Considering the Bombenkrater before us, imagine Vienna during World War II. This city was not spared. It endured 52 bombings.
The Bombenkrater serves as a stark reminder of those times. More than 3,000 bomb craters scarred Vienna. 37,000 residences vanished. A shocking 20% of the city’s housing stock was decimated.
After a lone Soviet air raid in 1942, the Allied bombers arrived in 1944. They established an air base in Foggia after invading Italy. The German Air Force, or Luftwaffe, had already moved to the west. Even so, they managed to shoot down a tenth of 550 bombers in June 1944.
Vienna’s air defenses included anti-aircraft batteries and Flak towers. These towers were large blockhouses with anti-aircraft guns. Fuel shortages hampered defenses by late 1944. Ground artillery became the primary defense. It took thousands of shells to down a single bomber. Roughly a third of the bombers still suffered heavy damage.
Some factories moved to bomb-proof locations such as caves. The Seegrotte near Hinterbrühl is one example. Military industry production increased. This involved forced labor from concentration camp inmates and POWs. Bypasses helped manage traffic until the war’s final days.
By early 1945, Vienna had already been struck by 1,800 bombs. February and March saw 80,000 tons of bombs dropped by US and British aircraft. This destroyed over 12,000 buildings. 270,000 people lost their homes.
The Bombenkrater here is a silent witness to specific raids. Refineries in Floridsdorf, Kagran, Lobau, and Schwechat were frequent targets. Winterhafen oil depot was also bombed repeatedly. The attacks aimed at crippling German oil production.
On March 12, 1945, a particularly devastating raid occurred. US bombers caused heavy damage. The Vienna State Opera and the Burgtheater burned. The Albertina and Messepalast suffered greatly. The Philipphof collapsed burying around 200 people seeking shelter. A memorial now stands there against war and fascism.
Instructions were given to avoid St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Schönbrunn Palace. Weather sometimes forced bombers to target alternate locations.
Even the Tiergarten Schönbrunn, the world’s oldest zoo, wasn’t spared. In mid-March 1945, 300 bombs fell. Two thousand animals died including a beloved rhinoceros.
From April 1944 to March 1945, air raid alarms sounded 115 times over the radio. The first heavy air raid on Vienna occurred on September 10, 1944. The greatest damage took place between March and April 1945. Around 25% of the city was destroyed.
Looking at this Bombenkrater, remember the resilience of Vienna. The city faced immense destruction. Yet, it rebuilt itself from the ruins. This crater is more than just a hole in the ground. It is a symbol of survival. It is a testament to the strength of the Viennese people.