The city of Hamburg became synonymous with the destructive power of RAF Bomber Command when, during summer 1943, the city suffered horrific destruction in a series of four heavy firebombing attacks, Operation Gomorrah. However, few know how varied or long the Hamburg campaign was. In this book, RAF air power expert Dr Richard Worrall presents the complete history of the RAF's air campaign against the city, a campaign that stretched well beyond the devastating fire raids of 1943.
Dr Worrall explains how Germany's second city was an industrial centre of immense proportions and proved a consistent target for Bomber Command throughout World War II. It was home to oil refineries, U-boat pens, and ship-building and submarine-building yards, all sustained by a large industrial workforce. Bomber Command evolved tactically and technically throughout the war, and the Luftwaffe's defensive capabilities would do likewise in response.
Drawing on a wide range of primary and secondary sources available on this topic, and packed with photos, artwork, maps and diagrams, this is an important new history of the air campaign against the industrial and naval heart of Nazi Germany.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chronology
Attacker's Capabilities
Defender's Capabilities
Campaign Objectives
The Campaign
Aftermath and Analysis
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
I read this over a couple of nights, and was intrigued start to finish. To say it is a "full history" is a bit of a stretch for a book of less than 100 pages, but it is a very good read that serves as an introduction to the difficult subject of firebombing a civilian population as a military objective. I was impressed at how much the book covers in such a short space, as per the contents above, it is all very well explained and quite readable.
Numbers: Hamburg needed 1 250 000 4lb high explosive and 156 250 30lb incendiary bombs to target 629 000 people (39% of the population) in 7 950 acres. This was repeatedly achieved, too. German flak use 'an eye-watering 16 000 shells before bringing down one bomber.' Emphasis added, page 26.
Quote, Air Chief Marshall Sir Charles Portal in a presentation to Winston Churchill on whether to bomb Hamburg, page 38 "I certainly do not think we should refrain from bombing [this] ... very important objective [whose] destruction ... would hasten the end of the war." [sic]
This is a lot to like about this book, it is well written, accurate, and sticks to the subject title, not wandering down rabbit holes or indulging in politics. The subject is discussed with respect for the thousands of civilians who lost their lives not fighting on the front lines, while also going into the dangers and efforts of the Allies to bring about the end of the war with as few casualties as possible. The aim of bombing civilians is explored at a strategic level, with as a bona-fide military objective.
There is an amusing vignette about a Guy Gibson, p.47-8, pilot, who was given the order, "You can fly to the target whichever route you wish and bomb at any time between 1200 hours and 0400 hours.' 'Such was the plan'. Gibson wrote, whose own departure time was dictated by the film screening in a Lincoln cinema.
There is an interesting statistic of a calculated loss rate for bombers at 5%, with loss rates of 3-4% being perfectly good, but still representing 12 aircraft and crew at a minimum.
The tactic of targeting the city worked so well, Hitler refused to attend the city, and both Goebbels and Goring expressed grudging respect for the Allies and the effectiveness of the bombing.
I recommend this title to anyone with an interest in the subject, and you don't need to be a bombing trainspotter to read it, either, the book covers off the subject very well start to finish.
