Rockstuhl, Harald Bombenangriff auf Weimar und der Luftkrieg über Thüringen am 24. März 1944

On 24 March 1944, an air battle took place over Thuringia between German and British aircraft. The British unit, which had flown a major attack on Berlin, was on its way back. Due to strong winds, parts of the bomber group drifted away. In the ensuing air battles, nine British and
four German aircraft were shot down in the Thuringia and Hesse area.

One of the British aircraft dropped 300 to 400 incendiary bombs over the city of Weimar. They caused 5 large fires, 3 medium fires and 19 small fires. A sentry died near the Lützendorf barracks, as well as one seriously injured and two lightly injured. 70-90 people were temporarily made homeless. A second aircraft dropped incendiary bombs and a 1000 kg aerial mine almost at the same time exactly above the centre of the town of Langensalza. This killed 17 people, including 7 women, 5 men and 5 children. Furthermore, there were 10 seriously wounded, 55 lightly wounded and 5 people with eye injuries. What is the connection between the events in Weimar and Langensalza? What happened in the airspace over Thuringia that night? What bomb damage occurred in Weimar and where? The book provides numerous insights.