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Battle of Berlin (air) facts for kids

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Battle of Berlin
Part of Strategic bombing during World War II
Gedächtniskirche1.JPG
The ruins of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church
Date 18 November 1943 – 31 March 1944
Location 52°31′N 13°25′E / 52.517°N 13.417°E / 52.517; 13.417
Belligerents
 United Kingdom
 Canada
 Australia
 New Zealand
 Poland
 Germany
Commanders and leaders
United Kingdom Arthur Harris
United Kingdom Ralph Cochrane
United Kingdom Don Bennett
United Kingdom Roderick Carr
Nazi Germany Hermann Göring
Nazi Germany Hans-Jürgen Stumpff
Nazi Germany Joseph Schmid
Nazi Germany Günther Lützow
Nazi Germany Max Ibel
Nazi Germany Walter Grabmann
Nazi Germany Gotthard Handrick
Casualties and losses
  • Bomber Command
  • 2,690 crew killed
  • c. 1,000 POW
  • 500 aircraft (5.8 per cent loss rate)
  • c. 4,000 killed
  • 10,000 injured
  • 450,000 homeless
  • 256 night fighters

The Battle of Berlin was the British bombing raid on Berlin during World War II. The bombings were done from November 1943 to March 1944. British bombers had new navigation aids to help them, such as the new H2S radar. Between November 1943 and March 1944, Bomber Command made 16 attacks on Berlin. Although the bombings were mostly done by British bombers, Australian and Canadian bombers also flew to Germany.

The Battle of Berlin was considered a failure for the Royal Air Force (RAF). They lost 1,047 bombers, with 1,682 more damaged. The RAF also lost over 7,000 air crew members. Another reason that the battle is seen as a defeat for the British is that the bombings did not cause the Germans to give up.

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