AUGSBURG
594 aircraft - 461 Lancasters, 123 Halifaxes, 10 Mosquitoes - on the first large raid to this target. The various diversions and the splitting of the main bomber force into 2 waves again reduced casualties still further. 21 aircraft - 16 Lancasters, 5 Halifaxes - lost, 3.6 percent of the force; at least 4 of these casualties were due to collision.
The bombing at Augsburg was outstandingly successful in clear weather conditions and against this 'virgin' target with only weak Flak defences. The Pathfinder ground-marking was accurate and more than 2,000 tons of bombs were dropped by the 2 waves of the force.
The R.A.F. night raid became controversial because of the effects of its outstanding accuracy. The beautiful old centre of Augsburg was completely destroyed by high explosive and fire, with much less than the usual spread of bombing to the more modern outer areas, where some industry was located. 2,920 houses were destroyed and more than 5,000 were damaged; 85,000-90,000 people were bombed out. Among the main public and cultural buildings destroyed or seriously damaged were the old Rathaus (completely destroyed), 16 churches and 11 hospitals, but all patients in the hospitals were safely evacuated except for 2 women foreign workers. The total value of lost works of art was estimated to be 800 million Reichsmarks (£80 millon). Among the buildings destroyed was the famous puppet threatre - Heimbhne Puppenschrein - of Walter Oehmichen. Oehmichen re-created his puppets and, exactly 4 years later, opened the 'Augsburger Puppenkiste' (packing-case puppet theatre) now well known in Germany and often seen on television. There were 246 large or medium fires and 820 small ones; the temperature was so cold (minus 18 Celsius) that the River Lech was frozen over and many of the water hoses also froze. Between 678 and 762 people were killed and approximately 2,500 were injured. The Germans publicized it as an extreme example of 'terror bombing'.
Part of the bombing of the second wave of aircraft did spread to the northern and eastern parts of Augsburg and damage was caused to an important aircraft component factory and to some former paper and cotton mills which had been taken over by the M.A.N. engineering company.
DIVERSION AND SUPPORT OPERATIONS
131 aircraft minelaying in Kiel Bay, 22 Mosquitoes to airfields in Holland, 15 Mosquitoes on diversionary raids to 4 towns to the north of the Augsburg routes, 5 R.C.M. sorties, 10 Serrate patrols. 3 Halifaxes and 1 Stirling lost from the minelaying operation.
Total effort for the night: 777 sorties, 25 aircraft (32 percent) lost.
