Operation Carthage

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Operation Carthage

The air raid on the Shellhus

Date	21 March 1945
Location	Copenhagen, Denmark
Result	British Victory

Belligerents

Royal Air Force

Gestapo

Strength

20 bombers, 30 fighters

Various anti-aircraft defences

Casualties and losses

4 aircraft destroyed
9 crew members killed

Danish Gestapo headquarters destroyed
55 German soldiers and 47 Danish Gestapo employees killed

125 Danish civilians killed, including 86 school children
8 Danish Gestapo prisoners killed

Operation Carthage (1945-03-21) was a controversial British air raid on Copenhagen, Denmark, during World War II. The target of the raid was the Shellhus, Gestapo headquarters, in the city centre.

The raid was requested by members of the Danish resistance movement in the hope of freeing imprisoned members and destroying Gestapo records. Britain initially turned down the request as too risky, due to the location in a crowded city core, but eventually approved it in early 1945 after repeated requests.

The very low-level attack consisted of 20 Royal Air Force de Havilland Mosquito fast bombers in three waves, escorted by 30 RAF P-51 Mustang fighters. Unfortunately, a Mosquito in the first wave hit a lamp post and crashed into a boarding school beside the Shellhus, and the third wave of bombers attacked the burning school thinking it was their target. 125 Danish civilians died in the school, including 86 schoolchildren.

The raid succeeded in destroying Gestapo headquarters and severely disrupting Gestapo operations in Denmark, as well as allowing the escape of 18 Gestapo prisoners. 55 German soldiers, 47 Danish Gestapo employees, and 8 prisoners died in the headquarters itself. Four Mosquito bombers were lost, and nine crew members died on the British side.