The bombing of Bucharest (the capital of Romania) in World War II comprised operations by the Allies and Axis Powers at separate intervals in 1944. The first one was carried out by the American Army Air Forces (USAAF) and the British Royal Air Force (RAF) on April 4 and 15, 1944, mainly as an attempt to interrupt military transports to the Eastern Front; both sides incurred heavy losses. The second was carried out by the German Luftwaffe in retaliation for Romania having changed sides (immediately after the fall of the Ion Antonescu fascist administration), and took place on August 23-25. An airstrike is a military strike by air forces on an enemy ground position, which depending on the selected tactics may or may not be followed up by artillery, armor, and/or infantry units. ... Bucharest (Romanian: BucureÅŸti ) is the capital city and industrial and commercial centre of Romania. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, the use of images on this page may require cleanup, involving adjustment of image placement, formatting, size, or other adjustments. ... The group of countries known as the Allies of World War II consisted of those nations opposed to the Axis Powers during the Second World War. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) was a part of the U.S. Army during World War II. The direct precursor to the U.S. Air Force, the USAAF formally existed between 1941 and 1947. ... The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... April 4 is the 94th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (95th in leap years). ... April 15 is the 105th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (106th in leap years). ... The Eastern Front of World War II was the theatre of war covering the conflict in central and eastern European regions from June 1941 to May 1945. ... The Deutsche Luftwaffe or (German: air force, literally Air Arm or Air Weapon, IPA: [luftvafÉ™]) is the commonly used term for the German air force. ... Ion Antonescu. ... Fascism is a radical totalitarian political philosophy that combines elements of corporatism, authoritarianism, extreme nationalism, militarism, anti-anarchism, anti-communism and anti-liberalism. ... This is the song that never ends yes it gos on and on my friends some people started singing it not knowing what it was they just started singing it forever just becauseThis is the song that never ends yes it gos on and on my friends some... August 25 is the 237th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (238th in leap years), with 128 days remaining. ...

Background

Main articles: Romania during World War II, Bombing of Romania in World War II

The USSAF first bombed Romania on June 12, 1942, a week after declaring war on it and reciprocating Romania's declaration of war on the United States of December 12, 1941. Its results were minor, and planes did not reach the capital. After a brief period of nominal neutrality, Romania joined the Axis Powers in June 1941, under the government of Ion Antonescu. ... The bombing of Romania in World War II comprised two series of events: until August 1944, Allied operations, and, following the disestablishment of Ion Antonescus Fascist dictatorship, Nazi Germany. ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 19 days remaining. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film) 1941 (MCMXLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1941 calendar). ...

Subsequent bombings centered on Ploieşti (August 1943), the first ones to profit from gains in Italy (see Italian Campaign (World War II)), and air bases closer to Romania's territory. These were known as Operation Tidal Wave, and resulted in serious damage to Romania's oil industry. County Prahova County Status County capital Mayor Emil Calotă, Social Democratic Party, since 2000 Population (2002) 232,452 Geographical coordinates , Web site http://www. ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war. ... Operation Tidal Wave was a military operation of the allied forces for destroing Ploiesti consisting of air raids conducted on August 1, 1943 Links http://www. ...

Allied operations

April 4

The first Anglo-American bombing of Bucharest lasted two hours and occurred on April 4, 1944 with planes leaving from Foggia and Brindisi, taking the usual route past Turnu Severin, across the Southern Carpathians, and up to Târgovişte and Snagov, but then continuing straight to Bucharest and not doubling back toward Ploieşti as usual. The bombing had as its objective to interrupt military transports to the front. Hence, the principal Bucharest rail station, Gara de Nord, and its surroundings were carpet-bombed and the tracks at the Bucharest classification yard were destroyed. A very strong wind on that warm spring day diverted a number of bombs, which landed on Calea Griviţei and Giuleşti, and later on the rest of the city; western and north-western Bucharest were most severely hit. Hundreds of buildings were destroyed and over 5,000 were killed or injured, though there is no official casualty figure. In particular, bombs fell on Calea Victoriei, on the Splendid and Athénée Palace Hotels; on the German Military Mission; near the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Joseph, destroying its stained-glass windows; and on Cotroceni, uprooting several large, ancient poplars in the Botanical Garden of Bucharest^[1]. Region Apulia Mayor Orazio Ciliberti Area  116 km² Population  - City (2004)  - Density 146. ... Categories: Italy-related stubs | Towns in Puglia ... Drobeta-Turnu Severin is a city in Mehedinti county, Oltenia, Romania, on the left bank of the Danube, below the Iron Gates. ... Southern Carpathians (also called Transylvanian Alps; in Romanian: Carpaţii Meridionali) are located between the Prahova river in the east and the Timiş river and Cerna river in the west. ... County DâmboviÅ£a County Status County capital Mayor Iulian Furcoiu, since 2000 Area  km² Population (2002) 89,429 Density  inh/km² Geographical coordinates , Web site http://www. ... Ilfov county with Snagov commune highlighted Snagov (population: 7,000) is a commune located 40 km north of Bucharest in Ilfov county, Romania. ... View of tracks entering Bucharests Gara de Nord, 2002 Gara de Nord (North Station in Romanian) is the main railway station in Bucharest and the largest railway station in Romania. ... The phrases area bombing and carpet bombing refer to the use of very large numbers of unguided gravity bombs, often with high proportion of incendiary bombs, to attempt the complete destruction of a target region, either to destroy personnel and materiel, or as a means to demoralize the enemy (see... Chicago and North Western Railways Proviso Yard in Chicago, Illinois, December 1942. ... GriviÅ£a (pronounced Grivitza) Railway Yards were and still are an important landmark within the manufacturing landscape of Bucharest. ... GiuleÅŸti (pronounced /ʤju. ... Calea Victoriei in 1935. ... Athénée Palace Hilton The Athénée Palace hotel in Bucharest, Romania, now a Hilton, may have been Europes most notorious den of spies in the years leading up to World War II, and only slightly less so during the Cold War. ... The Roman Catholic Church in Romania is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome. ... House in Cotroceni neighbourhood. ... This article is about woody plants of the genus Populus. ... The Botanical Garden of Bucharest, now named after its founder, Dimitrie Brândză, is located in the Cotroceni neighbourhood of Bucharest, Romania. ...

The mid-day attack came by surprise but air raid sirens quickly activated, sending Bucharesters into bomb shelters, at least one of which was destroyed by bombing. ^[2] However, because it came by surprise, many residents though a mere drill was taking place. ^[3] Thunderbolt 1000/1000T Civil Defense siren. ... Bunkers in Albania A bunker is a defensive military fortification. ...

The use of anti-aircraft artillery by the Romanian military ensured American losses as well. For instance, the 449th Bombardment Group lost 7 of 32 aircraft that took off. ^[4] American troops man an anti-aircraft gun near the Algerian coastline in 1943 Anti-aircraft warfare, or air defense, is any method of engaging military aircraft in combat from the ground. ...

April 15

A second massive bombing took place on April 15. This time, the RAF used P-61 Black Widows to carry out the operation, first dropping flares that illuminated the night sky bright as day and then using incendiary bombs, once they could see their targets. A terrifying, apocalyptic scene was created that night.^[5] The University of Bucharest was gravely damaged and the building next to it, that of Cartea Românească, was destroyed, as were others. The Northrop P-61 Black Widow was an all-metal, twin-engine, twin-boom, monoplane night fighter and night intruder aircraft flown by the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. It was the first American aircraft designed specifically as a radar-equipped night fighter. ... Bell bottoms are trousers that become more wide from the knees downwards. ... An incendiary device is a device or weapon designed to create a fire. ... University of Bucharest University of Bucharest is a university founded in 1864 by decree of Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza to convert the former Saint Sava Academy into the current University of Bucharest. ...

Domestic reaction

Ion Antonescu, who was then Conducător and Prime Minister, had this to say after the April 4 bombing: Conducător (literally in Romanian, Leader) was the title used officially in two instances by Romanian heads of state. ... Categories: Lists of office-holders | Romanian history | Romanian Prime Ministers ...

Since we never attacked them, we might have expected understanding and justice instead of vengeance. Virile people do not conquer on their knees but only by looking the enemy in the eye. The civilization that today has been sinned against by people whom we have never harmed stands in need of our work, our hearts, our struggle and our unity.[6]

Writing in 2005, Mihai A. Semedrea, a survivor of the April 4 bombing, observed, Image File history File links Cquote1. ... Image File history File links Cquote2. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

When American planes were bombing Bucharest, on 4 April 1944, in the downtown movie theatres, on Elisabeta Boulevard, American films were playing, films with cowboys, that is, Westerns; and I think Gone with the Wind was playing somewhere–at the Capitol Theatre, if I'm not mistaken. The public's disposition and even that of the authorities was not at all anti-British or anti-American.[7]

These feelings, whilst valid, may be counterbalanced with the Allies' rationale for the bombing–Romania's whole-hearted support for Axis operations in Europe, in particular the supply of massive amounts of materiel (such as oil and other vital war goods), and the assignment of huge numbers of direct combat troops to the Eastern front. Image File history File links Cquote1. ... The Western is an American genre in literature and film. ... Gone with the Wind is a 1939 film adapted from Margaret Mitchells 1936 novel of the same name. ... Image File history File links Cquote2. ...

German operation

The Soviet Red Army's incursion into Moldavia (see Battle of Târgul Frumos) prompted King Mihai I to carry out the August 23 coup that toppled and arrested Antonescu, seeking a peace with the Allies. Motto: Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь! (Transliterated: Proletarii vsekh stran, soedinyaytes!) (Russian: Workers of the world, unite!) Anthem: The Internationale (1922-1944) Hymn of the Soviet Union (1944-1991) Capital Moscow Largest city Moscow Official language(s) None; Russian de facto Government Federation of Soviet Republics Establishment October Revolution  - Declared 30 December 1922   - Recognized 1... The short forms Red Army and RKKA refer to the Workers and Peasants Red Army, (in Russian: Рабоче-Крестьянская Красная Армия - Raboche-Krestyanskaya Krasnaya Armiya), the armed forces first organized by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War in 1918. ... Moldavia (Moldova in Romanian) was a Romanian principality, originally created in the Middle Ages, now divided between Romania, Moldovan Republic and Ukraine. ... The Battle of Târgul Frumos (May 2-4, 1944) was fought at IaÅŸi, Romania between Nazi Germany and its Romanian allies on one side and the Soviet Red Army. ... The King of Romania was the title of the ruler of the Kingdom of Romania from 1881 until 1947 when Romania was proclaimed a republic. ... King Michael I of the Romanians (born October 25, 1921), reigned as King of the Romanians (in Romanian Majestatea Sa Mihai I Regele Românilor) from July 20, 1927 to June 8, 1930, and again from September 6, 1940 until deposed on December 30, 1947: he has since lived in... After a brief period of nominal neutrality, Romania joined the Axis Powers in June 1941, under the government of Ion Antonescu. ...

Retaliation followed on the same day: while the Romanian Army and Wehrmacht were engaged in street fights, Adolf Hitler gave the order for German planes to leave their base in Otopeni (just north of the capital) on the night of August 23-24, and systhematically bomb Bucharest. This was repeated on the night of August 24-25, until an Anglo-American bombing of Otopeni resulted in heavy losses for the Lufwaffe.^[8] The Romanian Army has completely overhauled its equipment and today it is one of the most modernized armies in its region. ... German cavalry and motorized units entering Poland from East Prussia during the Polish Campaign of 1939 Wehrmacht (Defence force) was the name of the armed forces of Germany from 1935 to 1945. ... Hitler redirects here. ... Map of Ilfov county with Otopeni highlighted Otopeni is a town in Ilfov County, Romania, near the capital of Bucharest. ...

The operation destroyed the National Theatre building and several other downtown buildings, while seriously damaging the Royal Palace, the Victoria Palace, and the Romanian Athenaeum.^[9] National Theatre I. L. Caragiale, Bucharest The front of the Bucharest Novotel, under construction in Calea Victoriei 2006, replicates the exterior of the old Romanian National Theatre approximately in its original location The National Theatre Bucharest (Romanian: ) is the national theatre of Romania, located in the capital Bucharest. ... The National Museum of Art of Romania, located in the former royal palace in the center of Bucharest, Romania, features notable collections of medieval and modern Romanian art, as well as the international collection assembled by the Romanian royal family. ... Victoria Palace is a palace of Bucharest which is the residence of the Prime Minister of Romania and his cabinet. ... Ateneul Român The Romanian Athenaeum (Romanian Ateneu Român, definite article form Ateneul Român) in the center of Bucharest, Romania. ...

Notes

1. ^ (Romanian) "Ia-ţi Bucureştii - Cotroceniul liniştit" ("Keep Bucharest - Cotroceni Is Quiet"), Jurnalul Naţional, August 31, 2006
2. ^ ibid.
3. ^ (Romanian) România în timpul celui de-al doilea război mondial (Romania during World War II)
4. ^ review of "Ted's Travelling Circus: 93rd Bombardment Group (H) 1942-1945", by Scott A. Willey, Air Power History, Fall 1998
5. ^ (Romanian) România în timpul celui de-al doilea război mondial (Romania during World War II)
6. ^ "Antonescu Deplores Bombing of Bucharest, And So Does Hungary, Germans Report", New York Times, April 6, 1944
7. ^ (Romanian) "Amintiri din război - 4 aprilie 1944" ("Memories of the War - 4 April 1944"), Observatorul (Toronto), March 12, 2005
8. ^ Giurescu, p.212
9. ^ Giurescu, p.212

Jurnalul Naţional is a Romanian newspaper, part of a media group led by Dan Voiculescu, which also includes the popular TV station Antena 1. ... The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ...

References

• Constantin C. Giurescu, Istoria Bucureştilor. Din cele mai vechi timpuri pînă în zilele noastre ("History of Bucharest. From the earliest times to our day"), Ed. Pentru Literatură, Bucharest, 1966
• (Romanian) "Bombe anglo-americane" ("Anglo-American Bombs"), Jurnalul Naţional, July 3, 2006.