Bombing of Wieluń - Misplaced Pages

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The bombing of Wieluń refers to the 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. 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. One German historian and one Anglo-Saxon describe the bombing as collateral damage from missing bombs that were dropped during ground support of the German army operations.

Events

German reconnaissance reported a Polish division near Wieluń and next to it, a Polish cavalry brigade. The bombing started at 4:40 AM. At 6:00 a.m. the German forces noted that Wielun brennt (Wieluń burns), but the raids continued until 2:00 PM. Large concentrations of Polish cavalry were on the move toward Wielun where Hptm Sigel's I/St.G. 76 had earlier pounded the Polish defence works. At 1300 I/StG 2 led by Major Dinort from Nieder-Ellguth, were directed against this concentration, followed a few hours later, by Schwarzkopff with sixty operational Stukas of I/StG 77 Due to the low level fog, however, both attacks in the morning and at noon missed the targets. Weather conditions were unfavourable during the day, with a visibility of only one kilometre and practically closed layer of fog at 50 metres altitude. Fog, mist and poor visibility thwarted many of the Luftwaffe's sorties planned for the morning of the first day of the invasion. Together the dive bombers, facing intense anti aircraft fire, inflicted heavy losses on the Polish cavalry, and the advance was turned into a rout by ninety Stukas. 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. Three waves of attacks were carried out during the day. Wielun fell to the Germans on day one.

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, 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). Some eyewitnesses claimed that the German planes strafed civilians who were fleeing through the streets.

Notes

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

References

^ Portal Gminy WieluĹ
^ Poeppel-von Preußen-von Hase, 2000. p. 248.
^ Smith, 2007. p. 23
^ Smith, 2007. p. 20
Trenkner, Joachim (2008-08-29), Wieluń, czwarta czterdzieści (in Polish)
Template:Pl icon Wieluń, 1 września 1939 r.

External links

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.