Bombing of Stalingrad in World War II
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Stalingrad, a Soviet city and industrial centre on the river Volga, was bombed heavily by the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Stalingrad in World War II.
[edit] The raids
At 3:18 pm on 23 August 1942 the peace of the bustling metropolis was shattered by air raid sirens. Soon, the unstoppable German bombers began pounding the city. Several hundreds of people were buried in the rubble. Then some planes flew low and machine-gunned many innocent civilians.
Each Heinkel 111 aircraft carried 2.5 tons of bombs and caused fires everywhere. In the first few hours of bombing, the newly-set and shelterless headquarters of the city's air defences were bombed.
Most people fled towards the Volga, while the Germans continued attacking all moving objects. Many women and children dug holes on the banks for protection.
In all, the Germans flew 70,000 sorties dropping over a million bombs. Stalingrad was bombed block-by-block for five days. The suburbs were targetted more than the hub, so the German infantry received aerial supplies unhindered.
[edit] The defences
There were about 1,000 German bombers. Only 90 were shot down by the ill-prepared and under supplied, yet determined Soviet fighters and 30 were hit by artillery.
[edit] Impact
40,000 people were killed, and the city was destroyed. However, the rubble caused by the bombing hampered the progress of the German tanks.
