Bombardments on German cities

[AOK4]

Hello,

I thought it might be interesting to give some info on this.

About 2,000 air attacks were were performed on German cities, in which about 4,400 planes were engaged and 17,000 bombs were dropped. Saarbrücken was attacked 251 times (684 bombs). The attacks costed 2,600 casualties and 50,000,000 Mark.
The attack on Karlsruhe (22 June 1916) by a French unit made 154 casulaties (children who attended a circus show), of those 82 died instantly.

The attacks made following damage per allied plane engaged: in 1915 4 casualties and 7,100 Mark damage, in 1916 1.3 casualties and 3,552 Mark damage, in 1917 0.5 casualties and 6,100 Mark damage and in 1918 0.4 casualties and 5,500 Mark damage.

Jan

[Tailspin]

Jan,

Other than the casualties, who were mostly innocent non-combatants, did these raids contribute much to the Allied war effort? I've often read that the only direct effect of the German raids on Britian was that they forced the British to divert airplanes and guns from the front to defend against them.

Tom

[AOK4]

I guess it was pretty much the same on the other side. A lot of resources were then used to protect the "Heimat" from air attacks.

Jan

[Vigilant]

But probably not the degree of resources that was expended in creating and maintaining the Independent Force. If you want to divert enemy resources you just need a few pin-prick attacks (like the Gothas). By contrast the IF was bombing for effect - which was rather optimistic with 1918 technology and accuracy IMO.

What's the source for your statistics, Jan?

Vig.

[AOK4]

It is a small book calles "Was brauchte der Weltkrieg" with all kinds of figures and numbers. Very interesting!

Jan

[Soderbaum]

Interesting source Jan

I have rather much statistic German material from different sources but not any complete material, and this source has so far eluded me...

I am interested to knew if there are more Kogenluft/Idflieg material regarding the German Air Force in this book..?

And if so possible have copies of that...???


Gunnar

[AOK4]

Gunnar,

contact me off-forum, there are some more things about the German airforce in the book.

Jan