List of strategic bombing over Germany in World War II

A list of strategic bombing over Germany in World War II includes all cities and towns in Germany attacked by RAF Bomber Command and the Eighth Air Force.

German defensive strategy of their country, and neighbouring occupied countries, against strategic bombing was conducted by the Defence of the Reich. In February 1944, the RAF and USAAF air raids of Big Week notably limited the offensive capability of the Luftwaffe, from which it would never recover. But the German air defence had advanced radar and was often impenetrable, or only penetrable at great cost; only aircraft such as the de Havilland Mosquito could completely outwit the German defences; the Mosquito was almost impossible to shoot down, being able to outrun most German fighter aircraft too, and it carried no discernible defensive armament. Around fifteen German cities were firebombed, in which destruction of the cities was almost total; the temperatures created in the firestorm were huge. Many north-western German cities were bombed in late 1943 in the Battle of the Ruhr.

Approximately 410,000 German civilians were killed in the strategic bombing.[1]

Strategic bombing
Darmstadt after the firebombing of 11 September 1944

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  • Bombing of Kassel in World War II; the raid on 22 October 1943 resulted in a firestorm, destroying 23 square miles; the Kassel Mission by the USAAF occurred on 27 September 1944, and was one of the largest air battles between the Luftwaffe and the USAAF, and 118 American pilots were killed, of which 11 were murdered after parachuting to safety

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See also

References
  1. University of Exeter
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