Bombing of Wesel in World War II
- Bombing of Wesel in World War II
The German town of Wesel was devastated in Allied air raids during World War II.
Wesel became a target of the Allies, particularly in its strategic position as a depot with bridges on the Rhine. On the 16, 17, 18 and 19 February 1945, [ [http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/feb45.html RAF campaign diary February 1945] ] the town was attacked by the Royal Air Force (RAF) with impact and air-burst weapons and almost entirely destroyed. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/88/a5314088.shtml Bombing of Wesel - WW2 People's War] BBC] The Rhine and Lippe bridges were blown by the Wehrmacht; among others, on 10 March, the 1,950m long railway bridge, the last Rhine bridge remaining in German hands. [ [http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/inhaltsverzeichnisKasernen.htm Lexikon der Wehrmacht] - see Standort Wesel] Fact|date=June 2007
On 23 March, Wesel came under the fire of over 3,000 guns when it was bombarded anew, in preparation for Operation Plunder. [ [http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/ww2hist/ww21945mar.htm Chronology of World War II] Ken Polsson] On then night of 23/44 March, 195 Lancasters and 23 Mosquitos of RAF Bomber Command No. 5 Group aided in the softening up of the German defenders. 97% of the town was destroyed before it was finally taken by Allied troops and the population had fallen from almost 25,000 in 1939 to 1,900 in May 1945. [ [http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/mar45.html Lexikon der Wehrmacht] ]
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