Bombing of Hildesheim in World War II

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The 1,100 year-old German town of Hildesheim was ravaged by Allied air raids in the last days of World War II.

[edit] The raid

March 22, 1945 was a bright mid-day when 280 Avro Lancasters and 8 Mosquito bombers destroyed the town in 17 minutes, flying low and starting fires. The strike was probably called for by the US who didn't want battles when they marched into the town on April 8.

• 438.8 tons of mines and explosives and 624 tons of incendiary bombs poured down. 263 acres of the town (70%) were destroyed.

• 1645 civilians were killed, of which 204 were women and 170, children. 277 bodies could not be identified. Fifty orphans were found.

• Besides the loss of 6934 houses and 20781 flats, 85% of shops, 66% of trading property, 50% of industries and 80% of public places were also gone.

• The cathedral suffered almost total collapse.

[edit] Trivia

• A bomb crater 5 metres deep and 20 metres wide was found.

• The targets were militarily insignificant; many war-supporting factories on the outskirts were left untouched.

• Smoke rising from the town was seen from 20 miles away.

• 4 Lancasters were shot down.

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