Hildesheim
Created: 04 May 2003
Updated: 15 November 2007

Stadtmuseum im Knochenhaueramtshaus

The following is the transcript of a brief prepared for Lt Masters on aspects of Hildesheim during WW2. I will type it as written but may have to make some changes as it is possibly written by Heinz Kempe and needs "tarting up". Some of it is a little difficult to read. As it is written from the German point of view and I make no comment on the "morality" of bombing a "civil" target. This is the result of looking through papers which have come into my possession courtesy of Gary Binns. As most of us reading this served whilst in Hildesheim, I think it appropriate to be included in these pages.

Brief: Hildesheim And Their Civil Population During The Period 01.09.1939 until 09.04.1945

Before March 1945 Hildesheim was a beautiful medieval town with approx 68,000 inhabitants, packed with colourful half timbered buildings, richly carved and decorated. The streets were narrow, winding and picturesque and, in appearance, had changed little in five or six hundred years. The town was frequented by tourists from all over Germany, if not Europe. One of the particular sights being the "knochenhauer Amtshaus" facing the Rathaus and the other "der umgestupte Zuckerhut" near Andreaskirsche, and many many other sights including the 1000 year old Rosebush near the Cathedral.

In the holocaust which fell upon Germany between 1940 and 1945, Hildesheim was spared until almost the end. On the 22nd March 1945 at 1350 on a bright sunny day 280 Lancaster bombers destroyed in 17 minutes what had taken almost 2000 years to grow. It is believed that the strike was called for by the US attacking Force which marched into what had formerly been the town, 16 days later (8/9 April). It is ironic that the town centre held no military installations and that any on the outskirts of the town were untouched. Hildesheim had several vital factories in prime War industries, also some major plants of imprtance and subsidiary factories. Hildesheim also had a large central goods station with connections to all compass points of the German Reich.

Factories

Senkingwerk in Senking Str. They produced parts for fuses, ignitions and gearboxes for tanks as well as other important war equipment. Approx 2500 people were employed of which 800 were foreign ie: prisoners of war and displaced persons.

Ed Ahlborn AG in Luntzel Str/Cheruskerring/Bishofskamp. Their main war production were torpedoes, known by the Navy as "eels". The management and the Supervison was done by Navy Officers and Engineers. Approx 1000 people were employed.

(From Mac McLaren. Ed (Eduard) Ahlborn ag; not only did they construct torpedoes. Before and after the wars they made plate heatexchangers. But little known they also produced nose cones for the V 2 rocket. This is fact. After leaving the tanks in 89 I started working at Ed Ahlborn ag and in 95 the company was taken over by GEA  and renamed Gea Ecoflex were I still work today. May people have told me all about it being all very hush hush back then. The machine was a 2500 t deep press, which was still working up to about 1973 and when the machine was dismantled they could not find the power supply, so they just filled in the foundation with concrete. I'll asked around and see if i can get some more info or pics ök.  Ahlborn was were Bauhaus now stands.)

Vereinigte Deutsche Metallwerke AG, called VDM in Senking Str. By 1944/45 they employed approx 5500 people mostly foreign. Main production was machinery, engine parts and airplane parts, also production of various weapons. The VDM Works was the only clearly established factory which was precisely bombed on 14 March 1945 by 60 US bombers of the 8th American Air Fleet, or Air Commando. The VDM Works was not completely destroyed during this attack, but the Senking factory was.

Boschwerke at Hildesheimerwald, in between a large forest and the Trillkewerke. These factories were of the largest and more important war industries. Their main production during the war were starter motors for the heavy tank Tiger and Konigstiger as well as ignitions for tanks, lorries and military cars. They produced, in a month, 600 - 800 starters for heavy tanks and approx 2000 magnet ignitions for tanks and dynamos for army vehicles. They employed approx 5000 people, 50% of which were foreign, pow's and displaced people. Supervision in the factory was carried out by Army officers from Hannover.

Die Wetzel Gummiwerke AG (Rubber Works). Wetzel Gummiwerke were declared at the beginning of the war as a vital factory for war production. They produced, in the main, war material. Gas Masks and life jackets for Navy and air Force; rubberboats for Army and Navy, rubber parts used for torpedoes and cockpits of aircraft. Employing approx 1250 people. 46% male 54% female. What was outstanding was the the foreign workers were paid the same salary as the German workers, not always the case in German industry.

These were the most important factories in Hildesheim, quite a few subsidiary plants and factories and small workshops existed, which are not mentioned by name. Most of the population of Hildesheim were not aware that in various villages around Hildesheim, Army Depots, Ammunition factories and ammunition compounds existed. In these approx 30,000 tons of ammunition and explosives were stored. These were:

Harsum: large army ration depot; size approx 38 acres

Ahrbergen: army amjunition factory and storage

Wehmingen: army ammunition factory and compound. Size approx 75 acres

Bosum: small ammunition compound. Size approx 20 acres

Feldbergen: air force installation of approx 3 acres

Dickholzen: ammunition factory and compound of approx 100 acres

Achtum-Uppen: rifle ranges of approx 25 acres

Heinde: reserve army depot of 20 acres

Wendhausen: reserve army depot approx 38 acres

Sohre: reserve naval depot - spare parts and naval supplies - 50 acres

In the old salt mines of Dickholzen, 10000 tons of ammunition were stored. Dickholzen is a village 6 kms south of Hildesheim. All the installations and depots were kept secret to outsiders, therefore most Hildesheimers were not aware of their existence.

The war started on Friday September 1st at 0536. All communications and Telegraph Centres of the German Reich informed all Police HQs that the Air Protection Defence Law should come into force at once in all towns and villages. In Hildesheim, the Air Protection office was situated in the cellars of the Police Headquarters known as Hermann Goring House on the corner of the street of the SA/and Adolph Hitler Str today known as Kaiser Str/ Bahnhofsallee. The population was reminded by posters, newspapers and propaganda that the Air Protection was a very important fact, they were told that cellar rooms should be used as provisional air shelters and that they must be equipped with the buckets filled with sand and with water; water tanks; sand boxes, water hand pumps, First air boxes, shovel, pulling hooks and fire hand splashes. The building of provisional air shelters was issued as an order by Hermann Goering.

In case of air alarm, the following instructions were issued:

1. Be calm and discreet. All helpers must go into the detailed place.

2. When you leave your flat/house, turn off main gas valve, cut off electricity in your flat.

3. Put out your oven or fireplace, open all windows, close all venetian blinds and close the doors after you leave.

4. Assist all old and disabled persons and children into the air shelters.

5. Inside the shelter, keep quiet and calm, smoking is strictly forbidden, no open light.

6. The orders of the air shelter warden should be obeyed.

During The Air Raid/Air Attack

Start closing the door to the air shelter when you first hear the noise of aircraft or when you hear the sound of falling bombs. If you have to leave the air shelter for any reason, don't rush, put on your gas mask if available. If you haven't got a gas mask, place a wet cloth over your mouth and nose.

After The Air Raid

Do not leave the air shelter until instructed by the warden. Do not put on any lights until you have ascertained that no lights could fall, or shine, outside. When you enter your flat or house, check all your gas valves before you turn on the main valve. If you notice any damage to your flat inform your House/Air Warden at once. Resettle and prapare everything for the next air raid.

In 1940, the population were supplied with gas masks. The gas masks were sold in the Air Protection office in Kesslerstrasse. The cost of each gas mask were Reichsmark 10. These gas masks were of Czechoslovak and Polish Army original issues. By the end of 1940 German production was available. By 1945, gas masks which were damaged or lost, were replaced free of charge. All orders and instructions for air protection were given in detail, in spite of many things actually being comonsense, the population were still pestered with instructions, orders, bye laws, lessons and propaganda.

1941 A Sad Situation

Knowing the results of air raids done to civil populations in Hamburg; Berlin, Lubeck, Koln, Hannover and many other towns, the Reich had great difficulty in removing the dead. The question was who should account for it, who is going to pay for it? So they decided to pay towards the local administration for the removal and burying of the dead to the sum of Reichmarks 210, but only where the death had occured through air raids. They even explained in detail how to remove the dead bodies and how to overcome the misery and disgust with the special issues of cognac and rum for those involved.

In 1942 the German Reich was in need of metal to produce army equipment, most of the towns church bells were removed. The following churches were stripped: Dom (Cathedral); St Andreas; Jakobi; St Bernward; St elisabeth and Godehardi. Only one bell remained in each church. The church bells were stored in the yard of the gasworks at the Hannoverersche Strasse and later taken to Hamburg.

Hospitals in Hildesheim, besides the existing ones like Stadtisches Krankenhaus and Bernwards Krankenhaus, were established and used as Army Reserve Hospitals; they were the Mutterhaus; Katholisches Waisenhaus, Sulte and others outside the town.

In 1943 the Nazi Party requested people to leave the town. The NSDAP Gaulieter Lautrrbacher from Hannover requested people who lost their flats or houses to move out of Hildesheim into prepared accomodation made available; also supplied to pregnant women, women with small children and the elderly and disabled. Life was becoming difficult. Food was getting short, inhabitants requested to save on light, power, fuel and other resources. The civil population remained, in spite of all the burdens, and they suffered calmly and peacefully, some had the "couldn't care less" attitude, all hoping that they missed out on air raids. But they always lived in anxiety and fear, but there was not much that they could do, the clever propaganda did the rest and kept the people in good faith. Any opposition was underground, and anyone found was quickly whisked off to a concentration camp or even sentenced to death by a special court, so people kept their mouths shut, always in fear of someone reporting them to the Gestapo, who were everywhere. The town was getting short on coke, coal, wood, gas, electricity and fresh vegetables. The last meeting of the Town Council was held on 2nd Feb 1945; only a few members were present, others were by now on the Front. The Town Mayor gave a short report on the generally bad situation. It was nearly the bitter end and also the end for the 1000 year Third Reich, which lasted 12 years.

Timetable of War Damage Inflicted by Air Raids

29 Jul 1944 - Approx 100 hrs Saturday. First bombs fell on the sugar factory. Large fire with 34 people killed.

13 Aug 1944 - Bombs dropped in area of Hohnsen and northern section of industrial area. 10 Prisoners 0f War killed (It was, of course, illegal to use POW's in war production).

26 Nov 1944 - Bombs fell on town centre in region of old market square, towards Burgstrasse, up to Matthiaswiese and towards Steinberg.

Reconstructed Market Square

13 Feb 1945 - Bombs dropped on Grosse Venedig, Humbold str and St Berwards Hospital.

22 Feb 1945 - Bombs dropped on Central Goods Station and surroundings. Raiway crossing at Goslar Str and surrounds, Neustadter Market and Godesgardsplatz. According to reports 320 killed, 240 injured. 1 or 2 houses destroyed and 1104 hours damaged.

3 Mar 1945 - 1030 - Bombs fall on Central Goods station, surrounds, Main Railway Station, Tax Office, Zingel, Rathaus Str, Altpetri Str and hohenweg, also area of Einumer Str, Kronenberg and Marienburger Hohe. Reports of 103 killed and 52 injured.

14 Mar 1945 - Senking Factory destroyed and bombs hit St Michaelis Church.

St Michael's Church

22 Mar 1945 - this particular air raid was carried out under the codename for Hildesheim - FINNOCK. Shortly after 1330 hrs on a birght sunny day and a clear blue sky, bombers of the RAF set "smoking signs" over Hildesheim. They flew very low over the town centre, thereby bombing the whole centre, everything caught fire, the sky became dark through all the smoke, the air raid lasted until 1407. Large fires and heavy smoke prevented people from escaping out of the inferno. Bomb craters were approx 5 meters deep and about 20 meters in diameter. Of 20781 flats in the town, only 5000 remained intact. Approx 1645 people were killed, of which 277 could not be identified. Hildesheim lost, during the war, 2831 members in the Armed forces, missing soldiers were never accounted for. (I presume that means that Hildesheim could not account for 2831 servicemen?)

Market Square Fountain

Before WW2, Hildesheim has 6934 houses and 20781 flats.

Completely destroyed: 1977 and 5978 flats

Heavily damaged: 975 houses and 3225 flats

Slight to Moderate damage: 350 and 1105 flats

Slightly damaged: 1772 houese and 5310 flats

Undamaged: 1860 houses and 5163 flats

On top of this damage 85% of shops were destroyed; 66% of all trading property; 50% of all industrial plants and 80% of all schools, churches and public houses.

Town owned property:

Out of 21 admin buildings - 14

Out of 11 Hospitals and homes - 5

Out of 25 Schools - 19

Out of 115 Houses - 43

Hildesheim was captured on 8 April 1945 by Combat Command B, 2nd US Armoured Division, XIX Corps, Ninth Army, 12th Army Group.

Order of Battle for 103 Sqn RAF Attack on Hildesheim

The Order of Battle for 166 Sqn RAF - Attack on Hildesheim

In response to an enquiry from Lt P Masters a letter was received from the MOD Air Historical Branch RAF dated 24 March 1988 and provided the following information:

22 March 1945. Target: Hildesheim

227 Lancaster bombers, 8 Mosquito's of 1 & 8 Groups. 4 Lancaster bombers lost.

The target was the railway yards; these were bombed but the surrounding built up areas also suffered severely in what was virtually an area attack. This was the only major Bomber Command raid of the war on Hildesheim and the post war British survey found that 263 acres, 70% of the town, had been destroyed. The local report states that the inner town suffered the most damage. The Cathedral, most of the churches and many historic buildings were destroyed. A total of 3302 blocks of flats (containing more than 10000 apartments) were destroyed or seriously damaged. 1645 people were killed.

Type & Description of Objective:

Hildesheim is on the main line from Berlin via Magdeburg to West(ern) Germany. This is an alternative to the Berlin - Hannover route which runs roughly parallel further to the north. Two branch lines lead north from Hildesheim to Hannover and Lehrte where they join the Berlin - Hannover line. A third branch connects Hildesheim with the Brunswick - Hannover line. To the south a branch line leads to Goslar and the Harz district. Hildesheim has a goods station and large marshalling yards close to the main railway station in the northern quarter of the town.

It then goes on to explain the industry, already mentioned and then:

Hildesheim (Hannover)

52 10 N 10 E. 435 miles (65000)

Hildesheim is 20 miles SE of Hannover and is a railway junction of some importance. The town cnetre is largely built of half timbered houses and has preserved its mediaeval character. There are various industries, mostly in the hands of small undertakings. In addition to the works mentioned the town's activities include the manufacture of agricultural machinery and a sugar refinery.

The Daily Raid Report No 18 says the following on Hildesheim:

Lancasters and Misquito's attacked the town. The Master Bomber assessed the markers as being 200 yards off the aiming point, and therefore a good concentration of accurately placed markers was maintained. Bombs were seen to fall in the marshalling yards to the north west of the aiming point and the (something) centre of the built up area was soon a mass of smoke. Smoke rising to 15000 feet could be seen for approximately 200 miles on the return journey.

Results of Attacks:

Hildesheim:

The intention was to destroy the built up area and associated industries and railway facilities. Almost the entire town was devastated, only the extreme suburban areas having escaped destruction. Considerable fresh damage was inflicted on the already damaged marshalling yard facilities and to industrial concerns.

There is much photocopying attached to these, but in too bad a condition to be scanned onto these pages.

 I was lucky enough to have served with 1 RTR during their stay in Hildesheim, I was there from our move over in 1984 from Bovington Camp until 1988 and lived in Am Kokenhof, Himmelsthur, on the outskirts and next door to our small estate was the Serbian Orthodox Church. They very kindly invited the occupants of the estate around to have a look for ourselves, a fascinating place. I found this image of the interior on a Hildesheim site. The seat of the bishopric of the Serbian-orthodox dioceses for all Western Europe has been located in the new-Gothic St. Mary’s Church since 1978.

A Brief Look at the History of the City of Hildesheim

Hildesheim has served as the cultural center between the Harz Mountains and the Luneburger Heath, between the Weser River and the Elbe River for more than 1100 years. Three things have had an undeniable impact on the face and the history of the city. The clergy, to whom Hildesheim owes its early development, the citizens who created a unique city filled with magnificent half-timbered buildings in the Middle Ages, and the people of the 19th and 20th century, who completed the transition to modern times.

From Ludwig to Godehard

It was Ludwig the Pious who founded a chapel consecrated to the Virgin Mary on the cathedral hill at the intersection of ancient trade routes in 815. The beginnings of the history of the city is inseparable from the bishop’s crook. It was not until after a bishopric has been established here that the city community began to grow; knights, tradesmen and merchants settled under the protection of the church. Bishop Altfried completed the first large, stone cathedral as early as 872. Bishop Bernward (993 to 1022) and BishopGodehard (1022 to 1038), both canonized, heralded in the era of highest prosperity for architecture, sculpture, goldsmith’s art and calligraphy.

Power to the People
Soon the townspeople came into their own as well. A town hall is mentioned in historical records as early as 1217. And in 1300, a second town charter written by the citizens themselves decreed that the bishop’s town governor would answer to the authority of the townspeople. Between 1345 and 1460, the people of Hildesheim created a progressive democratic constitution. Their admission into the Hanseatic league in 1367 is convincing evidence of their economic success and their self confidence.
In 1617, one of the first newspapers in Germany was published in Hildesheim. The first private theater was built in1770. And in 1823, the Landdrostei Hildesheim was set up – a precursor to the seat of government.

From Ruins to Reconstruction
On March 22, 1945 Hildesheim was badly damaged in an air raid at the end of WW II. During the reconstruction of the city during the following years, a great deal of attention was given to restoring what was left of the old part of the city. Hildesheim has been a military location since 1958. Today, some 1,400 soldiers serve in four barracks in the city of Hildesheim as well as at the mobilization base in Ahrbergen and approximately 220 civilians are employed by the Armed Forces. The city is home to many soldiers in basic training, soldiers serving for fixed periods, professional soldiers and former military men. From 1984 to 1990, a dream that had been long cherished by many inhabitants of Hildesheim finally came true: thanks to the dedication and commitment of the people living here, the historical market square featuring the world-famous Butchers’ Guild Hall originating from the year 1529 was rebuilt.

http://www.hildesheim.com/english/index.asp?ID=1

The Hildesheim Cathedral is on the list of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. After renovations and extensions were added in the 11th, 12th and 14th centuries, it was completely destroyed during World War II and rebuilt from 1950 to 1960. Special tourist attractions include the Bernwardian bronze castings – the double bronze doors (1015) and Christ’s pillar (1020), St. Anne’s chapel (1321), the Azelin and Hezilo chandeliers (11th century), St. Epiphanies’ Shrine (12th century) and the Baptismal Font (1225). The legendary 1000-year-old rosebush still climbs its way gracefully up the apse. It was also burned and buried beneath the rubble when the Cathedral was destroyed in 1945; its roots, however, remained unharmed and soon the bush was thriving once again.

Image Verification - November 2007

Can anybody verify the following images as being definitely what they say they are? This is for a historical BAOR site so we need to be quite accurate.

Hildesheim ?

Hildesheim?

Hildesheim - Cerny Kaserne                                      Hildesheim?

Hildesheim - Kaserne Am Karl Dincklage                     Hildesheim?

Hildesheim - Kaserne An Der Steingrube

Hildesheim von Voights Kaserne

Hildesheim - Kaserne Ladebuch Galgenberg 1941

If anybody can verify these please contact me soonest

http://www.hionline.de/english/index.asp?ID=1

 http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02513a.htm

http://people.freenet.de/Liedtexte-fuer-Fest-und-Gedenktage/bernwardpfarrei.htm