Bombing of Wieluń: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Zniszczenia1939 0.jpg|thumb|250px|Wieluń city center during the German air raid]] |
[[Image:Zniszczenia1939 0.jpg|thumb|250px|Wieluń city center during the German air raid]] |
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The '''bombing of Wieluń''' refers to the |
The '''bombing of Wieluń''' refers to the indiscriminate bombing of the Polish town of [[Wieluń]] by the [[Germany|German]] [[Luftwaffe]] on 1 September 1939, five minutes before the shelling of [[Westerplatte]], which has traditionally been considered the beginning of [[World War II]]. The bombing of Wielun is considered as one of the first [[terror bombing]]s in history and first in this war.<ref name=nobel/> German [[carpet bombing]] killed an estimated 1200 civilians, injured hundreds more and destroyed 75% per of the town centre. It is widely acknowledged that there were no targets of any importance in the area such as military installations or industrial facilities<ref name=nobel>[http://www.um.wielun.pl/index.php?page=nobel-peace-prize Portal Gminy WieluĹ]</ref>. |
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==Events== |
==Events== |
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{{Unclear section|date=June 2009}} |
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German reconnaissance reported a Polish division near Wieluń and next to it, a Polish cavalry brigade.<ref name=autogenerated2 /> The bombing started at 04:40. At 06:00 the German forces noted that ''Wielun brennt'' (Wieluń burns), but the raids continued until 14:00. A Polish cavalry unit was on the move toward Wielun where [[Hauptmann]] Sigel's I/[[Organization_of_the_Luftwaffe_during_World_War_II#Types_of_Geschwader_and_specialized_Gruppen|Sturzkampfgeschwader]] (St.G) 76 had earlier attacked the Polish defence works.<ref name=autogenerated3 /> At 13:00 I./StG 2 led by Major Dinort from Nieder-Ellguth, were directed against this unit, followed a few hours later by Schwarzkopff with sixty Stukas of ''I./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77''<ref name=autogenerated3 /> Due to the low level fog both attacks in the morning and at noon missed the targets.<ref name=autogenerated2 /> Weather conditions were unfavourable during the day, with a visibility of only one kilometre and a practically closed layer of fog at 50 metres altitude.<ref name=autogenerated1>Smith, 2007. p. 20</ref> Fog, mist and poor visibility thwarted many of the Luftwaffe's sorties planned for the morning of the first day of the invasion.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> The dive bombers, facing intense anti aircraft fire, inflicted heavy losses on the Polish cavalry{{When|date=June 2009}}, and the advance was turned into a rout by 90 Stukas.<ref name=autogenerated3 /> On their return home, four of the German [[Junkers Ju 87]] bombers were shot down by the Polish [[36th Infantry Regiment|36 Academic Legion Infantry Regiment]] stationed nearby{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}}. Three waves of attacks were carried out during the day{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}}. The undefended town fell to the Germans on day one.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} |
German reconnaissance reported a Polish division near Wieluń and next to it, a Polish cavalry brigade.<ref name=autogenerated2 /> The bombing started at 04:40. At 06:00 the German forces noted that ''Wielun brennt'' (Wieluń burns), but the raids continued until 14:00. A Polish cavalry unit was on the move toward Wielun where [[Hauptmann]] Sigel's I/[[Organization_of_the_Luftwaffe_during_World_War_II#Types_of_Geschwader_and_specialized_Gruppen|Sturzkampfgeschwader]] (St.G) 76 had earlier attacked the Polish defence works.<ref name=autogenerated3 /> At 13:00 I./StG 2 led by Major Dinort from Nieder-Ellguth, were directed against this unit, followed a few hours later by Schwarzkopff with sixty Stukas of ''I./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77''<ref name=autogenerated3 /> Due to the low level fog both attacks in the morning and at noon missed the targets.<ref name=autogenerated2 /> Weather conditions were unfavourable during the day, with a visibility of only one kilometre and a practically closed layer of fog at 50 metres altitude.<ref name=autogenerated1>Smith, 2007. p. 20</ref> Fog, mist and poor visibility thwarted many of the Luftwaffe's sorties planned for the morning of the first day of the invasion.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> The dive bombers, facing intense anti aircraft fire, inflicted heavy losses on the Polish cavalry{{When|date=June 2009}}, and the advance was turned into a rout by 90 Stukas.<ref name=autogenerated3 /> On their return home, four of the German [[Junkers Ju 87]] bombers were shot down by the Polish [[36th Infantry Regiment|36 Academic Legion Infantry Regiment]] stationed nearby{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}}. Three waves of attacks were carried out during the day{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}}. The undefended town fell to the Germans on day one.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} |
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==Other version of the events== |
==Other version of the events== |
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Polish aviation historian Jerzy B. Cynk in 'The Polish Air Force at War: The Official History Vol.1, 1939-1943' shares the tactical bombing view by represented German historians Hans Poeppel, Wilhelm-Karl Prinz von Preußen, Karl-Günther von Hase, and British aviation historian Peter C. Smith, writing that: |
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<blockquote>Luftflotte 4 raided several other targets, including airfields at Krosno, Moderowka, Sadkow and Maslow, and Heinkels of KG 4 flew accross the Carpathian mountains to make a long range attack on Lwow's Sknilow air base. Numerous direct support missions were also flown, with the heaviest attacks directed against the Polish cavarly and troop concentrations at Wielun.</ref></blockquote> |
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The official version is that is widely acknowledged that there were no military or industrial targets of note in the area,<ref name="Trenkner">{{citation |last=Trenkner |first=Joachim |url=http://tygodnik.onet.pl/35,0,14103,2,artykul.html |title=Wieluń, czwarta czterdzieści |date=2008-08-29 |language=Polish}}</ref><ref>{{pl icon}} [http://www.historia.wielunia.webpark.pl/1wrzesnia2.html Wieluń, 1 września 1939 r.]</ref> except for a small sugar factory in the outskirts of the town. German bombers destroyed 90% of the town center (including the historical [[Gothic architecture|gothic]] church) and killed approximately 1,200 civilians, about 8% of the town's population of 15,000. Approximately 75% of all the buildings in Wieluń were destroyed. Among the first targets bombed by the Germans was the hospital (despite a huge [[Red Cross]] sign painted on the roof). |
The official version is that is widely acknowledged that there were no military or industrial targets of note in the area,<ref name="Trenkner">{{citation |last=Trenkner |first=Joachim |url=http://tygodnik.onet.pl/35,0,14103,2,artykul.html |title=Wieluń, czwarta czterdzieści |date=2008-08-29 |language=Polish}}</ref><ref>{{pl icon}} [http://www.historia.wielunia.webpark.pl/1wrzesnia2.html Wieluń, 1 września 1939 r.]</ref> except for a small sugar factory in the outskirts of the town. German bombers destroyed 90% of the town center (including the historical [[Gothic architecture|gothic]] church) and killed approximately 1,200 civilians, about 8% of the town's population of 15,000. Approximately 75% of all the buildings in Wieluń were destroyed. Among the first targets bombed by the Germans was the hospital (despite a huge [[Red Cross]] sign painted on the roof). |
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Revision as of 13:57, 18 August 2009
The bombing of Wieluń refers to the indiscriminate bombing of the Polish town of Wieluń by the German Luftwaffe on 1 September 1939, five minutes before the shelling of Westerplatte, which has traditionally been considered the beginning of World War II. The bombing of Wielun is considered as one of the first terror bombings in history and first in this war.[1] German carpet bombing killed an estimated 1200 civilians, injured hundreds more and destroyed 75% per of the town centre. It is widely acknowledged that there were no targets of any importance in the area such as military installations or industrial facilities[1].
Events
 | This section may be confusing or unclear to readers. (June 2009) |
German reconnaissance reported a Polish division near Wieluń and next to it, a Polish cavalry brigade.[2] The bombing started at 04:40. At 06:00 the German forces noted that Wielun brennt (Wieluń burns), but the raids continued until 14:00. A Polish cavalry unit was on the move toward Wielun where Hauptmann Sigel's I/Sturzkampfgeschwader (St.G) 76 had earlier attacked the Polish defence works.[3] At 13:00 I./StG 2 led by Major Dinort from Nieder-Ellguth, were directed against this unit, followed a few hours later by Schwarzkopff with sixty Stukas of I./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77[3] Due to the low level fog both attacks in the morning and at noon missed the targets.[2] Weather conditions were unfavourable during the day, with a visibility of only one kilometre and a practically closed layer of fog at 50 metres altitude.[4] Fog, mist and poor visibility thwarted many of the Luftwaffe's sorties planned for the morning of the first day of the invasion.[4] The dive bombers, facing intense anti aircraft fire, inflicted heavy losses on the Polish cavalry[when?], and the advance was turned into a rout by 90 Stukas.[3] On their return home, four of the German Junkers Ju 87 bombers were shot down by the Polish 36 Academic Legion Infantry Regiment stationed nearby[citation needed]. Three waves of attacks were carried out during the day[citation needed]. The undefended town fell to the Germans on day one.[citation needed]
Other version of the events
The official version is that is widely acknowledged that there were no military or industrial targets of note in the area,[5][6] except for a small sugar factory in the outskirts of the town. German bombers destroyed 90% of the town center (including the historical gothic church) and killed approximately 1,200 civilians, about 8% of the town's population of 15,000. Approximately 75% of all the buildings in Wieluń were destroyed. Among the first targets bombed by the Germans was the hospital (despite a huge Red Cross sign painted on the roof). One German historian[2] and one Anglo-Saxon[3] describe the bombing as collateral damage from missing bombs that were dropped during ground support of the German army operations.[2][3]
Notes
- ^ a b Portal Gminy WieluĹ
- ^ a b c d Poeppel, Hans and Prinz von Preußen, 2000. p. 248.
- ^ a b c d e Smith, 2007. p. 23
- ^ a b Smith, 2007. p. 20
- ^ Trenkner, Joachim (2008-08-29), Wieluń, czwarta czterdzieści (in Polish)
- ^ Template:Pl icon Wieluń, 1 września 1939 r.
References
- Poeppel, Hans and Prinz von Preußen, Wilhelm-Karl and von Hase, Karl-Günther. (2000) Die Soldaten der Wehrmacht. Herbig Verlag. ISBN 978-3776620573
- Smith, C. Peter. (2007). Ju 87 Stuka Volume One: Luftwaffe Ju 87 Dive-bomber Units 1939-1941. Classic Publications. ISBN 978-1903223697
Further reading
- Bekker, Cajus. (1994). The Luftwaffe War Diaries. pp. 31–3. OCLC 30353222
- Bojarska B., Zniszczenie miasta Wielunia w dniu 1 września 1939 r., „Przegląd Zachodni” 1962, nr 2.
- Kulesza W., Pierwszy był Wieluń, „Rzeczpospolita” 1999, nr 211, 9 IX 1999.
- Olejnik T., Wieluń – na pięć minut przed Westerplatte. Pierwsi zginęli cywile, „Tygodnik Powszechny” nr 35, 31 VIII 2003 r.
- Olejnik T., Wieluń. Zniszczenie miasta 1 IX 1939 r., Kępno 1979.
- Olejnik T., Wieluń – polska Guernica, das polnische Guernica, Wieluń 2004.
- Pięciak W., Wieluń 1 września 1939 r., „Tygodnik Powszechny” nr 2, 12 I 2003.
External links
