Cologne Streets: Devastation And Resilience After The May Bombing

On the night of May 30, 1942, the German city of Cologne was subjected to a devastating bombing raid by the Royal Air Force (RAF), marking the first-ever 1,000-bomber raid of World War II. The attack, known as Operation Millennium, resulted in widespread destruction and loss of life, with the aim of demoralizing the German populace and showcasing the RAF's bombing capabilities.

The RAF bombers, totaling 1,046 aircraft, took off from various airfields in the UK and crossed the North Sea to reach their target. Despite thick cloud cover, the bombers managed to locate and unleash their payloads on Cologne, causing extensive damage to the city. The raid lasted approximately 90 minutes, during which a combination of high-explosive and incendiary bombs were dropped, igniting fires across the city.

The aftermath of the bombing revealed the extent of the devastation. Large areas of Cologne were flattened, with 90% of the central city destroyed. The casualty toll was significant, with 474 killed and 5,000 wounded. However, the number of casualties could have been much higher if not for the air-raid shelters and deep cellars that protected many residents.

The bombing of Cologne had a profound impact on the city and its people. Those who ventured out of their shelters after the raid were met with scenes of carnage, with buildings reduced to rubble and fires raging across the city. Despite the destruction, the iconic Cologne Cathedral remained standing, becoming a symbol of resilience and determination for the survivors.

The first 1,000-bomber raid

The Commander-in-Chief of RAF Bomber Command, Air Marshal Arthur 'Bomber' Harris, believed that extensive and sustained area bombing, or carpet bombing, of Germany's most important cities might bring about a surrender without the need for a land attack. It was hoped that civilian morale would be negatively affected, while British morale would be boosted. Harris also wanted to take the war directly to Germany when a land assault was not yet possible.

The RAF's original target for the first 1,000-bomber raid was Hamburg. However, poor weather conditions led to a change of target, with Cologne, then Germany's fourth-largest city, selected as the objective. Hamburg would later be bombed in Operation Gomorrah the following year. Cologne was not as strategically vital to the German war machine as Hamburg, but it did have important railway marshalling yards and several hundred air-defence factories.

The RAF found it challenging to gather 1,000 aircraft for the mission. Harris had to borrow aircraft from every command, including Operational Training Units (OTUs), Flying Training Command, and RAF Coastal Command. However, just before the raid, the Royal Navy refused to allow the Coastal Command aircraft to take part. Harris had to make up the numbers with training crews, which was risky as the greatest danger to flight crews occurred within their first five missions. In the end, Harris managed to assemble 1,047 bombers for the raid, including 602 Vickers Wellingtons, 131 Handley Page Halifaxes, 88 Short Stirlings, 79 Handley Page Hampdens, 73 Avro Lancasters, 46 Avro Manchesters, and 28 Armstrong-Whitworth Whitleys.

The raid was the first time the "bomber stream" tactic was used, with all aircraft flying by a common route and at the same speed to and from the target, minimising the risk of collision. It was expected that such a large number of bombers flying in a bomber stream would overwhelm the German night fighters' ground-controlled interception system. The bombers flew in a tight formation that covered a length of 70 miles (112 km) and a depth of 4,000 feet (1,200 m). The raid was quick, with all crews expected to drop their bombs within a 90-minute time frame, operating in waves at three-minute intervals.

The bombers dropped a combination of massive 'cookie' bombs and thousands of small incendiary bombs. The RAF dropped 1,455 tons of bombs on Cologne, about two-thirds of which were incendiary. Over 3,000 buildings were destroyed, and another 9,000 were damaged. The German fire brigades were overwhelmed, with 2,500 separate fires started, 1,700 of which were classed as "large". The number of people killed on the ground in Cologne was remarkably low, with fewer than 500 casualties, likely due to the effectiveness of air raid shelters. However, over 5,000 people were injured, and 45,000 were left homeless.

The RAF lost 41 aircraft during the raid, with 22 shot down over or near Cologne. The total losses were deemed acceptable, and the raid was considered a success. The tactics used in this raid would form the basis for Bomber Command operations for the next two years, with some elements remaining in use until the end of World War II.

The devastation caused

The raid lasted for an hour and a half, and by the time it was over, 600 acres of Cologne had been flattened, including 90% of the central city. 5,000 fires had been ignited, 3,300 homes destroyed, and 45,000 people left homeless. The casualty toll was 469 to 474 killed and around 5,000 injured.

The devastation extended to Cologne's infrastructure. The city's networks of electricity, gas, and water supplies, and various transport networks were all severely damaged.

The cultural losses were also significant. 21 churches were heavily damaged, most completely destroyed. They included three of the oldest and most artistically significant churches in Germany: "Maria im Kapitol," "St. Apostel," and "St. Gereon." Irreplaceable treasures in Cologne’s center were forever destroyed, including artistically valuable public buildings and dwellings which were under landmark preservation.

The only military installation damaged was the flak barracks. The RAF lost 41 to 44 aircraft in the operation.

The impact on civilian morale

The impact of the Allied bombing of Cologne on the night of May 30, 1942, had a profound effect on the morale of German civilians. The bombing was designed to affect German morale negatively and British morale positively, and it largely succeeded in this aim.

The bombing of Cologne was the first "thousand-bomber raid", with around 1,050 bombers taking part. The aim was to destroy the city using the strategy of area bombing over a short space of time. The RAF dropped 1,455 tons of bombs on the city, about two-thirds of which were incendiary bombs. Over 15,000 buildings were destroyed or damaged, including factories, railway yards, and several hundred air-defence factories. The city's networks of electricity, gas, and water supplies, and transport networks were all severely damaged.

The scale of the devastation shocked even the German High Command. Field Marshall Hermann Göring, head of the Luftwaffe, refused to believe the reports of the number of bombers involved, the amount of bombs dropped, the extent of the damage, and the casualties sustained. The official police report noted that over 45,000 people had been made homeless overnight.

The bombing had a profound effect on depressing morale through inducing defeatism, fear, and apathy. Continuous heavy bombing did not produce proportional decreases in morale. Lower morale led to diminished industrial productivity, and bombing contributed to popular disillusionment in official propaganda.

The bombing also generated resentment among those in the cities affected towards those in rural areas that were unaffected, thus weakening social solidarity. Many civilians suffered long-term psychological effects, with terror persisting beyond the immediate raid. When asked how they were faring under occupation, respondents seldom mentioned the defeat but frequently talked about their relief that the bombings had stopped.

The bombing also had a profound effect on the trust of the German people in their leaders, with 9 out of 10 respondents condemning their political leadership as incompetent. Approximately a third of respondents blamed the Allies for the air raids, meaning more than half did not. The Nazis showed a consistent increase in blame as bombing intensified.

The RAF's perspective

On 30 May 1942, the RAF Bomber Command carried out one of the most devastating air raids on Cologne, Germany, during World War II. The attack was part of the broader strategic bombing campaign aimed at destroying German industrial and civilian morale. The RAF's perspective on the bombing and its aftermath was shaped by their strategic objectives, operational successes, and the broader context of the war.

From the RAF's standpoint, the bombing of Cologne was a meticulously planned and executed operation. Code-named "Operation Millennium," the raid involved over 1,000 bombers, including Lancasters, Halifaxes, and Stirlings, which took off from airfields across the UK. The primary target was the densely populated civilian areas of Cologne, with the intention of causing maximum damage and casualties. The RAF utilized both high-explosive bombs and incendiary devices to create a firestorm that would engulf the city.

In the days that followed, the RAF closely monitored the impact of the bombing through aerial reconnaissance and intelligence reports. They witnessed the extent of the damage, with the charred remains of buildings and smoke still rising from the city. The RAF's perspective was that the bombing had achieved its intended objectives, delivering a powerful blow to German morale and demonstrating the UK's ability to strike at the heart of the enemy.

However, the RAF also acknowledged the challenges and criticisms that arose in the aftermath. They faced concerns about the high number of civilian casualties and the ethical implications of their actions. In response, the RAF defended their targeting of industrial sites and infrastructure that supported Germany's war effort, even if located in urban areas. They also believed that the destruction of civilian morale contributed to the overall defeat of Germany, justifying the collateral damage.

The broader context of the war also influenced the RAF's perspective on the Cologne bombing. At the time, the UK itself faced intense German bombing campaigns, such as the Blitz, resulting in significant civilian casualties and destruction. The RAF saw their strategic bombing campaign as a necessary response to these attacks, aiming to undermine Germany's ability to continue the war and ultimately bring about its surrender.

Overall, the RAF viewed the bombing of Cologne as a decisive and successful operation that furthered their strategic objectives in World War II. They believed that the destruction caused and the subsequent impact on German morale justified their tactics, despite the ethical concerns surrounding civilian casualties.

The German High Command's response

The German High Command was shocked by the scale of the devastation caused by the first 1,000-bomber raid on Cologne on the night of May 30, 1942. Albert Speer, the war production minister, disbelieved the initial reports, and when Reichsmarshal Goering received a telephone call the following day from the city's gauleiter, he ranted, "Impossible! That many bombs cannot be dropped on a single night. The report from your police commissioner is a stinking lie!".

Hitler, who had said ironically on May 30 that he did not see much of a threat from RAF raids, accused the Luftwaffe of failing to defend Cologne and blamed Goering personally for neglecting to provide sufficient flak batteries. The raid made front-page news from London to New York, and provided a welcome tonic for the morale of the British people, frayed by two and a half years of bombing, hardships, and defeats.

The German High Command was also shocked by the fact that the RAF bombers had been able to approach the city unchallenged. The night fighters of Reichsmarshal Hermann Goering's Luftwaffe had steered clear of the mighty armada. As the pathfinders approached Cologne, they could see that the cloud cover had dissipated, and the shimmering Rhine and 500-foot-tall twin spires of the city's famous 13th-century cathedral glistened in the bright moonlight. The visibility was good.

The German High Command's official report on the attack stated that:

> British bombers conducted a terror bombing of Cologne’s center over the past night, causing great damage through bombs and fires, particularly in residential areas and to public buildings, including for example three churches and two hospitals. The British air force suffered heavy losses in these attacks on the civilian population. Night fighters and flak shot down 36 of the attacking bombers. A further bomber was brought down by coastal artillery.

The report also noted that the British aircraft involved in the attack included Vickers-Wellington, Whithley, Hampdon, Blenheim aircraft, and also several four-engine bombers.

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