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The Destruction of Königsberg

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The RAF Bombing of 1944

 " The aim of the Combined Bomber Offensive...should be unambiguously stated [as] the destruction of German cities, the killing of German workers, and the disruption of civilized life throughout Germany."

"It should be emphasized that the destruction of houses, public utilities, transport and lives, the creation of a refugee problem on an unprecedented scale, and the breakdown of morale both at home and at the battle fronts by fear of extended and intensified bombing, are accepted and intended aims of our bombing policy. They are not by-products of attempts to hit factories."

RAF Air Chief Marshal Arthur "Bomber" Harris,  October, 1943

Königsberg was just one of many German cities targeted by the RAF for indiscriminate firebombing of its civilian population. Many other German cities suffered similar fates in WWII, being nearly bombed into extinction and thousands of its citizens killed - Dresden and Hamburg come to mind – but the situation at Königsberg deserves special mention, for the following reasons: what happened to its people, and what happened to its bombed-out remains.

In 1944 Königsberg suffered heavy damage from British air attacks under the leadership of  Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Arthur Harris.  Occasionally bombed by the Soviet Air Forces, No. 5 Group of the Royal Air Force first attacked the city on the night of 26/27 August 1944. The raid was in the extreme range for the 174 Avro Lancasters that flew 950 miles from their bases to bomb the city.  Fortunately for the Königsbergers, this first raid was not successful, most bombs falling on the eastern side of the town. (Four of the attacking aircraft were lost.)

Three nights later on the 29/30 August, a further 189 Lancasters of No. 5 Group tried the target again dropping 480 tons of bombs on the centre of the city. Bomber Command estimated that 20% of all the industry and 41% of all the housing in Königsberg was destroyed in the attack. A heavy German night fighter defense downed fifteen of the attacking bombers (7.9% of the force).

Following this final air attack, the city burned for several days. The results were devastating, and in addition to the horrible death that befell thousands of its citizens primarily through incineration, the historic city center, consisting of the quarters Altstadt, Löbenicht and Kneiphof was in fact completely destroyed, among it the Dom cathedral, the castle, all churches of the city, the old and the new university and the entire warehouse district.