Bombing of Romania in World War II facts for kids
During World War II, Romania experienced bombings from two sides. First, the Allied powers bombed Romania until August 1944. After Romania changed sides and removed its leader, Ion Antonescu, Nazi Germany then bombed the country.
The main target for the Allies was Ploiești, a city with a huge oil industry. One big oil refinery there, called Astra Română, produced about 2 million tons of petroleum each year. This oil was super important because it fueled the German military. The capital city, Bucharest, was also attacked.
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Early Bombings in 1941
The first air attacks on Romania happened after Romania joined forces with Nazi Germany in June 1941. This was during Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union, known as Operation Barbarossa.
In the next two months, the Soviet Air Forces launched several attacks. They targeted the King Carol I Bridge, which is a very important bridge. They managed to destroy one part of it and also damaged an oil pipeline. However, after Germany and its allies had success in the Crimean campaign, the Soviet attacks on Romania stopped.
Allied Attacks: 1942–1943
The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) first dropped bombs on Romania on June 12, 1942. This was part of a mission called the Halverson project (HALPRO). It was the very first time the U.S. bombed a target in Europe.
Thirteen B-24 Liberator heavy bombers, led by Colonel Harry A. Halverson, flew from Egypt. They dropped some bombs into the Black Sea, two on Constanța, six on Ploiești, six on Teișani, and some on Ciofliceni. Only three people were killed, and the damage was not very serious.
Operation Tidal Wave
A much bigger attack on Ploiești happened on August 1, 1943. This mission was called Operation Tidal Wave. It caused a lot more damage.
Tidal Wave heavily damaged four oil refineries and caused lighter damage to three others. The Ploiești train station was also hit, but the city itself was not badly affected. However, the nearby town of Câmpina was much more severely damaged. Sadly, 660 American aircrew members were killed or captured during this mission. Despite the damage, Romania's oil exports actually went back to normal levels by October.
Bombings in 1944
Anglo-American bombers, meaning planes from Britain and the U.S., first attacked Bucharest on April 4, 1944. Their main goal was to stop military supplies from Romania reaching the Eastern Front, where fierce fighting was happening.
This bombing lasted for two hours. It destroyed hundreds of buildings and, according to unofficial reports, killed or injured over 5,000 people.
German Retaliation
Later that year, on August 23, King Mihai I of Romania led a coup. This meant he took power from the dictator Ion Antonescu and changed Romania's side in the war. In response, the German air force, the Luftwaffe, bombed Bucharest from August 23 to 25.
They destroyed several buildings in the city. However, their own air base just north of Bucharest, in Otopeni, was then bombed by the USAAF and RAF.
