircraft, the first attack was not particularly successful because most bombs fell on the eastern side of Königsberg, missing the city centre.
The next RAF raid occurred three days later on the 29/30 August. This time No. 5 Group dropped 480 tons of high explosive and incendiaries on the centre of the city. RAF Bomber Command estimated that 20% of industry and 41% of all the housing in Königsberg was destroyed. Out of a force of 189 Lancasters, German night fighters shot down 15 RAF bombers.[8] The historic city centre suffered severe damage and the districts of Altstadt, Löbenicht, and Kneiphof were nearly destroyed. The city's 14th-century cathedral was reduced to a shell. Extensive damage was also done to the castle, all churches in the old city, the university, and the old shipping quarter.
In 1945, the prolonged battle of Königsberg inflicted further damage. When the Soviets occupied the city in April 1945, more than 90% of the city was already destroyed. Under Soviet occupation, the surviving, much reduced German population was forcibly expelled from the city. It was then rebuilt as the Russian city of Kaliningrad.[9]
Referencesedit
^. Archived from the original on 2009-02-16. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
^Soviets bomb Prussia by Eddie Gilmore, Associated Press, 27 July 1942
^Gibson, Guy and Martin, Harold (2006). Enemy Coast Ahead – Uncensored: The Real Guy Gibson. MBI Publishing Company, p. 186. ISBN0859791181
^Russians bomb Nazi Airdrome by Eddie Gilmore, Associated Press, 16 July 1943,
^Boog, Horst, Krebs, Gerhart and Vogel, Detlef (2006).Germany and the Second World War: The strategic air war in Europe and the war in the West and East Asia 1943–1944. Oxford University Press, p. 157. ISBN0198228899
^Flying Log Book of Lloyd Phillips, Wireless Operator, VN-Nan, 50 SQDN
^. Archived from the original on 2009-02-16. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
March 06, 2024
bombing, königsberg, world, this, article, about, world, bombing, campaign, battle, during, world, battle, königsberg, bombing, königsberg, series, attacks, made, city, königsberg, east, prussia, during, world, soviet, force, made, several, raids, city, since,. This article is about the World War II bombing campaign For the battle during World War II see Battle of Konigsberg The bombing of Konigsberg was a series of attacks made on the city of Konigsberg in East Prussia during World War II The Soviet Air Force had made several raids on the city since 1941 Extensive attacks carried out by RAF Bomber Command destroyed most of the city s historic quarters in the summer of 1944 Konigsberg was also heavily bombed during the Battle of Konigsberg in the final weeks of the war Bombing of KonigsbergPart of World War IIRuins of KonigsbergDate1 September 1941 9 April 1945LocationKonigsberg Nazi GermanyBelligerents United Kingdom Soviet UnionGermanyWith the aim of retaliation for German airstrikes on the capital of the USSR Moscow in 1941 Joseph Stalin ordered the Soviet Air Force to bomb Konigsberg Eleven Pe 8 bombers attacked the city on 1 September 1941 The Soviets did not lose a single bomber in the raid 1 The Soviet Air Force bombed the city again on 26 July 1942 2 27 August 1942 3 and 15 July 1943 4 On the night of 28 April 1943 5 a bomber dropped an 11 000 pounder on the city s area the largest bomb in the Soviet inventory 6 No 5 Group carried out the first RAF attack on Konigsberg on the night of 26 27 August 1944 using 174 Avro Lancasters The target which was at the extreme range for the planes demanded a round trip of 1 900 miles 3 100 km from bases in England Planes from RAF Skellingthorpe Lincs could not return to base and diverted to RAF Tain in northern Scotland after 10 hours and 35 minutes flying time cf 11 hours and 20 minutes return to base three days later 7 Despite losing only four aircraft the first attack was not particularly successful because most bombs fell on the eastern side of Konigsberg missing the city centre The next RAF raid occurred three days later on the 29 30 August This time No 5 Group dropped 480 tons of high explosive and incendiaries on the centre of the city RAF Bomber Command estimated that 20 of industry and 41 of all the housing in Konigsberg was destroyed Out of a force of 189 Lancasters German night fighters shot down 15 RAF bombers 8 The historic city centre suffered severe damage and the districts of Altstadt Lobenicht and Kneiphof were nearly destroyed The city s 14th century cathedral was reduced to a shell Extensive damage was also done to the castle all churches in the old city the university and the old shipping quarter In 1945 the prolonged battle of Konigsberg inflicted further damage When the Soviets occupied the city in April 1945 more than 90 of the city was already destroyed Under Soviet occupation the surviving much reduced German population was forcibly expelled from the city It was then rebuilt as the Russian city of Kaliningrad 9 References edit Soviet bombing raids Archived from the original on 2009 02 16 Retrieved 2009 05 17 Soviets bomb Prussia by Eddie Gilmore Associated Press 27 July 1942 Gibson Guy and Martin Harold 2006 Enemy Coast Ahead Uncensored The Real Guy Gibson MBI Publishing Company p 186 ISBN 0859791181 Russians bomb Nazi Airdrome by Eddie Gilmore Associated Press 16 July 1943 FAB 5000 Retrieved 19 July 2015 Boog Horst Krebs Gerhart and Vogel Detlef 2006 Germany and the Second World War The strategic air war in Europe and the war in the West and East Asia 1943 1944 Oxford University Press p 157 ISBN 0198228899 Flying Log Book of Lloyd Phillips Wireless Operator VN Nan 50 SQDN RAF Bomber Command Campaign Diary August 1944 Archived 2007 07 06 at the UK Government Web Archive Soviet bombing raids Archived from the original on 2009 02 16 Retrieved 2009 05 17 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bombing of Konigsberg in World War II amp oldid 1211749714, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
