Bombing of Vienna in World War II
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Vienna was bombed 52 times during World War II. The raids were entirely non-military.
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[edit] Early 1945
Vienna had already faced 1800 bombs. In February and March 1945, 80,000 tons of bombs were dropped by US and British aircraft, killing about 30,000 people and destroying more than 12,000 buildings. The city was being starved of electricity, gas and water. 270,000 people were left homeless.
[edit] Destruction of the Opera
On March 12, 1945, the Vienna State Opera was burnt in an Allied air raid. All decorations and 1,50,000 costumes were burnt.
[edit] St. Stephen's Cathedral
This cathedral escaped damage for most of World War II, till April 11, 1945]], when looters set fire to neighborhood shops and sparks ignited the cathedral's roof.
In the resulting inferno, a large portion of the upper sacristy, the southern Heidenturm, the groin vault of the choir, and windows in the West facade were severely damaged. The 1100 pound Pummerin, the largest bell in Austria, was destroyed, along with a famous organ built in 1886 by the organbuilding Walcker dynasty.
Again, on April 12, 22-ton bombs shattered on the floor of the church. Only the clapper of the bell survived the water.
[edit] Attack on the Tiergarten Schönbrunn
In mid-March 1945, 300 bombs were dropped on the Tiergarten Schönbrunn, the world's oldest zoo. 2,000 animals out of 3,500 died including a bull rhino, a favourite of the zoo-keepers.
[edit] Trivia
- The Schwarzenberg Palace with its famous treasures and works of art, was bombed but later rebuilt.
- Overall 87,000 houses of the city were lost (20% of the entire city). Only 41 civilian vehicles survived the raids. Also, all of the city's bridges had fallen.
- More than 3,000 bomb craters were counted.
- About 30% of all newborn babies died each week from March 1945 onwards due to starvation, disease and lack of aid.
- Each Viennese could get only 1,000 calories of food a day, under Soviet rule.
- Following the liberation of Vienna, the Soviets not only looted anything available, but also stole factory equipment and raw materials worth $100 million and transported it to their homeland.
- A pair of stolen shoes would have earned $200 in a shattered Europe.
- The Lipizzan, a breed of horses raised for dressage, were transported out of Vienna and did not return till 1955.
