Bombing of Vienna in World War II facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bombing of Vienna |
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 Vienna after the bombings |
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 United States Soviet Union United Kingdom |
 Germany |
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The city of Vienna in Austria faced many challenges during World War II. It was bombed 52 times by Allied forces. These attacks caused a lot of damage. About 37,000 homes were destroyed, which was 20% of all houses in the city. Only 41 civilian vehicles survived the raids. More than 3,000 bomb craters were counted across the city.
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Vienna During World War II
The first air raid on Vienna happened on September 4, 1942. It was carried out by a single Soviet plane. Later, in 1944, Western Allied bombers started reaching Vienna. This was possible because the Allied invasion of Italy allowed them to set up air bases closer to Austria.
Defending the City
Vienna had strong defenses against air attacks. These included many anti-aircraft guns placed around the city. There were also three pairs of huge concrete towers called Flak towers. These towers held large anti-aircraft guns.
However, by late 1944, Germany was running out of fuel. This meant that ground artillery became the main way to defend against air raids. It took many shells to shoot down just one bomber. On average, during the day, about one out of 125 planes was shot down. At night, this number dropped to one out of 145. Still, about one-third of the attacking planes were heavily damaged.
Some factories in Vienna that made military supplies were moved to safer places. They were hidden in caves, like the Seegrotte near Hinterbrühl. Production in these factories increased. Sadly, this was often done using forced labor from concentration camp prisoners and POWs (prisoners of war).
Impact of the Bombings
By early 1945, Vienna had already been hit by 1,800 bombs. In February and March 1945, American and British planes dropped a massive 80,000 tons of bombs. This destroyed over 12,000 buildings. As a result, 270,000 people lost their homes.
Many important buildings were damaged or destroyed. The Vienna State Opera and the Burgtheater caught fire. The Albertina museum was also badly hit. A large apartment building called the Philipphof collapsed. About 200 people who were sheltering in its cellars were buried. A memorial called the Mahnmal gegen Krieg und Faschismus (Memorial against War and Fascism) now stands there.
The Tiergarten Schönbrunn, the world's oldest zoo, was also bombed in March 1945. About 300 bombs fell on the zoo. Out of 3,500 animals, 2,000 died. This included a favorite bull rhino.
Despite the heavy bombings, traffic in Vienna kept moving. Special bypasses had been built for busy intersections. Traffic only stopped completely in the very last days of the war.
Key Bombing Targets
The Allied forces mainly targeted industrial areas and oil refineries around Vienna. These were important for Germany's war effort.
- Oil Refineries: Places like Floridsdorf, Kagran, Lobau, Schwechat, Korneuburg, and Vösendorf had oil refineries that were bombed repeatedly. These refineries produced fuel needed for planes and tanks.
- Industrial Areas: The southern industrial area of Vienna and various goods depots were also targeted.
- Aircraft Factories: The Heinkel aircraft factory in Schwechat, which made planes, was bombed.
Allied pilots were sometimes told to avoid hitting famous landmarks. For example, during a bombing mission in March 1945, crews were instructed to avoid the St. Stephen's Cathedral, the Vienna State Opera, and the Schönbrunn Palace.
The bombings continued until April 16, 1945. This was when Allied ground forces advanced, bringing the strategic air war to an end.
Images for kids
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Flag of the Soviet Air Force
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Patch of the 15th United States Army Air Force
