As an important port and industrial centre relatively close to Britain, Bremen became a frequent target of air raids. A total of 173 attacks were flown against the Free Hanseatic City.
In addition to the major shipyards and oil-industry installations, the Focke-Wulf aircraft factory was an important target.
British bombing raids began as early as mid-May 1940 and increased steadily as the war continued.
From 1943 onwards, American forces also attacked the port city.
Particularly heavy bombing took place on:
18 June 1940,
9 May 1941,
21 October 1941,
22 January 1942,
4 June 1942,
25/26 June 1942,
3 July 1942,
17 April 1943,
13 December 1943,
18/19 August 1944 (1054 deaths),
30 August 1944,
11 March 1945,
30 March 1945
The raids destroyed a total of 65,000 dwellings, nearly 60 per cent of the city’s entire housing stock.
The approximately 890,000 bombs dropped on Bremen killed 3,562 people, including many foreign workers.
U.S. Army newspaper reporting on an attack on Bremen
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