Bombing of Wieluń: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Revision as of 14:39, 1 September 2009

The bombing of Wieluń refers to the indiscriminate bombing of the Polish town of Wieluń by the German Luftwaffe on 1 September 1939, five minutes before the shelling of Westerplatte, which has traditionally been considered the beginning of World War II. The bombing of Wielun is considered as one of the first terror bombings in history and first in this war.^[1] German carpet bombing killed an estimated 1300 civilians, injured hundreds more and destroyed 75% per of the town centre. It is widely acknowledged that there were no targets of any importance in the area such as military installations or industrial facilities^[1]. The casualty rate was more than twice as high as Guernica.^[2]

Events

German reconnaissance reported a Polish division near Wieluń and next to it, a Polish cavalry brigade.^[3] The bombing started at 04:40. At 06:00 the German forces noted that Wielun brennt (Wieluń burns), but the raids continued until 14:00. A Polish cavalry unit was on the move toward Wielun where Hauptmann Sigel's I/Sturzkampfgeschwader (St.G) 76 had earlier attacked the Polish defence works.^[4] At 13:00 I./StG 2 led by Major Oskar Dinort from Nieder-Ellguth, were directed against this unit, followed a few hours later by Schwarzkopff with sixty Stukas of I./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77^[4] Due to the low level fog both attacks in the morning and at noon missed the targets.^[3] Weather conditions were unfavourable during the day, with a visibility of only one kilometre and a practically closed layer of fog at 50 metres altitude.^[5] Fog, mist and poor visibility thwarted many of the Luftwaffe's sorties planned for the morning of the first day of the invasion.^[5] The dive bombers, facing intense anti aircraft fire, inflicted heavy losses on the Polish cavalry^[when?], and the advance was turned into a rout by 90 Stukas.^[4] 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.^[4] Three waves of attacks were carried out during the day.^[4] The undefended town was captured by the Nazis on day one.

Other version of the events

Polish journalists Joachim Trenker and Sylwia Słomińska claim that there were no military or industrial targets of note in the area,^[6]^[7] 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).

Deputy General Inspector of the Bundeswehr, Johannes Poeppel, who was indoctrinated in Nazi high-school and served in the Wehrmacht during World War II as an artillery captain ^[3] and British aviation historian Peter C. Smith,^[4] describe the bombing as collateral damage from missing bombs that were dropped during ground support of the Wehrmacht operations.^[3]^[4]

Notes

^ ^a ^b Portal Gminy WieluĹ
^ We must not forget the real causes of the war, Norman Davies, The Independent, 29 August 2009
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Poeppel, Hans and Prinz von Preußen, 2000. p. 248.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Smith, 2007. p. 23
^ ^a ^b Smith, 2007. p. 20
^ Trenkner, Joachim (2008-08-29), Wieluń, czwarta czterdzieści (in Polish)
^ Template:Pl icon Wieluń, 1 września 1939 r.

References

Poeppel, Hans and Prinz von Preußen, Wilhelm-Karl and von Hase, Karl-Günther. (2000) Die Soldaten der Wehrmacht. Herbig Verlag. ISBN 978-3776620573
Smith, C. Peter. (2007). Ju 87 Stuka Volume One: Luftwaffe Ju 87 Dive-bomber Units 1939-1941. Classic Publications. ISBN 978-1903223697

External links

[nobel-1] Portal Gminy WieluĹ

[2] We must not forget the real causes of the war, Norman Davies, The Independent, 29 August 2009

[autogenerated2-3] Poeppel, Hans and Prinz von Preußen, 2000. p. 248.

[autogenerated3-4] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Smith, 2007. p. 23

[autogenerated1-5] Smith, 2007. p. 20

[Trenkner-6] Trenkner, Joachim (2008-08-29), Wieluń, czwarta czterdzieści (in Polish)

[7] Template:Pl icon Wieluń, 1 września 1939 r.

[1]

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 ==Events==
 {{Unclear section|date=June 2009}}
-German reconnaissance reported a Polish division near Wieluń and next to it, a Polish cavalry brigade.<ref name=autogenerated2 /> The bombing started at 04:40. At 06:00 the German forces noted that ''Wielun brennt'' (Wieluń burns), but the raids continued until 14:00. A Polish cavalry unit was on the move toward Wielun where [[Hauptmann]] Sigel's I/[[Organization_of_the_Luftwaffe_during_World_War_II#Types_of_Geschwader_and_specialized_Gruppen|Sturzkampfgeschwader]] (St.G) 76 had earlier attacked the Polish defence works.<ref name=autogenerated3 /> At 13:00 I./StG 2 led by Major [[Oskar Dinort]] from Nieder-Ellguth, were directed against this unit, followed a few hours later by Schwarzkopff with sixty  Stukas of ''I./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77''<ref name=autogenerated3 /> Due to the low level fog both attacks in the morning and at noon missed the targets.<ref name=autogenerated2 /> Weather conditions were unfavourable during the day, with a visibility of only one kilometre and a practically closed layer of fog at 50 metres altitude.<ref name=autogenerated1>Smith, 2007. p. 20</ref> Fog, mist and poor visibility thwarted many of the Luftwaffe's sorties planned for the morning of the first day of the invasion.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> The dive bombers, facing intense anti aircraft fire, inflicted heavy losses on the Polish cavalry{{When|date=June 2009}}, and the advance was turned into a rout by 90 Stukas.<ref name=autogenerated3 /> 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.<ref name=autogenerated3 /> Three waves of attacks were carried out during the day.<ref name=autogenerated3 /> The town fell to the Germans on day one.<ref name=autogenerated3 />
+German reconnaissance reported a Polish division near Wieluń and next to it, a Polish cavalry brigade.<ref name=autogenerated2 /> The bombing started at 04:40. At 06:00 the German forces noted that ''Wielun brennt'' (Wieluń burns), but the raids continued until 14:00. A Polish cavalry unit was on the move toward Wielun where [[Hauptmann]] Sigel's I/[[Organization_of_the_Luftwaffe_during_World_War_II#Types_of_Geschwader_and_specialized_Gruppen|Sturzkampfgeschwader]] (St.G) 76 had earlier attacked the Polish defence works.<ref name=autogenerated3 /> At 13:00 I./StG 2 led by Major [[Oskar Dinort]] from Nieder-Ellguth, were directed against this unit, followed a few hours later by Schwarzkopff with sixty  Stukas of ''I./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77''<ref name=autogenerated3 /> Due to the low level fog both attacks in the morning and at noon missed the targets.<ref name=autogenerated2 /> Weather conditions were unfavourable during the day, with a visibility of only one kilometre and a practically closed layer of fog at 50 metres altitude.<ref name=autogenerated1>Smith, 2007. p. 20</ref> Fog, mist and poor visibility thwarted many of the Luftwaffe's sorties planned for the morning of the first day of the invasion.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> The dive bombers, facing intense anti aircraft fire, inflicted heavy losses on the Polish cavalry{{When|date=June 2009}}, and the advance was turned into a rout by 90 Stukas.<ref name=autogenerated3 /> 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.<ref name=autogenerated3 /> Three waves of attacks were carried out during the day.<ref name=autogenerated3 /> The town   the  on day one.
 ==Other version of the events==