Bombing of Gorky in World War II

Bombing of Gorky
Part of Strategic bombing during World War II
Gorky. Nitel plant after the bombing raid
Date November 4, 1941 - June 23, 1943 Location Gorky, Soviet Russia, Soviet Union Result Victory of the Red Army
Belligerents
Red Army	Luftwaffe
Strength
The 784th anti-aircraft artillery regiment 515 antiaircraft guns 17 radars 231 anti-aircraft searchlight 107 barrage balloons 47 fighter planes	Squadrons KG-27 and KG-55
Casualties and losses
Military losses: 28 Civilian losses: 429

Military losses:
28
Civilian losses:

The bombing of Gorky by the Luftwaffe continued from 1941 to 1943 in the Eastern Front theatre of World War II. The main purpose of the bombing was to destroy the industrial center of the city. Gorky Automobile Plant received the greatest damage. During the war, enemy bombers carried out 43 raids, 26 of which were at night. 33,934 incendiary bombs and 1,631 high-explosive bombs were dropped on the city. The bombings of Gorky were the most destructive blows by the Luftwaffe to the rear of the Soviet Union during the war.

The destruction of Gorky's industry was in operation Barbarossa from the very beginning. It was one of the largest manufacturers and suppliers of weapons for the Red Army. Germany planned to capture and occupy the city during the second half of September 1941. The city was the main center of the entire Volga region and in it was concentrated the main industry and state power over the regions. Occupation of Gorky meant for Germany complete control over the Volga region. First, the fascists were to destroy the defense industry of the city - Gorky Automobile Plant, Sokol, Krasnoe Sormovo and the Dvigatel Revolyutsii. After the occupation of the city, the General District of Gorky (German: Generalbezirk Gorki) or the General District of Nizhny Novgorod (German: Generalbezirk Nischni Nowgorod) was to be created, included in the Reichcommissariat Moskowien. Gorky Machine-Building Plant was planned to be converted to the production of German military equipment.

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