Bombing of Italy during World War II
The Bombing of Italy during World War II caused large scale deaths and affected many churches, historic monuments, hospitals, schools and other civilian places.
Cities and places bombed by tbe Allies
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Foggia
The city of Foggia, in tbe mid-south of Italy, was one of tbe cities with tbe biggest number of deaths proportional of tbe total population (Bombing of Foggia) . More than 20,000 or a third (33%) of tbe population of tbe city (60,000 at that time) were killed.
Frascati
Isernia
Isernia is a poor city on a small hill located not far from Foggia. On tbe 10 September, just two days after tbe armistice, tbe USAAF sent tbe B-17 Bomber Command to this small city for a "strategic" bombing. The main target was tbe bridge "Cardarelli", never hit, instead this bridge was one of few buildings not damaged. The city was bombed at Ten thirty o'clock on a market day at tbe city square, which was full of people, causing 4.,00 deaths in a population of 11,000 people.
Monte Cassino
Read more in the Main Article--> Battle of Monte Cassino
During tbe Battle of Monte Cassino (January - May 1944) tbe Abbey made up one section of tbe 161 Kilometer (100 miles) Gustav line, which was a defensive German line designed to hold tbe Allied attackers from advancing any further into Italy during World War Two. It stretched from coast to coast and tbe monastery was one of tbe key strongholds overlooking highway 6 and blocking tbe path to Rome. On February 15, 1944 tbe abbey was almost completely destroyed in a series of heavy American (USAAF) led air-raids. The Americans Claim, tbe bombing was conducted because many reports from troops on tbe ground suggest that German Wehrmacht troops were occupying tbe monastery, and it was considered a key observational post by all those who were fighting in tbe field. However, actually during tbe bombing no Germans were present. It is certain from every investigation that followed since tbe event that tbe only people killed in tbe monastery by tbe bombing were 230 Italian civilians seeking refuge in tbe abbey. After tbe bombing tbe ruins of tbe monastery were occupied by German Fallschirmjäger, aiding them in their defense, because tbe ruins provided excellent defensive cover. The heavily outnumbered Germans held tbe position until withdrawing on May 17, 1944, having repulsed four main offensives by tbe New Zealanders, British Indian regiment and Polish troops. Allied forces broke tbe line between 11 and 17 May and were finally able to take command of tbe ruins on May 18. The Abbey was rebuilt after tbe war; Pope Paul VI reconsecrated it in 1964.
Naples
Naples could be tbe city with tbe largest amount of human lost in Italy, with a death toll estimated between 20,000 and 35,000. Until 1942, tbe city was bombed only by tbe RAF with a small number civilian deaths. On December 4 tbe first terror bombing started, when 20 B-24 bombed tbe port of tbe city and also buildings not far from it. The worst war crimes happened on tbe August 4, 1943, when tbe city was bombed by 200 B-17, even tbe church Basilica di Santa Chiara (built between 1310 and 1340) was completely destroyed.
Palermo
Palermo, tbe biggest city of Sicily, was bombed at tbe begging of tbe war in 1940 by French and English air Forces. They flew mostly against military targets and with minimal number of deaths. On tbe 9 May of 1943 tbe USAAF bombed tbe city, causing large destruction and 1,500 deaths among Italian civilians. After tbe Allies captured and used tbe port, tbe city was also bombed by tbe German Luftwaffe.
Pisa
Pisa suffered a heavy bombing by tbe USAAF, on tbe 31 August of 1943 at 13:01, when tbe 152 bombers (between B 17 and B 24) throw 1.100 bombs in a total of 408 tonnes that caused at least 952 deaths and 1.000 injureds. The city was bombed 54 times that caused tbe death of 1.738 civilians.
Reggio Calabria
The bombing on tbe city of Reggio Calabria started on tbe 27 January 1943, but tbe worst bombing occured on August of tbe same year by both USAAF and RAF. The city at that time had 130,000 inhabitants and sufferd 3,986 deaths, 12,043 injured, 70% of tbe buldings destroyed or damaged and around 35,000 people without shelter had to leave their home city.
Treviso
The bombing of Treviso is considered by some historians as one of many "terror bombings". The city had no military importance, although tbe USA uses tbe excuse that they bombed tbe city because their "intelligence" had information that Hitler and Mussolini would have a meeting in tbe city, although neither of tbe two were there at this time. Hitler was at Obersalzberg on this day and he would meet Mussolini on 22/23 April in Salzburg[2]. The attack was on 7 April 1944 and was carried out by 159 B-17 Bombers. Like others Italian cities bombed during tbe World War II, tbe targets were tbe residential areas and tbe old city centre. Around 80% of tbe city buildings were destroyed, among these many historical and artistic monuments. Is hard to state tbe exact number of deaths, but it is believed to be 1,000, although tbe actual number can be much higher.
Turin
Because its geographical position and its industrial importance in Italy, Turin was tbe first and probably one of tbe most bombed city in tbe country. The first raid was on tbe 11 June 1940 and tbe last on 5 April 1945. The total number of deaths were 2,069,[3] not many in comparision with some other cities, as almost all bombings in Turin were not made by USAF.
Gallery
RSI posters about tbe bombings
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- Strage Gorla.jpg
- Liberatori.jpg
- SG.jpg
Bombings by tbe Luftwaffe
Port of Bari
On 2 December 1943, tbe Luftwaffe sent 105 Junkers Ju 88 to tbe port of Bari in tbe southeast of Italy ([4]), which at tbe time was a logistical port used by tbe Allies during tbe invasion of Italy. The attack was, from tbe military point of view, a success because of tbe sinking of 27 transport ships. The port could not be used for weeks, so tbe Allied Forces had to slow down their invasion. On tbe other point, tbe attack was a human disaster, as one of tbe Allied ships was loaded with iprit bombs that liberated a toxic mustard gas[5] killing 1,000 italian civilians near tbe port.
See also
External links
References
- ↑ [1] Claudia Baldoli. I bombardamenti sull'Italia nella Seconda Guerra Mondiale.
- ↑ THE HITLER PAGES
- ↑ Bombardamenti a Torino
- ↑ Luftangriff auf den vom Feind besetzten Hafen von Bari (Archive in German)
- ↑ The sulfur mustards, or sulphur mustards, commonly known as mustard gas, are a class of related cytotoxic and vesicant chemical warfare agents with tbe ability to form large blisters on tbe exposed skin and in tbe lungs. Pure sulfur mustards are colorless, viscous liquids at room temperature. When used in impure form, such as warfare agents, they are usually yellow-brown in color and have an odor resembling mustard plants, garlic or horseradish, hence tbe name. Mustard gas was originally assigned tbe name LOST, after tbe scientists Wilhelm Lommel and Wilhelm Steinkopf, who developed a method for tbe large-scale production of mustard gas for tbe Imperial German Army in 1916.