Austria's Turbulent Wwii: A Nation Under Bombing Attacks

Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938, and during World War II, several Austrian cities were bombed by the Allies. Vienna, the capital, was bombed 52 times, resulting in the loss of 37,000 residences and leaving 270,000 people homeless. Innsbruck, another Austrian city, was bombed 22 times, with 60% of its buildings damaged and 461 people killed. The US and British air forces carried out bombing raids on Austria from their Italian bases until 1945, with the heaviest civilian raids occurring in February and March of that year.

Vienna was bombed 52 times, with 30,000 killed and 12,000 buildings destroyed

Vienna, the capital of Austria, was bombed 52 times during World War II. The city was subjected to a series of devastating non-military air raids by the Allies at the very end of the war in 1945. These raids caused widespread destruction and devastation, with severe consequences for the city and its residents.

The bombing of Vienna resulted in the loss of 37,000 residences, which accounted for 20% of the city's housing stock. The damage left almost 87,000 homes uninhabitable, and over 3,000 bomb craters scarred the landscape. The city's infrastructure was also severely impacted, with bridges damaged, and essential services disrupted due to the destruction of electric lines, sewer, gas, and water pipes. The transportation system was left in disarray, with only 41 civilian vehicles remaining operational.

The human toll of the bombings was devastating, with approximately 30,000 people losing their lives and countless others injured or left homeless. The death toll included civilians, soldiers, police, refugees, firemen, foreigners, and prisoners of war. The raids also resulted in the destruction of more than 12,000 buildings, leaving 270,000 people without homes and causing extensive damage to the city's architectural heritage.

Among the iconic structures damaged or destroyed were St. Stephen's Cathedral, a 14th and 15th-century landmark, and the Vienna State Opera, which had stood since the 18th century. The cultural significance of these losses was immense, and they stood as a stark reminder of the devastation wrought by the war.

The Allied bombing campaigns targeted strategic sites within the city, including oil refineries, marshalling yards, and industrial areas. The Floridsdorf oil refinery, the Lobau oil refinery, and the Schwechat oil refinery were among the key targets. The attacks aimed to cripple Vienna's industrial capabilities and disrupt the German war effort.

The air defences of Vienna, including anti-aircraft batteries and Flak towers, offered some protection against the raids. However, the lack of fuel towards the end of the war left the city vulnerable, with artillery as the only means of defence against air attacks. Despite their efforts, the defences could not prevent the catastrophic loss of life and extensive destruction that Vienna endured during World War II.

The Austrian city of Innsbruck was bombed 22 times by the Allies

The Austrian city of Innsbruck, annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938, was bombed 22 times by the Allies during World War II. The city suffered heavy damage, with 60% of its buildings damaged or destroyed and 461 people killed. Innsbruck was a key transport hub and a major railway supply centre for Italy, making it a significant strategic target for the Allies.

The first attack on Innsbruck took place on December 15, 1943, when 48 B-17 Fortress bombers and 39 P-38 fighters dropped 126 tons of bombs on the city, causing massive destruction, especially to the railway systems. The attack resulted in 269 deaths, 500 injuries, and 1,627 people left homeless. The city's anti-aircraft defences were antiquated, and the warning system failed, contributing to the devastating impact of the bombing.

The attacks on Innsbruck continued until April 1945, with the 13th attack on December 16, 1944, marking a shift in strategy. This attack utilised a higher percentage of delayed-action and incendiary bombs, indicating a focus on "morale bombing" rather than solely targeting strategic objectives. The 21st attack, on April 10, 1945, was the only night operation, carried out by the No. 205 Group RAF.

During the bombing campaign, many historic monuments in Innsbruck were destroyed or damaged, including the Servitenkloster monastery, the Bartholomäuskapelle (one of the oldest buildings in the city), the Landhaus (the old federal state parliament), the city hall, Innsbruck Cathedral, and the Stift Wilten monastery. The city's role as a transport hub made it a crucial target, and the attacks disrupted the flow of supplies to Italian forces.

The US and British air fleets dropped 80,000 tons of bombs on Vienna in February and March 1945

Vienna, the capital city of Austria, was subjected to a massive bombing campaign by the US and British air forces in February and March 1945, during World War II. The city was a key strategic target due to its industrial and transport infrastructure. In these two months, the Allied air fleets dropped a staggering 80,000 tons of bombs on Vienna, causing widespread destruction and devastation.

The bombing campaign resulted in the destruction of more than 12,000 buildings, including residential areas, industrial sites, and cultural landmarks. The city's housing stock was severely impacted, with 37,000 residences lost—amounting to 20% of the city's housing. This left approximately 87,000 homes uninhabitable and 270,000 people homeless. The city's infrastructure was also badly damaged, with bridges, electric lines, and water supply systems in ruins.

The attacks on Vienna's industrial areas targeted oil refineries, aircraft factories, and other military-related facilities. The Floridsdorf oil refinery, the Lobau oil refinery, and the Heinkel-Süd Schwechat aircraft factory were among the key targets. The bombings disrupted fuel supplies in the region, as US intelligence reported that the Vienna area had no fuel as of November 15, 1944.

The cultural heart of Vienna was not spared either. The Vienna State Opera, the Burgtheater, the Albertina, the Heinrichshof, and the Messepalast (Trade Fair Palace) were all severely damaged or destroyed. St. Stephen's Cathedral, a 14th and 15th-century landmark, was hit by bombs in the final days of the war, with its roof set on fire and the Gothic choir stalls buried under debris.

The human toll of the bombing campaign was devastating. While estimates vary, approximately 30,000 people lost their lives, and many more were injured and left homeless. The death toll included civilians, soldiers, police, refugees, firemen, foreigners, and prisoners of war.

The US and British air fleets played a significant role in the Allied efforts to cripple the German war machine and bring about its ultimate defeat. The massive bombardment of Vienna in February and March 1945 was a critical part of this strategy, causing extensive damage to the city's infrastructure and contributing to the end of World War II in Europe.

The Allies bombed the rail yards at Weiner Neustadt near Vienna in April 1944

The Austrian city of Wiener Neustadt was a target of bombing raids by the Allies during World War II. The city was bombed 29 times in total, making it the most frequently bombed city in Austria. The heaviest civilian raids took place in February and March 1945, with 88% of buildings in Wiener Neustadt damaged or destroyed.

In April 1944, the Allies bombed the rail yards at Wiener Neustadt, near Vienna. This was part of a wider bombing campaign that targeted German aircraft and oil industries. The Wiener-Neustadt aircraft factory was a particular focus, as it was effectively an extension of Messerschmitt, manufacturing Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters and repairing Junkers bombers and heavy fighters. The rail yards were also a key strategic target, as Wiener Neustadt was a major transport hub where four rail lines converged.

The Allies' bombing campaign in Austria extended to the city of Vienna, which was bombed 52 times during the war. The first American air raid on Vienna took place in 1944, targeting the Floridsdorf refinery and the Danube. The city was also bombed extensively in February and March 1945, with 80,000 tons of bombs dropped, destroying more than 12,000 buildings and leaving 270,000 people homeless.

The Soviet troops liberated Vienna on April 13, 1945

Vienna, the capital of Austria, was subjected to 52 bombing raids during World War II, resulting in the loss of 37,000 residences and leaving 270,000 people homeless. The city was a strategic target due to its role as a transportation hub and the presence of important industrial facilities. The Vienna Offensive, which lasted from March 16 to April 15, 1945, culminated in the liberation of the city by the Soviet Red Army on April 13, 1945.

The Soviet 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts led the offensive to capture Vienna, which had been under continuous bombardment in the year preceding the arrival of Soviet troops. The city's defence was commanded by General Rudolf von Bünau, with the II SS Panzer Corps units under SS General Wilhelm Bittrich. The battle for Vienna was characterised by fierce urban combat, with street-to-street fighting and positional, street, and house fighting. The German defenders put up a ruthless resistance, sacrificing thousands of lives.

The Red Army, commanded by Marshal Fyodor Ivanovich Tolbukhin, had advanced over Burgenland and Bratislava, encircling Vienna. The Soviet troops employed a combination of encirclement, siege, and assault tactics, with the 4th Guards Army, 6th Guards Tank Army, 9th Guards Army, and 46th Army participating in the battle. The battle resulted in heavy casualties, with almost 170,000 Soviet soldiers losing their lives, including up to 20,000 within the city boundaries.

The liberation of Vienna marked a decisive turning point in the war, contributing to the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany and the liberation of Austria from fascist dictatorship and German foreign rule. The Soviet victory in Vienna also had significant implications for postwar negotiations with the Western Allies, as it demonstrated the Soviet Union's military prowess and determination to shape the political landscape of Eastern and Central Europe.

On April 27, 1945, two weeks after the liberation of Vienna, the Provisional Government in Vienna, consisting of Social Democrats, Communists, and Christian-social conservatives, declared Austria's independence from Germany and the re-establishment of a democratic republic. This declaration was supported by the Soviet government, while the Western Allies were initially reluctant to recognise it. The liberation of Vienna, therefore, not only marked a military victory but also set in motion the political reorganisation of Austria and the region as a whole.

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