Bombing of Wesel in World War II
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The German town of Wesel was devastated in Allied air raids during World War II.
Wesel became a target of the Allies, particularly in its strategic position as a depot with bridges on the Rhine. On the 16, 17, 18 and 19 February 1945,[1] the town was attacked by the Royal Air Force (RAF) with impact and air-burst weapons and almost entirely destroyed.[2] The Rhine and Lippe bridges were blown by the Wehrmacht; among others, on 10 March, the 1,950m long railway bridge, the last Rhine bridge remaining in German hands.[3][citation needed]
On 23 March, Wesel came under the fire of over 3,000 guns when it was bombarded anew, in preparation for Operation Plunder.[4] On then night of 23/44 March, 195 Lancasters and 23 Mosquitos of RAF Bomber Command No. 5 Group aided in the softening up of the German defenders. 97% of the town was destroyed before it was finally taken by Allied troops and the population had fallen from almost 25,000 in 1939 to 1,900 in May 1945.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ RAF campaign diary February 1945
- ^ Bombing of Wesel - WW2 People's War BBC
- ^ Lexikon der Wehrmacht - see Standort Wesel
- ^ Chronology of World War II Ken Polsson
- ^ Lexikon der Wehrmacht
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