Image size: 1600 x 1317 pixel. 656 KB
Date: Sunday, 15 April 1945
Place: Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Photographer: Harold W. Clover
Heilbronn is a city in northern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In 1940 allied air raids started and the city and its surrounding area were hit about 20 times with minor damage. On September 10, 1944 a raid by the allies targeted the city and, specifically, the Böckingen train transfer station. 281 residents died as a result of 1,168 bombs dropped that day. The city was carpet-bombed from the southern quarter all the way to the Kilianskirche in the centre of town. The church burnt out. The catastrophe for Heilbronn was the bombing raid on December 4, 1944. During that raid the centre of town was completely destroyed and the surrounding boroughs were heavily damaged. Within one half hour 6,500 residents perished. Of those, 5,000 were later buried in mass graves in the Ehrenfriedhof (cemetery of honor) in the valley of the Köpfer creek close to the city. To this day, a memorial is held annually in memory of those that died that day. As a result of the war Heilbronn's population shrank to 46,350. After a ten-day battle with the advancing allies over the strategically important Neckar crossings, World War II ended for the destroyed city on April 12, 1945 with occupation by US troops. Richard Drauz was the Heilbronn district NSDAP leader since 1932. Drauz took time for numerous court-martials while on the run from the allies and was hanged on December 4, 1946 in Landsberg because he ordered executions of American prisoners of war in March of 1945.
Source:
NARA (National Archives) 559236
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Heilbronn_ca._April_1945.jpg
http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii1001
Never knew how much destruction came to the city of hielbronn. I served there from 84-86. A company, 26th signal battalion. Wendell Usher.
ReplyDeleteNever knew how much destruction came to the city of hielbronn. I served there from 84-86. A company, 26th signal battalion. Wendell Usher.
ReplyDeleteNever knew how much destruction came to the city of hielbronn. I served there from 84-86. A company, 26th signal battalion. Wendell Usher.
ReplyDeleteFound a bomb crater on the Tower hill around 1977 while hiking through the woods from Nekarsulm. Found an unexploded German grenade buried in what use to be a trench surrounding the Artillery Kaserne Neckarsulm around 1978.
ReplyDeleteI was a civilan recreation center director at Neckarsulm Artillery kaserne from Mar 1974 thru Jan 1977. I didn't know the destruction was so great. I loved the people of Heilbronn. I was so glad I started my career there as it was a wonderful experience. Now in 2018 I know my great grandparents came from there in 1872 to the USA.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post and comments. I served at Badnerhof Kaserne (507th ASA) from 1958 to 1961. The mass grave was about two hundred yards east. When I arrived many of the US soldiers were still volunteering at orphan homes needed because of the September 1944 bombing. Residents were accustomed to standing outside when our bombers flew north to major military factories. We made quite a show especially in 1944. I too loved the people. I was married in the military chapel (Chapel of 3 stones) by our base chaplain.
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