Prague was attacked in World War II several times with bombs from the air. Prague was, at that time, under German occupation, the capital of the Reich Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.
First Attack
On 5 October 1941, there was a 1.16 bis 3.15 clock air alarm in Prague. While about four incendiary bombs were dropped on the city by British bombers.
Second Attack
The second air attack occurred on 15 November 1944. Of two aircraft of unknown origin, several bombs (12 pieces valued) on the municipal power plant were dropped (about 300 m west of today’s Metro station Holešovice) around noon. The operating systems were undamaged. Four bombs exploded in front of a neighboring building, injuring 15 employees. In surrounding houses standing on windows people alleged to have been killed by splinters. About three bombs fell into the pile of coal power stations and were later defused.
Third Attack
The third air attack on Prague occurred on Ash Wednesday, the 14th of February 1945, and was carried out by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). According to the American pilots, the bombing of the city was due to an error (due to navigation errors). Therefore, they should support the bombing of Dresden, about 100 kilometers north of Prague.
The Bombardment
About sixty Boeing B-17 8 U.S. Air Force dropped 152 tons of bombs on various residential districts of Prague. The carpet bomb hit, among other areas, at Vyšehrad, Vinohrady, and Pankrác. About 100 partly historically valuable buildings (e.g., the most magnificent synagogue of the city and the Emmaus monastery in Vinohrady in Prague’s New Town were destroyed. All those killed were civilians. The extent of the bombing can, however, be compared with the air raids on most German cities in any way.
Controversy
Although many Americans expressed their regret and saw the cause of their failure in adverse weather conditions and an alleged similarity between Prague and Dresden from the air, it is still sometimes suggested that it might have been a targeted attack. According to witnesses, a group of bombers had a more extensive formation, clearly separated from the other bombers, and had flown to Prague. The majority of historians, however, believe that the bombing of Prague was actually a mistake.
Miscellaneous
Some of the few modern buildings in Prague are known today, such as the Dancing House or the Emauzy Church, located at the site destroyed by the bombing of Prague buildings.
Last Attack
The last and largest air assault on Prague took place on Palm Sunday, the 25th of March 1945, also by the USAAF. This time, it was a planned operation, which involved the 650 launched in Italy bombers and escort fighters. The attack was on the industrial plants in the east of Prague and the military airfield Prague Kbely. Sunday was chosen for the presentation of the USAF for the attack to keep low human sacrifice in the factories. The weather was perfect. The attack took place in 12 waves, each about 50 aircraft, in the period from 11:48 to 13:02 clock. The P-38 escort fighters shot down a Me 262, which crashed near the Prague Zoo. The consequences of the attack were 235 dead, 417 injured, 90 severely destroyed, and 1360 damaged objects registered.
First attack
On 5 October 1941, there was a 1.16 bis 3.15 clock air alarm in Prague. While about four incendiary bombs were dropped on the city by British bombers.
Second attack
The second air attack occurred on 15 November 1944. Of two aircraft of unknown origin, several bombs (12 pieces valued) on the municipal power plant were dropped (about 300 m west of today’s Metro station Holešovice) around noon. The operating systems were undamaged. Four bombs exploded in front of a neighboring building, injuring 15 employees. In surrounding houses standing on windows people alleged to have been killed by splinters. About three bombs fell into the pile of coal power stations and were later defused.
Third attack
The third air attack on Prague occurred on Ash Wednesday, the 14th of February, 1945, and was carried out by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). According to the American pilots, the bombing of the city was due to an error (due to navigation errors) – therefore, they should support the bombing of Dresden, about 100 kilometers north of Prague.
The bombardment
About sixty Boeing B-17 8 U.S. Air Force dropped 152 tons of bombs on various residential districts of Prague. The carpet bomb hit, among other areas at Vyšehrad, in Vinohrady, and Pankrác. About 100 partly historically valuable buildings (egAs the most magnificent synagogue of the city and the Emmaus monastery in Vinohrady in Prague’s New Town were destroyed. All those killed were civilians. The extent of the bombing can, however, be compared with the air raids on most German cities in any way.
Controversy
Although many Americans expressed their regret and saw the cause of their failure in adverse weather conditions and an alleged similarity between Prague and Dresden from the air, it is still sometimes suggested that it might have been a targeted attack. According to witnesses, a group of bombers had a more extensive formation is clearly separated from the other bombers, and had flown to Prague. The majority of historians, however, believe that the bombing of Prague was actually a mistake.
Miscellaneous
Some of the few modern buildings in Prague are known today, such as the Dancing House or the Emauzy Church, located at the site destroyed by the bombing of Prague buildings.
Last Attack
The last and largest air assault on Prague took place on Palm Sunday, the 25th of March 1945, also by the USAAF. This time, it was a planned operation, and we were involved in the 650 launched in Italy bombers and escort fighters. The attack was on the industrial plants in the east of Prague and the military airfield Prague Kbely. Sunday was chosen for the presentation of the USAF for the attack to keep low human sacrifice in the factories.
The weather was perfect. The attack took place in 12 waves, each about 50 aircraft, in the period from 11:48 to 13:02 clock. Of the P-38, escort fighters shot down a Me 262, which crashed near the Prague Zoo. The consequences of the attack were 235 dead, 417 injured, 90 severely destroyed, and 1360 damaged objects registered.
First attack
On 5 October 1941, there was a 1.16 bis 3.15 clock air alarm in Prague. While about four incendiary bombs were dropped on the city by British bombers.
Second attack
The second air attack occurred on 15 November 1944. Of two aircraft of unknown origin, several bombs (12 pieces valued) on the municipal power plant were dropped (about 300 m west of today’s Metro station Holešovice) around noon. The operating systems were undamaged. Four bombs exploded in front of a neighboring building, injuring 15 employees. In surrounding houses standing on windows people alleged to have been killed by splinters. About three bombs fell into the pile of coal power stations and were later defused.
Third attack
The third air attack on Prague occurred on Ash Wednesday, the 14th of February 1945, and was carried out by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). According to the American pilots, the bombing of the city was due to an error (due to navigation errors). Therefore, they should support the bombing of Dresden, about 100 kilometers north of Prague.
The bombardment
About sixty Boeing B-17 8 U.S. Air Force dropped 152 tons of bombs on various residential districts of Prague. The carpet bomb hit, among other areas, at Vyšehrad, Vinohrady, and Pankrác. About 100 partly historically valuable buildings (e.g., the most magnificent synagogue of the city and the Emmaus monastery in Vinohrady in Prague’s New Town were destroyed. All those killed were civilians. The extent of the bombing can, however, be compared with the air raids on most German cities in any way.
Controversy
Although many Americans expressed their regret and saw the cause of their failure in adverse weather conditions and an alleged similarity between Prague and Dresden from the air, it is still sometimes suggested that it might have been a targeted attack. According to witnesses, a group of bombers had a more extensive formation, clearly separated from the other bombers, and had flown to Prague. The majority of historians, however, believe that the bombing of Prague was actually a mistake.
Miscellaneous
Some of the few modern buildings in Prague are known today, such as the Dancing House or the Emauzy Church, located at the site destroyed by the bombing of Prague buildings.
Last attack
The last and largest air assault on Prague took place on Palm Sunday, the 25th of March 1945, also by the USAAF. This time, it was a planned operation, which involved the 650 launched in Italy bombers and escort fighters. The attack was on the industrial plants in the east of Prague and the military airfield Prague Kbely. Sunday was chosen for the presentation of the USAF for the attack to keep low human sacrifice in the factories. The weather was perfect. The attack took place in 12 waves, each about 50 aircraft, in the period from 11:48 to 13:02 clock. The P-38 escort fighters shot down a Me 262, which crashed near the Prague Zoo. The consequences of the attack were 235 dead, 417 injured, 90 severely destroyed, and 1360 damaged objects registered.
First attack
On 5 October 1941 there were in the time of 1.16 bis 3.15 clock air alarm in Prague. While about four incendiary bombs were dropped on the city by British bombers.
Second attack
The second air attack occurred on 15 November 1944. Of two aircraft of unknown origin several bombs (12 pieces valued) on the municipal power plant were dropped (about 300 m west of today’s Metro station Holešovice) around noon. The operating systems were undamaged. Four bombs exploded in front of a neighboring building, injuring 15 employees. In surrounding houses standing on windows people alleged to have been killed by splinters. About three bombs fell into the pile of coal power station and were later defused.
Third attack
The third air attack on Prague occurred on Ash Wednesday, the 14th February 1945 and was carried out by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). According to the American pilots bombing of the city was due to an error (due to navigation errors) – therefore they should support the bombing of Dresden, about 100 kilometers north of Prague.
The bombardment
About sixty Boeing B-17 8 U.S. Air Force dropped 152 tons of bombs on various residential district of Prague. The carpet bomb hit, among other areas at Vyšehrad, in Vinohrady and Pankrác. About 100 partly historically valuable buildings (egAs the most magnificent synagogue of the city and the Emmaus monastery in Vinohrady in Prague’s New Town were destroyed. All those killed were civilians. The extent of the bombing can, however, compare with the air raids on most German cities in any way.
Controversy
Although many Americans expressed their regret and saw the cause of their failure in adverse weather conditions and an alleged similarity between Prague and Dresden from the air, is still sometimes been suggested that it might be but was a targeted attack. According to witnesses, a group of bombers had a larger formation is clearly separated from the other bombers, and had flown to Prague. The majority of historians, however, believes that the bombing of Prague were actually a mistake.
Miscellaneous
Some of the few modern buildings in Prague known today, suchAs the Dancing House or the Emauzy Church located at the site of destroyed by the bombing of Prague buildings.
Last attack
The last and largest air assault on Prague took place on Palm Sunday, the 25th March 1945 also by the USAAF. This time it was a planned operation, were involved in the 650 launched in Italy bombers and escort fighters. The attack was the industrial plants in the east of Prague and the military airfield Prague Kbely. Sunday was chosen for presentation of the USAF for the attack to keep low human sacrifice in the factories. The weather was perfect. The attack took place in 12 waves each about 50 aircraft in the period from 11:48 bis 13:02 clock. Of the P-38 escort fighters shot down a Me 262, which crashed near the Prague Zoo. The consequences of the attack were 235 dead, 417 injured, 90 severely destroyed and 1360 damaged objects registered.
Air war operation in World War II