Bombing of Wieluń: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Zniszczenia1939 0.jpg|thumb|250px|Wieluń city center during the German air raid]] |
[[Image:Zniszczenia1939 0.jpg|thumb|250px|Wieluń city center during the German air raid]] |
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The '''bombing of Wieluń''' refers to the |
The '''bombing of Wieluń''' refers to the bombing of the Polish town of [[Wieluń]] by the [[Germany|German]] [[Luftwaffe]] on 1 September 1939. This [[airstrike|air raid]] started about five minutes before the shelling of [[Westerplatte]], which has traditionally been considered the beginning of [[World War II]]. |
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==Events== |
==Events== |
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The bombing started at 4:40 AM. At 6:00 a.m. the German forces noted that ''Wielun brennt'' (Wieluń burns), but the raids continued until 2:00 PM. Three waves of attacks were carried out during the day. Among the German pilots were those from [[Condor Legion]], which was involved in the bombing of [[Guernica (town)|Guernica]] two years prior. On their return home, four of the German [[Junkers Ju 87]] bombers were shot down by the Polish [[36th Infantry Regiment|36 Academic Legion Infantry Regiment]] stationed nearby. |
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The papers of Luftflotte 4, 2. Fliegerdivision, I./Stg76 and Stg. and 77. and from Richhofen's war diary show that on the eve of the war, reconnaissance reported a Polish division near Wieluń and next to it, a Polish cavarly brigade.<ref>Poeppel-von Preußen-von Hase, 2000. p. 248.</ref> The bombing started at 4:40 AM. At 6:00 a.m. the German forces noted that ''Wielun brennt'' (Wieluń burns), but the raids continued until 2:00 PM. Large concentrations of Polish cavarly were on the move toward Wielun where Hptm Sigel's I/St.G. 76 had earlier pounded the Polish defence works.<ref>Smith, 2007. p. 23</ref> At 1300 I/StG 2 led by Major Dinort from Nieder-Ellguth, were directed against this concentration, followed a few hours later, by Schwarzkopff with sixty operational Stukas of I/StG 77<ref>Smith, 2007. p. 23</ref>. Together the dive bombers, braving the intense anti aircraft fire, inflicted heavy losses on the Polish cavartly, and the advance was turned into a rout by ninety Stukas.<ref>Smith, 2007. p. 23</ref> On their return home, four of the German [[Junkers Ju 87]] bombers were shot down by the Polish [[36th Infantry Regiment|36 Academic Legion Infantry Regiment]] stationed nearby. Three waves of attacks were carried out during the day. Wielun fell to the Germans on day one.<ref>Smith, 2007. p. 23</ref> |
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It is widely acknowledged that there were no military or industrial targets of note in the area<ref name="Trenkner">{{citation |last=Trenkner |first=Joachim |url=http://tygodnik.onet.pl/35,0,14103,2,artykul.html |title=Wieluń, czwarta czterdzieści |date=2008-08-29 |language=Polish}}</ref><ref>{{pl icon}} [http://www.historia.wielunia.webpark.pl/1wrzesnia2.html Wieluń, 1 września 1939 r.]</ref>, except for a small sugar factory in the outskirts of the town. German bombers destroyed 90% of the town center (including the historical [[Gothic architecture|gothic]] church) and killed approximately 1,200 civilians, about 8% of the town's population of 15,000. Approximately 75% of all the buildings in Wieluń were destroyed. Among the first targets bombed by the Germans was the hospital (despite a huge [[Red Cross]] sign painted on the roof). Some eyewitnesses claimed that the German planes [[strafing|strafed]] civilians who were fleeing through the streets.{{Fact|date=June 2009}} |
It is widely acknowledged that there were no military or industrial targets of note in the area<ref name="Trenkner">{{citation |last=Trenkner |first=Joachim |url=http://tygodnik.onet.pl/35,0,14103,2,artykul.html |title=Wieluń, czwarta czterdzieści |date=2008-08-29 |language=Polish}}</ref><ref>{{pl icon}} [http://www.historia.wielunia.webpark.pl/1wrzesnia2.html Wieluń, 1 września 1939 r.]</ref>, except for a small sugar factory in the outskirts of the town. German bombers destroyed 90% of the town center (including the historical [[Gothic architecture|gothic]] church) and killed approximately 1,200 civilians, about 8% of the town's population of 15,000. Approximately 75% of all the buildings in Wieluń were destroyed. Among the first targets bombed by the Germans was the hospital (despite a huge [[Red Cross]] sign painted on the roof). Some eyewitnesses claimed that the German planes [[strafing|strafed]] civilians who were fleeing through the streets.{{Fact|date=June 2009}} |
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The real purpose of the bombing remains unclear. There are claims that Polish military units were inside the town before the first air raid, a fact that would explain the choice of the city to be bombed. However, it's more likely that the only military units near Wieluń were a cavalry column that arrived later in the day. |
The real purpose of the bombing remains unclear. There are claims that Polish military units were inside the town before the first air raid, a fact that would explain the choice of the city to be bombed. However, it's more likely that the only military units near Wieluń were a cavalry column that arrived later in the day. |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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* Poeppel, Hans and Prinz von Preußen, Wilhelm-Karl and von Hase, Karl-Günther. (2000) ''Die Soldaten der Wehrmacht.'' Herbig Verlag. ISBN 978-3776620573 |
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* Smith, C. Peter. (2007). ''Ju 87 Stuka Volume One: Luftwaffe Ju 87 Dive-bomber Units 1939-1941.'' Classic Publications. ISBN 978-1903223697 |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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Revision as of 20:19, 4 June 2009
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2009) |
The bombing of Wieluń refers to the terror bombing of the Polish town of Wieluń by the German Luftwaffe on 1 September 1939. This air raid started about five minutes before the shelling of Westerplatte, which has traditionally been considered the beginning of World War II. The bombing of Wieluń is considered as one of the first terror bombings in history and first in the WW2.[1][nb 1]
Events
The bombing started at 4:40 AM. At 6:00 a.m. the German forces noted that Wielun brennt (Wieluń burns), but the raids continued until 2:00 PM. Three waves of attacks were carried out during the day. Among the German pilots were those from Condor Legion, which was involved in the bombing of Guernica two years prior. On their return home, four of the German Junkers Ju 87 bombers were shot down by the Polish 36 Academic Legion Infantry Regiment stationed nearby.
It is widely acknowledged that there were no military or industrial targets of note in the area[2][3], except for a small sugar factory in the outskirts of the town. German bombers destroyed 90% of the town center (including the historical gothic church) and killed approximately 1,200 civilians, about 8% of the town's population of 15,000. Approximately 75% of all the buildings in Wieluń were destroyed. Among the first targets bombed by the Germans was the hospital (despite a huge Red Cross sign painted on the roof). Some eyewitnesses claimed that the German planes strafed civilians who were fleeing through the streets.[citation needed]
The real purpose of the bombing remains unclear. There are claims that Polish military units were inside the town before the first air raid, a fact that would explain the choice of the city to be bombed. However, it's more likely that the only military units near Wieluń were a cavalry column that arrived later in the day.[citation needed]
Notes
- ^ For an earlier, 1937 terror bombing, see the bombing of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War).
References
- ^ http://www.um.wielun.pl/index.php?page=nobel-peace-prize
- ^ Trenkner, Joachim (2008-08-29), Wieluń, czwarta czterdzieści (in Polish)
- ^ Template:Pl icon Wieluń, 1 września 1939 r.
External links
- Template:Pl icon Sylwia Słomińska, Wieluń, 1 września 1939 r. (mirror)
- Template:De icon Summary of a German TV report making the case for the bombing of Wielun as a war crime
- Reports of Luftwaffe pilots during September 1, including the attacks against WIELÚN
Further reading
- Bekker, Cajus. (1994). The Luftwaffe War Diaries. pp. 31–3. OCLC 30353222
- Bojarska B., Zniszczenie miasta Wielunia w dniu 1 września 1939 r., „Przegląd Zachodni” 1962, nr 2.
- Kulesza W., Pierwszy był Wieluń, „Rzeczpospolita” 1999, nr 211, 9 IX 1999.
- Olejnik T., Wieluń – na pięć minut przed Westerplatte. Pierwsi zginęli cywile, „Tygodnik Powszechny” nr 35, 31 VIII 2003 r.
- Olejnik T., Wieluń. Zniszczenie miasta 1 IX 1939 r., Kępno 1979.
- Olejnik T., Wieluń – polska Guernica, das polnische Guernica, Wieluń 2004.
- Pięciak W., Wieluń 1 września 1939 r., „Tygodnik Powszechny” nr 2, 12 I 2003.
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