(c) crown copyright
Catalogue Reference:cab/66/59/39
Image Reference:0001
DOCUMENT IS T H E PROPERTY OF H I S BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S
Printed
for the War Cabinet,
November
GOVERNMENT
1944.
/
SECRET.
W P . (M) 739.
15th December, 1944.
WAR CABINET.
SUMMARY
OF O P E R A T I O N S OF B O M B E R C O M M A N D F O R
. W E E K S E N D I N G 3RD D E C E M B E R , 1944.
FOUR
MEMORANDUM BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR A I R .
A.—A detailed summary of operations is appended.
B.—Results of Operations.
1. Battleship Tirpitz.
T H E Battleship Tirpitz was sunk on the 12th November in an attack made
by 29 Lancasters, each carrying a 12,000-lb. bomb. Three direct hits were
obtained, one of which hit the ship near the bridge and penetrated and split open
her port side, while other bombs fell across the ship causing her to capsize very
rapidly (see P r i n t No. 1).
2. Oil Targets.
Attacks were made during the period on the oil plants at Wanne-Eickel,
Homberg (Meerbeck), Castrop Rauxel, - Harburg, Sterkrade (Holten), Nordstern
and Dortmund. These attacks were all successful and the plants were temporarily
put out of action, with the result that during the last week of the period the list
of targets suspended from attack included all ten synthetic plants in the R u h r
and the refineries at H a r b u r g . P r i n t No. 2 shows the heavy destruction caused
in thejplant at Bottrop Welheim in the series of attacks made by Bomber Command
and V I I I U.S.A.A.F.
Photographs now show that the attack made through 10/10th cloud by means
of the G.H. navigational aid on the oil plant at Wesseling on the 30th October
caused very heavy damage to the main installations, the gas-generating plant, the
boiler-house, oil storage and offices.
3. German Towns.
A number of attacks was made on German towns, but operations generally
were limited owing to bad weather. The town centre of Gelsenkirchen was
virtually destroyed in a raid on the 6th November and many important buildings
were heavily damaged, including a chemical works, a steel works and a cable
works. On the same night Koblenz was very successfully attacked, the greater
part of the built-up area, including the main passenger station, being gutted or
destroyed. The damage spreads northwards across the River Moselle into
Koblenz-Lutzel, which suffered heavily, and also to a lesser extent across the
River Rhine into Ehrenbreitstein.
A t the request of the United States Armies the fortified areas of Duren,
Julich and Heinsberg were very heavily attacked on the 16th November. Almost
the entire built-up area of Duren was destroyed with the exception of a small area
due west of the marshalling yard (see P r i n t No. 3). A t Julich, the destruction
was on an even greater scale and, as P r i n t No. 4 shows, the entire built-up area
was destroyed.
Other towns attacked during the period include Freiburg, Neuss, Essen,
Miinster and Duisburg.
[28842] 4. Transportation
Targets.
Two attacks were made on the Dortmund-Ems Canal which had been repaired
since the previous' attack made in September. On the 4 t h / 5 t h November the
main (western) arm of the canal was breached and the eastern by-pass arm was
heavily hit where it crosses the River Glane (see P r i n t No. 5). As a result of the
attack both arms of the canal were impassable and the water drained into the
surrounding countryside. The second attack, carried out on the 21st/22nd
November, was made at the point where the western arm crosses the River Glane.
The aqueduct was wrecked, the western arm was breached and wide areas of the
countryside were flooded. P r i n t No. 6 shows the extreme accuracy of the attack.
The Mittelland Canal, which lies to the east of Rheine and carries traffic
between central and western-Germany, was attacked on the same night. The
western embankment at Gravenhorst was breached over a distance of about
50 feet (see P r i n t No. 7) and about 31 miles of the canal is without water.
Marshalling yards at Fulda, Cologne (Kalk) and Aschaffenburg were heavily
attacked.
5. Results of Previous A ttacks.
The attack made on Bochum on the 4 t h / 5 t h November caused very heavy
damage to both industrial and residential property.
Amongst the many
industrial plants severely damaged are the Vereinigte Stahlwerke A.G. and a
factory making milling and grinding machines. I n the raid on Knapsack on the
28th October heavy damage was done to the Goldenburg Thermal power station,
the largest power plant in Germany. Photographs show that the turbine house,
boiler and switch houses were all affected a n d the power stations rendered inactive.
P r i n t No. 8 shows the results of the attack made on Diisseldorf on the 2 n d / 3 r d
November, when all the factories in the north and north-east were severely
damaged and the northern suburbs virtually destroyed.
A H . M, S.
A ir Ministry,
15th December, 1944.
APPENDIX.
Summary of Operations.
Date.
Nov. 5
5/6
6
6/7
8
8/9
9
10/11
11
11/12
12
15
15/16
16
18
18/19
20
20/21
21
Target.
...
...
Solingen
...
Stuttgart
Gelsenkirchen
...
..:
Gravenhorst ...
.Koblenz
Gelsenkirchen
...
...
Homberg (Meerbeck). oil plant
Hanover
Wanne-Eickel, oil plant
...
Han6ver
Castrop Rauxel, oil plant ...
Dortmund
H a r b u r g , oil plant ...
...
Kamen, oil plant
...
...
Tirpitz in Tromso Fiord
...
Dortmund
...
...
...
Berlin
Diiren ...
Jlilich
Heinsberg
...
...
...
Minister
...
...
Wanne-Eickel, oil plant
Wiesbaden
...
...
...
Homberg (Meerbeck), oil plant
Koblenz
Hanover
...
...
...
Homberg (Meerbeck), oil plant
...
...
...
...
--.
'
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
-
Aircraft
Despatched.
173
65
738
234
128
48
136
50
277
59
122
228
245
41
31
177
36
498
508
182
479
309
31
183
43
63
160
Date.
Nov. 21/22
22/23
23
23/24
24/25
25/26
26
26/27
27
27/28
28/29
29
29/30
30
Nov. 30/Dec. 1
Dec.
1/2
2
2/3
Target.
Aschaffenburg, marshalling y a r d ...
Castrop Rauxel, oil plant ...
...
Sterkrade (Holten), oil plant
Dortmund-Ems Canal at Ladbergen
Mittelland Canal a t Gravenhorst ...
Trondheim, submarine pens
...
Gelsenkirchen/Norstern, oil plant
Hanover
...
...
...
...
Berlin
Nuremberg
Fulda, marshalling yard
...
...
Munich
...
Cologne (Kalk), marshalling yard
Neuss
:
Freiburg
...
...
...
...
Berlin ...
...
...
....
...
Nuremberg
Neuss
Essen ...
...
...
Dortmund
Duisburg (Meiderich)
...
...
Hanover
Bottrop Welheim, oil plant
Osterfeld
Duisburg (Meiderich)
...
...
Duisberg
...
Hamburg
...
...
...
...
Karlsruhe
Dortmund
...
...
...
...
Hagen
Giessen
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Aircraft
Despatched.
...
283
...
273
270
...
128
...
143
...
178
...
168
...
61
58
68
...
75
278
...
169
290
...
354
...
-67
...
75
153
...
316
311
...
30
,
60
60
60
...
39
576
...
53
71
...
93
504
...
60
In addition,. 393 aircraft were despatched on small raids on German towns
and other targets, 1,156 aircraft were employed in bomber support operations,
and 750 mines were laid during the period.
was a t t a c k e d i n d a y l i g h t o n 13th November,1944 w i t h
On t h e l e f t s h o w s a d i r e c t h i t w i t h smoke
c e n t r e , more h i t s w i t h 12,000 p o u n d e r s ;
right
froar. 1:OJ ib b u r s t s above t h e s h i p
t a k e n 2 h o u r s a f t e r t h e a t t a c k shows t h e b a t t l e s h i p t u r n e d t u r t l e w i t h h a l f t h e b o t t o m
N o t e t h e p r p p e l l o r s h a f t s a t s t e r n and t h e l a r g e d a r k p a t c h e s of o i l *
The Gorman B a t t l e s h i p
"TIKPTIZ"
12,0001b b o n b s a t TROMSOE i n NOR".."AY.
The Gorrsari E c t t l e s h i p "TIKPTIZ" was a t t a c k e d i n d a y l i g h t on 13th November,1944 v d t h
12,0001b b o n b s a t TROMSOE i n NOR".."AY.
On t h e l e f t s h o w s a d i r e c t h i t w i t h smoke
c e n t r e , more h i t s w i t h 12,000 p o u n d e r s ;
right
froar. 1:OJ ib b u r s t s above t h e s h i p
t a k e n 2 h o u r s a f t e r t h e a t t a c k shows t h e b a t t l e s h i p t u r n e d t u r t l e v / i t h h a l f t h e b o t t o m
N o t e t h e p r o p e l l o r s h a f t s a t s t e r n and t h e l a r g e d a r k p a t c h e s of o i l *
:
The Gorman B a t t l e s h i p "TIEPTIZ" was a t t a c k e d i n d a y l i g h t on 1 3 t h N o v e m b e r 1 9 ^ 4 w i t h
boubs a t TROMoOE i n NORTJAYI
On t h e l o f t 0 h o w a d i r e c t h i t with. smoke
from bomb b u r s t s above t h e s h i p
c e n t r e , more h i t s w i t h 1 2 , 0 0 0 p o u n d e r s ;
right
baleen 2 h o u r s a f t e r t h e a t t a c k shows t h e b a t t l e s h i p t u r n e d t u r t l e w i t h h a l f t h e b o t t o m
above w a t e r , j N o t e t h e p r d p e l l o r s h a f t s a t s t e r n and t h e l a r g e d a r k p a t c h e s of o i l .
12,0001b
The 5 W O T : B a t t l e s h i p "TIEPTIZ" was a t t a c k e d i n d a y l i g h t on 1 3 t h November ,191,4 %dth
;t;oubs a t TR0M3CE i n NORTJAYI
On t h e l o f t shows a d i r e c t h i t with. siv.oke
from, coi ib h u r s t s above t h e s h i p
c e n t r e , more h i t s w i t h 1 2 , 0 0 0 p o u n d e r s ;
right
baleen 2 h o u r s a f t e r t h e a t t a c k shows t h e b a t t l e s h i p t u r n e d t u r t l e w i t h h a l f the "bottom
above w a t e r , j N o t e t h e p r o p e l l o r s h a f t s a t s t e r n and t h e l a r g e d a r k p a t c h e s of o i l .
12,0001b
Synthetic O i l Plant.
This p h o t o g r a p h t a k e n en the 1 8 t h November 1 9 4 4
d e s t r u c t i o n of b u i l d i n g s t h r o u g h o u t t h e p l a n t as w e l l a s t h e
of c r a t e r u a l l o v e r t h e t a r g e t a r e a .
Almost e v e r y i m p o r t a n t
??
no at a r e d e s t r o y e d o r s e r i o u s l y damaged.
V I I I U . 3 . \.£
p a r t - i n a t t a c k s on t h i s p l a n t .
a S
e
n
h
i
t
a
n
d
P
a t t a c k e d on 16th November 5 1944 t o s u p p o r t .Army o p e r a t i o n s .
This was a
enemy a r e a and t h e army asked f o r c o m p l e t e o b l i t e r a t i o n .
This photograph
Trie c e n t r e of
a f t e r t h e a t t a c k shows how w e l l the job was d o n e .
j u s t an u n r e c o g n i s a b l e mass of r u b b l e , ( s e e a l s o JQLIGIi)
^ "Synthetic Oil Plant.
This p h o t o g r a p h t a k e n on t h e 1 8 t h November,192^
d
e
s
t
r
u
c
t
i
o
n
of
b
u
i
l
d
i
n
g
s t h r o u g h o u t the p l a n t as w e l l as the
p n fl? t r i a t i H n
a l l ever the t a r g e t area.
Almost e v e r y i m p o r t a n t [ uUding has b e e n h i t and m o s t a r e d e s t r o y e d o r s e r i o u s l y damaged.
VIII IJ.3.A.A.F. I ,
"cock p a r t - i n a t t a c k s on t h i s p l a n t . p
0VS
t ! l s
o
f
c
r
a
t
e
r
i
j
- A t t a c k e d on 16th Hovenib e r 5 1944 t o s u p p o r t Army o p e r a t i o n s .
i n i s was a
enemy a r e a and t h e army a s k e d f o r c o m p l e t e o b l i t e r a t i o n .
This photograph
a f t e r t h e a t t a c k shows how w e l l t h e job was d o n e ,
The c e n t r e of
j u s t an u n r e c o g n i s a b l e mass of r u b b l e , ( s e c a l s o JULIGIi)
This
was
another
fortified
area
to be
c b u i l t u p a r e a h a s "been w i p e d o u t .
utterly
devastated
heap
of
rubble
destroyed
a l s o DUI-iEN).
concentration
the town c e n t r e .
(see
Note t h e i n t e n s e
w h i c h was
once
Almost
of
DORTSMiD-EMS CANAL a t LADP-sRG^T. *- .
The erabankraents
A f t e r the" a t t a c k " o n t h e n i g h t of 4 / 5 November, 1 9 4 4 I f -both b r a n c h e s of t h e c a n a l h a v e b e e n b r e a c h e d i n many p l a c e s , and
d r a i n e d of w a t e r .
The w i d e r of the two b r e a c h e s h a s a v e r y l a r g e
I gap i n t h e embankment and b a r g e s h a v e b e e n swept t h r o u g h i n t o t h e
I fields.
0
THE IX)RTMUKDHBMS
. at LADBBRG-EN was attacked i n bad weather conditions
o n ^ h e ^ d g h t 21/22nd"liVyeinbcr , 1 9 4 4 .
On t h e left i s t h e canal before any a t t a c k s .
Above shows t h e s e v e r i t y and concentration of t h e damage now done,
a t A " t h e embankment is destroyed for 1 9 0 f e e t a n d the canal has emptied,
at B - t h e canal is broken by at least 4 direct h i t s where i t crosses over t h e
River Glane.
a t 0 - a previous hole through the smaller canal h a s b e e n enlarged by further
direct hits.
a t D - The river has overflowed and flooded the surrounding countryside. The
embankments have been severely damaged by many direct hits. DORD/iUNlHEMS OijfAL a t LADBSRGEN was a t t a c k e d in b a d w e a t h e r c o n d i t i o n s
2 1 / ^ 2 r i d ' iToyombcr , 1 9 4 4 *
On t h e l e f t i s t h e c a n a l b e f o r e any attacks,
a b o v e shows t h e s e v e r i t y and c o n c e n t r a t i o n of t h e damage now d o n e ,
a t A - t h e embankment i s d e s t r o y e d f o r 1 9 0 f e e t a n d t h e c a n a l h a s e m p t i e d ,
at B - the c a n a l i s b r o k e n b y a t l e a s t 4 d i r e c t h i t s where it c r o s s e s o v e r the
River Glano.
at C
a p r e v i o u s hole through the s m a l l e r canal has been e n l a r g e d b y f u r t h e r
direct hits.
a t D - The r i v e r h a s o v e r f l o w e d and f l o o d e d t h e s u r r o u n d i n g c o u n t r y s i d e .
The
embankments h a v e b e e n s e v e r e l y damaged b y many d i r e c t h i t s .
THE
cnTThlTnight
THE 1/HTTBLLAND CANAL a t GRAVENHORST was a t t a c k e d i n b a d w e a t h e r
Ihe embankment
c o n d i t i o n s on the n i g h t 2 1 / 2 2 n d November, 1 9 4 4 .
h a s b e e n d e s t r o y e d a t (A) and the c a n a l n e a r l y e m p t i e d i n t o t h e
small stream.
The embankments have b e e n s e v e r e l y damaged a t
many p o i n t s and many b a r g e s have b e e n h i t ,
A v e r y l a r g e number
of b a r g e s a r e s t r a n d e d a l l along the canal,
photographed on 19th November,1944 shows port of the result of a heavy
the night 2/3rd November,1944 when almost the entire Northern suburbs
remaining part of the built-up area not previously heavily damaged.,
tated. Here are seen the large workshops of the Eheinmctall-Bcrsig
and Armament Works - left half of photograph, just blasted empty of rubble.