Strasbourg and the Bombardment of Plaine des Bouchers, May 27, 1944.
Note: Bibliography references in bold and italics.
After the fall of France in World War II, northern France was occupied by the Third Reich, and southern regions were self-governed by the Vichy-France puppet regime. However, Strasbourg, with the eastern regions of Alsace and Moselle, were directly annexed and became part of wartime Germany.
This meant that citizens of Alsace, Moselle and cities like Strasbourg, were conscripted to serve with the armed forces of the Third Reich. Existing French factories were converted to arms production, universities changed their focus to weapons development. Some hospital facilities were used for horrific experiments on live persons, others were very secretive locations developing weapon-grade Uranium-235 for the Third Reich. 6 7
The Bombardment of Strasbourg 1943-44
With this, allied bombing raids targeted factories and rail lines in Strasbourg. In 1943-44, there were three very severe bombing raids by U.S. Air-force heavy bombers:
On September 6, 1943 the Strasbourg neighborhood of Neudorf was heavily bombed by 332 B-17 Flying Fortresses and 69 B-24 Liberator bombers from VIII Bomber Command who were trying to destroy a railway yard and rail line that connected to a strategically important bridge crossing the Rhine. In the process, the residential area of Route du Polygone was heavily damaged, including a neighboring orphanage. 183 civilians were killed. 1
On August 11, 1944 the historic centre of Strasbourg was heavily bombed by 65 B-24 Liberators. Damage was very severe, and evidence remains today. The medieval Cathédrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg was damaged, as was the Palais de Rohan. L’ Ancienne Douane de Strasbourg was almost completely destroyed, but has since been restored. The reason for this bombardment should be clear, but it is not. Historians suggest that the target was a meeting amongst important industrialists chaired by Martin Bormann. I remain skeptical. Possibly, it was, somehow, about securing weapon-grade Uranium-235 that might be available in Strasbourg. This would shorted the Pacific War for the Americans, and explain the puzzling secrecy. 1
The Bombardment of Plaine des Bouchers - May 27, 1944.
Earlier, on May 27, 1944, the aviation factories in the industrial area of Plaine des Bouchers were attacked by B-17’s from the 100th and 388th Bomber Group. This was part of a massive widespread bombing raid consisting of 1,126 heavy bombers and 710 fighter escorts. Of this strike force, 53 bombers targeted the airplane factories at Plaine des Bouchers. This important industrial area was seriously defended, and 7 B-17’s were lost in the raid.
As the name suggests, “Plaine des Bouchers”, centuries ago, was a location for grazing cattle, but was later developed into an industrial hub in the mid-20th century. Emile Mathis, a French automobile industrialist, built large industrial facilities here. At the outset of the War, he left for the United States.
When Strasbourg and Alsace were annexed to Germany by the Third Reich, they used these modern facilities for building airplanes: Junkers was here, as was Mercedes Benz, both using the modern factories built by Emile Mathis.
However, M. Mathis was now in the United States, and he understood these factories better than anyone. He explained, to the US Air Force, how to focus their bombing in this industrial zone. It worked: on May 27, 1944 the Junkers and Mercedes Benz factories were destroyed by the US 8th Air Force. Bravo M. Emile Mathis, this helped shorten the war. 1 4
Here is a description of the raid on Plaine des Bouchers by 388th Bomber Group: - Captain Raymond G. Pendergast Jr.:
“We left England at 1054 and arrived at the French coast 1114. We made landfall at exactly the same place we made it May 25 when flak knocked hell out of us. Our whole crew sweated out that flak corridor but not a fire was shot at us. A few bursts were sent up but about 5 minutes before we arrived, flak was encountered about 10 miles north of Troyes but was not effective.
On the way to the target, we got a swell view of the Alps and snow was quite noticeable. They really are beautiful and also the surrounding country. At the target, plenty of flak was shot up and rockets too. Most of it was aimed at groups ahead of us who bombed a bit further south. We had comparatively little flak sent up at us. From the target out no flak was encountered and fighter cover was excellent. Red and possibly green flak was seen at the target.” 5
Bibliography:
1. Objectif Strasbourg, les bombardements Américains de 1943 et 1944, Richard Seiler, Éditions La Nuée Bleue, 2013
2. Archives de la Ville et de l’Eurométropole de Strasbourg, Archives.Strasbourg.eu.
3. 30 Photos de Strasbourg sous les bombardements (1943-1944), https://www.kuriocity.fr/30-photos-de-strasbourg-sous-les-bombardements-1943-1944/
4. Les arrêts de tram strasbourgeois : Émile Mathis, https://pokaa.fr/2019/03/19/les-arrets-de-tram-strasbourgeois-episode-1-emile-mathis/
5. 388th Bomber Group Database, “Captain Raymond G. Pendergast Jr.”, http://388bg.com
6. “German nuclear program during World War II”, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_nuclear_program_during_World_War_II
7. “Alsos Mission”, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alsos_Mission
8. Medical Research in Strasbourg after annexation to the Third Reich https://www.tumblr.com/johnlyngfr/700149416337784832/medical-research-in-strasbourg-after-annexation-to
Weather permitting, I often take the tram north to downtown Strasbourg and then walk to a beautiful park in the “La Petite France” quartier.
9. History of Strasbourg,
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Strasbourg#:~:text=In%20August%201944%2C%20several%20buildings,Armoured%20Division%20under%20General%20Leclerc.
History of Strasbourg - Wikipedia
