Before March of 1945, Hildescheim had 68,000 inhabitants. The town contained established civilian
hospitals and the town center held no military installations or anything else of military importance.
However, industries outside of the small city did, and many of the townsfolk worked in these
factories. There were factories that produced parts for fuses, ignitions and gearboxes for tanks as
well as other important war equipment, one that built parts for torpedoes, even one that was (later)
rumored to have built nose cones for the elusive V 2 rocket. Other plants produced machinery,
engine parts, airplane parts, and various weapons. There was also a rubber factory making gas
masks, life jackets, rubber boats for both Army and Navy, and rubber parts used for torpedoes
and cockpits of aircraft.
hospitals and the town center held no military installations or anything else of military importance.
However, industries outside of the small city did, and many of the townsfolk worked in these
factories. There were factories that produced parts for fuses, ignitions and gearboxes for tanks as
well as other important war equipment, one that built parts for torpedoes, even one that was (later)
rumored to have built nose cones for the elusive V 2 rocket. Other plants produced machinery,
engine parts, airplane parts, and various weapons. There was also a rubber factory making gas
masks, life jackets, rubber boats for both Army and Navy, and rubber parts used for torpedoes
and cockpits of aircraft.
Although there had been seven or eight minor bomb strikes beginning in July of 1944 hitting a
factory, a railroad installation, St. Michaels church and a few buildings in town, nothing was a clue
as to the devastation which would utterly destroy the town on March 22.
factory, a railroad installation, St. Michaels church and a few buildings in town, nothing was a clue
as to the devastation which would utterly destroy the town on March 22.
In Bomber Command Diaries, it is noted that marking the city center by the "pathfinders" was
very accurate. First the city area was "framed" by red and green lights on the ground. The target
area was first bombed by a massive shock bomb that destroyed the roofs and windows of the
buildings. Bombs from the first wave fell concentrated in the city center. Corner houses were the
most beneficial hits, because the rubble quickly choked the roads, preventing access by emergency
vehicles as well as escape routes for citizens. The incendiaries followed, and in minutes turned
medieval towns into towering infernos. By this point in the war, this procedure was well rehearsed.
very accurate. First the city area was "framed" by red and green lights on the ground. The target
area was first bombed by a massive shock bomb that destroyed the roofs and windows of the
buildings. Bombs from the first wave fell concentrated in the city center. Corner houses were the
most beneficial hits, because the rubble quickly choked the roads, preventing access by emergency
vehicles as well as escape routes for citizens. The incendiaries followed, and in minutes turned
medieval towns into towering infernos. By this point in the war, this procedure was well rehearsed.
Following the guide for efficiently burning medieval city
centers, they flew very low over Hildesheim, bombing the
medieval city center until everything caught fire. The huge fires
and heavy smoke then predictably prevented people from
escaping. 438.8 tons of mines and high- explosive bombs plus
624 tons of incendiary bombs were dropped, and the high-
explosives bombs, as predicted, tore open the houses so the
deadly 300.000 incendiary bombs could kindle a fire tower.
centers, they flew very low over Hildesheim, bombing the
medieval city center until everything caught fire. The huge fires
and heavy smoke then predictably prevented people from
escaping. 438.8 tons of mines and high- explosive bombs plus
624 tons of incendiary bombs were dropped, and the high-
explosives bombs, as predicted, tore open the houses so the
deadly 300.000 incendiary bombs could kindle a fire tower.
The death toll was not as great as in many other bombed cities, but at least 1645 civilians were
killed: 204 women and 170 children, 68 of which were under the age of six, 79 under fourteen and
34 of unknown age. 277 could not be identified. Most of the rest were elderly. 50 orphans were
created. The sad irony is that, while the obliterated town center held no military installations,
Hildesheim's several vital factories in prime war industries and also the major plants of importance
and subsidiary factories on the outskirts of the town were virtually untouched by the bombing, even
the large central goods station with connections to all of the German Reich. The VDM Works was
the only clearly established factory which was precisely bombed, back on March 14, 1945, by 60
US bombers, and it was not completely destroyed during this attack, only the Senking factory was.
killed: 204 women and 170 children, 68 of which were under the age of six, 79 under fourteen and
34 of unknown age. 277 could not be identified. Most of the rest were elderly. 50 orphans were
created. The sad irony is that, while the obliterated town center held no military installations,
Hildesheim's several vital factories in prime war industries and also the major plants of importance
and subsidiary factories on the outskirts of the town were virtually untouched by the bombing, even
the large central goods station with connections to all of the German Reich. The VDM Works was
the only clearly established factory which was precisely bombed, back on March 14, 1945, by 60
US bombers, and it was not completely destroyed during this attack, only the Senking factory was.
The Historical Branch of the RAF gave the following information: 22 March 1945; Target: Hildesheim
227 Lancaster bombers, 8 Mosquito's of 1 & 8 Groups. 4 Lancaster bombers lost. The target was the railway yards;
these were bombed but the surrounding built up areas also suffered severely in what was virtually an area attack. This was
the only major Bomber Command raid of the war on Hildesheim and the post war British survey found that 263 acres,
70% of the town, had been destroyed. The local report states that the inner town suffered the most damage. The
Cathedral, most of the churches and many historic buildings were destroyed. A total of 3302 blocks of flats (containing
more than 10000 apartments) were destroyed or seriously damaged.1645 people were killed.
Hildesheim is 20 miles SE of Hannover and is a railway junction of some importance. The town centre is largely built of
half timbered houses and has preserved its mediaeval character. There are various industries, mostly in the hands of small
undertakings. In addition to the works mentioned the town's activities include the manufacture of agricultural machinery
and a sugar refinery. Lancasters and Mosquito's attacked the town. The Master Bomber assessed the markers as being
200 yards off the aiming point, and therefore a good concentration of accurately placed markers was maintained. Bombs
were seen to fall in the marshalling yards to the north west of the aiming point and the (?) centre of the built up area was
soon a mass of smoke. Smoke rising to 15000 feet could be seen for approximately 200 miles on the return journey.
The intention was to destroy the built up area and associated industries and railway facilities. Almost the entire town was
devastated, only the extreme suburban areas having escaped destruction.
227 Lancaster bombers, 8 Mosquito's of 1 & 8 Groups. 4 Lancaster bombers lost. The target was the railway yards;
these were bombed but the surrounding built up areas also suffered severely in what was virtually an area attack. This was
the only major Bomber Command raid of the war on Hildesheim and the post war British survey found that 263 acres,
70% of the town, had been destroyed. The local report states that the inner town suffered the most damage. The
Cathedral, most of the churches and many historic buildings were destroyed. A total of 3302 blocks of flats (containing
more than 10000 apartments) were destroyed or seriously damaged.1645 people were killed.
Hildesheim is 20 miles SE of Hannover and is a railway junction of some importance. The town centre is largely built of
half timbered houses and has preserved its mediaeval character. There are various industries, mostly in the hands of small
undertakings. In addition to the works mentioned the town's activities include the manufacture of agricultural machinery
and a sugar refinery. Lancasters and Mosquito's attacked the town. The Master Bomber assessed the markers as being
200 yards off the aiming point, and therefore a good concentration of accurately placed markers was maintained. Bombs
were seen to fall in the marshalling yards to the north west of the aiming point and the (?) centre of the built up area was
soon a mass of smoke. Smoke rising to 15000 feet could be seen for approximately 200 miles on the return journey.
The intention was to destroy the built up area and associated industries and railway facilities. Almost the entire town was
devastated, only the extreme suburban areas having escaped destruction.
In 1701, musician Georg Philipp
Telemann did his preparatory studies
at the Gymnasium Andreanum at
Hildesheim, a school first mentioned
in the year 1225. The school buildings
of the Andreanum were destroyed as
was the state theater. Hildesheim,
like many bombed cities, was poorly
rebuilt in concrete after the war.
Telemann did his preparatory studies
at the Gymnasium Andreanum at
Hildesheim, a school first mentioned
in the year 1225. The school buildings
of the Andreanum were destroyed as
was the state theater. Hildesheim,
like many bombed cities, was poorly
rebuilt in concrete after the war.
However, in the late 1970s, reconstruction of the historic
center began with replicas of the original buildings using their
old plans. Today, it looks un-bombed, in that "theme park"
sort of way. It is not easy to find pictures of Allied bomb
damage. Cameras were confiscated from German civilians
during occupation, and such photos were kept top secret for
many years, only to come top life with the internet. It is
especially difficult to find images of German cities that fell
under communist occupation for decades.
center began with replicas of the original buildings using their
old plans. Today, it looks un-bombed, in that "theme park"
sort of way. It is not easy to find pictures of Allied bomb
damage. Cameras were confiscated from German civilians
during occupation, and such photos were kept top secret for
many years, only to come top life with the internet. It is
especially difficult to find images of German cities that fell
under communist occupation for decades.
| The End |
In the last stages of World War Two, a few thousand people ignored their government's advise to
leave their town and head out to the countryside. Everyday living was becoming difficult with
inadequate services and food. Neighboring cities were being violently bombarded. Yet, many civilians
remained in spite of it all because they needed their jobs to live, or felt reluctance to abandon their
homes, or simply because they had nowhere else to go. Women with small children were especially
terrified to leave urban areas where there were air raid shelters..
leave their town and head out to the countryside. Everyday living was becoming difficult with
inadequate services and food. Neighboring cities were being violently bombarded. Yet, many civilians
remained in spite of it all because they needed their jobs to live, or felt reluctance to abandon their
homes, or simply because they had nowhere else to go. Women with small children were especially
terrified to leave urban areas where there were air raid shelters..
| St. Michael's Church, built from 1010 to 1022, was the first to go |
| The city center, which had retained its medieval character until then with 1000 half timbered houses simply ceased to exist. The Romanesque St. Mary's Cathedral, above right, was built in the 9th century |
Called "Nürnberg of the North" because of its medieval framework architecture, Hildesheim would
suffer the same fate as Nürnberg of the south. Hildesheim was spared until almost the end. March
22,1945 was a bright sunny mid-day when 280 Lancaster bombers destroyed over 1,000 years of
history in 17 minutes. It is believed that the strike was called for by the U.S. who didn't want any
actual battles when they marched in to "capture" the corpse of a town 16 days later on April 8th.
suffer the same fate as Nürnberg of the south. Hildesheim was spared until almost the end. March
22,1945 was a bright sunny mid-day when 280 Lancaster bombers destroyed over 1,000 years of
history in 17 minutes. It is believed that the strike was called for by the U.S. who didn't want any
actual battles when they marched in to "capture" the corpse of a town 16 days later on April 8th.
| The 12th-century Andreaskirche, above, had the highest church steeple of Lower Saxony. |
The impact left bomb craters approximately 5 meters deep and about 20 meters in diameter. 263
acres and 70 per cent of the town was destroyed. Hildesheim had already lost 2831 soldiers during
the war, most missing and never accounted for. On top of Hildesheim's loss of 6934 houses and
20781 flats, rendering most of the people shelterless, 85% of shops, 66% of all trading property, 50%
of all industrial plants and 80% of all schools, churches and public houses were also gone in minutes.
acres and 70 per cent of the town was destroyed. Hildesheim had already lost 2831 soldiers during
the war, most missing and never accounted for. On top of Hildesheim's loss of 6934 houses and
20781 flats, rendering most of the people shelterless, 85% of shops, 66% of all trading property, 50%
of all industrial plants and 80% of all schools, churches and public houses were also gone in minutes.
When the Hildesheim Cathedral suffered near total destruction, a legendary 1000-year-old rosebush
next to it was also burned and buried beneath the rubble in 1945; its roots did remain unharmed and
soon the bush was thriving once again.
next to it was also burned and buried beneath the rubble in 1945; its roots did remain unharmed and
soon the bush was thriving once again.
After the war...
