Bombing of Frankfurt am Main in World War II

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Davidcannon (talk | contribs) at 13:28, 4 September 2015 (clean up using AWB). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Bomb damage near the cathedral included 2 bridges (May 1945).

Bombing of Frankfurt am Main by the Allies of World War II killed about 5,500 residents and destroyed the largest[specify] medieval city centre in Germany (the Eighth Air Force dropped 12,197 tons of explosives on the city).

In the 1939-45 period the Royal Air Force (RAF) dropped 15,696 long tons of bombs on Frankfurt.[1]

Post-war reconstruction generally used modern architecture, and a few landmark buildings were rebuilt in a simple historical style. The 1st building rebuilt was the 1789 Paulskirche (English: St. Paul's Church).

1944-03-28
Chronology
Date Event
1942-12 Frankfurt was unsuccessfully bombed when bad weather prevented crews from hearing Sqn Ldr S. P. Daniels' on the standard-frequency radio equipment in the 1st Master Bomber mission (proposed by Air-Vice Marshal Don Bennett on 22 December 1942—preceding the Operation Chastise MB by 6 months.)[2]
1944-01-29 Mission 24 daylight bombing of Frankfurt[3] killed Princess Marie Alexandra of Baden.
1944-02-04 The 303 BG bombed the Frankfurt city area using PFF.[4]
1944-02-11 The 303 BG attacked Frankfurt [1]
1944-03-02 The 303 BG targeted Frankfurt's V.K.F. (Vereinigte Kugellagerfabriken) ball bearing plant, followed by the Berlin Erkner ball bearing works on 03-03 and 03-08.[4]
1944-03-22 A night raid destroyed the old part of Frankfurt and killed over 1000 inhabitants, and the east port suffered major damage.
1944-12-22/23
1945-01-08/09
De Havilland Mosquitos raided Frankfurt during the Battle of Berlin (air).
[when?] The Municipal Library was hit during an air raid, destroying its Cairo Genizah document collection and lists of the collection.[5]

References

  1. ^ http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1945/1945%20-%201571.html
  2. ^ Irving, David (February 1965: first Ballentine paperback - Introduction by Ira C. Eaker) [1963 - Forward by Robert Saundby]. The Destruction of Dresden. p. 62. ISBN 0-7057-0030-5. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ Mission 24: Frankfurt, Germany, January 29, 1944, "Forts Blast Frankfurt; Kassel Hit" - retrieved 9-5-2008
  4. ^ a b Miller, Edgar "Ed" C. "...My Combat Missions..." Sirinet.net/~lgarris. Retrieved 2011-07-27.
  5. ^ Goitein, S.D. (2000). Economic Foundations. Vol. Vol. I of A Mediterranean Society: The Jewish Communities of the Arab World as Portrayed in the Documents of the Cairo Geniza. University of California Press. p. 5. {{cite book}}: |volume= has extra text (help)