| Berlin Burning |
Starting in 1940, Berlin was continually attacked. Between November 18, 1943 and March 1944 alone, Berlin was
bombed 24 times by over 1,000 planes of the combined forces of the RAF, RCAF, USAAF and Soviets, dropping up to
2,000 tons of bombs each, and it was continually assaulted until the Russian army took the city in April,1945.
bombed 24 times by over 1,000 planes of the combined forces of the RAF, RCAF, USAAF and Soviets, dropping up to
2,000 tons of bombs each, and it was continually assaulted until the Russian army took the city in April,1945.
Out of a total of 245,000 buildings in Berlin, 50,000 had been completely destroyed and 23,000 had been severely
damaged; 80,000 civilians had been killed at war's end. There were no trees, no grass, and only gray, blackened corpses
of both buildings and people. The city of Berlin, once among the most beautiful in the world, the destination of the rich,
brilliant and famous was in total ruin. It is now generally accepted that the Battle of Berlin was certainly not the success
that Harris had predicted. The RAF lost 1,047 bombers with a further 1,682 damaged, and well over 7,000 aircrew,
culminating in the raid on Nuremberg on March 30, 1944. Losses during the raids on Berlin were 492 bombers with 954
others damaged and 95 written off.
damaged; 80,000 civilians had been killed at war's end. There were no trees, no grass, and only gray, blackened corpses
of both buildings and people. The city of Berlin, once among the most beautiful in the world, the destination of the rich,
brilliant and famous was in total ruin. It is now generally accepted that the Battle of Berlin was certainly not the success
that Harris had predicted. The RAF lost 1,047 bombers with a further 1,682 damaged, and well over 7,000 aircrew,
culminating in the raid on Nuremberg on March 30, 1944. Losses during the raids on Berlin were 492 bombers with 954
others damaged and 95 written off.
The Soviets entered first while the Americans and the British lagged behind to the west. The Red Army had two months
to plunder and rape as much as was physically possible and their soldiers went on the biggest spree of rape in modern,
civilized history.
to plunder and rape as much as was physically possible and their soldiers went on the biggest spree of rape in modern,
civilized history.
More bombs by weight were dropped on the once elegant city of Berlin than were released on all of
Great Britain during the entire war. By the end, there was no electricity, gas or water, the city's
bridges and railway tunnels were gone, and the city was choked with 98 million cubic yards of rubble
that stood in place of the beautiful old buildings and monuments. Its population was halved and 1.5
million people became homeless in yet another city teeming with frantic, uncounted refugees who
had fled from the Red Army in eastern regions, unknowingly trading one hell for another.
Great Britain during the entire war. By the end, there was no electricity, gas or water, the city's
bridges and railway tunnels were gone, and the city was choked with 98 million cubic yards of rubble
that stood in place of the beautiful old buildings and monuments. Its population was halved and 1.5
million people became homeless in yet another city teeming with frantic, uncounted refugees who
had fled from the Red Army in eastern regions, unknowingly trading one hell for another.
The so-called "Battle of Berlin" was largely a British bombing campaign from November 1943 to March 1944 launched
by Arthur Harris, who boasted: "It will cost us between 400 and 500 aircraft. It will cost Germany the war." Between
November 1943 and March 1944 Bomber Command made 16 massed attacks on Berlin. On December 27, 1943,
Arthur Harris had requested that the USAAF attack Berlin as well and relieve the pressure on RAF Bomber Command,
however, the Americans continued precision bombing German industry and refused to join the RAF campaign. The 16
raids on Berlin cost Bomber Command more than 500 aircraft and 2,690 of their men lost their lives with nearly 1,000
others becoming prisoners of war. Although devastating to civilians, the British raids failed to meet their primary objective,
which was to win the war by bombing Germany until its economy and civilian morale collapsed (in fact, war production in
greater Berlin did not fall but continued to rise until the end of 1944).
by Arthur Harris, who boasted: "It will cost us between 400 and 500 aircraft. It will cost Germany the war." Between
November 1943 and March 1944 Bomber Command made 16 massed attacks on Berlin. On December 27, 1943,
Arthur Harris had requested that the USAAF attack Berlin as well and relieve the pressure on RAF Bomber Command,
however, the Americans continued precision bombing German industry and refused to join the RAF campaign. The 16
raids on Berlin cost Bomber Command more than 500 aircraft and 2,690 of their men lost their lives with nearly 1,000
others becoming prisoners of war. Although devastating to civilians, the British raids failed to meet their primary objective,
which was to win the war by bombing Germany until its economy and civilian morale collapsed (in fact, war production in
greater Berlin did not fall but continued to rise until the end of 1944).
In the first raid on the night of November 18/19, 1943, Berlin experienced little damage. The second major raid on the
night of November 23/24, 1943 ignited several firestorms and caused extensive civilian damage to the residential areas
west of the center, Tiergarten and Charlottenburg, Schöneberg and Spandau. The elegant Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial
Church was senselessly destroyed along with the British, French, Italian and Japanese embassies, Charlottenburg Palace
and other "ferocious" targets such as the Berlin Zoo. The November 22 raid killed 2,000 and rendered 175,000 people
homeless. The following night 1,000 were killed and 100,000 made homeless. A December 17 attack extensively
damaged the Berlin railway system. During December and January, constant civilian bombing attacks killed hundreds of
people each night and rendered between 20,000 and 80,000 homeless each time. By this time, more than a quarter of
Berlin's total living accommodations were unusable. Another major raid on January 28/29, 1944 hit Berlin's western and
southern residential districts. On February 15/16, some important war industries were actually hit. Civilian raids,
ineffective though they were, continued until March 1944, causing immense devastation and death in Berlin.
night of November 23/24, 1943 ignited several firestorms and caused extensive civilian damage to the residential areas
west of the center, Tiergarten and Charlottenburg, Schöneberg and Spandau. The elegant Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial
Church was senselessly destroyed along with the British, French, Italian and Japanese embassies, Charlottenburg Palace
and other "ferocious" targets such as the Berlin Zoo. The November 22 raid killed 2,000 and rendered 175,000 people
homeless. The following night 1,000 were killed and 100,000 made homeless. A December 17 attack extensively
damaged the Berlin railway system. During December and January, constant civilian bombing attacks killed hundreds of
people each night and rendered between 20,000 and 80,000 homeless each time. By this time, more than a quarter of
Berlin's total living accommodations were unusable. Another major raid on January 28/29, 1944 hit Berlin's western and
southern residential districts. On February 15/16, some important war industries were actually hit. Civilian raids,
ineffective though they were, continued until March 1944, causing immense devastation and death in Berlin.