Bombardment of Belgrade 1941-1944

German Bombing of Belgrade in April 1941

War in Yugoslavia in April 1941

Due to a military coup that distanced Yugoslavia from the Tripartite Pact, Hitler ordered the execution of
Directive No. 25 - the attack on Yugoslavia. The operation in Yugoslavia was codenamed after Directive 25,
issued by Hitler to the German Supreme Command for the invasion of Yugoslavia. The directive envisaged a
joint land and air offensive in which the Luftwaffe would support the ground offensive, destroy Yugoslav air
forces, and attack command and communication facilities in Belgrade.1

A brief summary of the April War:

April 6, 1941:
German air bombardment of Belgrade. The German 12th Army invades southern Yugoslavia and Greece. The
2nd Army carries out limited attacks in Yugoslavia.

April 7, 1941:
Operation BARBAROSSA is postponed until June 22, 1941. German troops enter Skopje.

April 8, 1941:
The 1st Tank Army begins its advance towards Belgrade.

April 9 and 10, 1941:

The XLVI Tank Corps initiates the battle for Belgrade.

April 10, 1941:

The German 2nd Army occupies Zagreb. The Independent State of Croatia is declared in Croatia with German
support. The German XLIX Mountain and LI Infantry Corps advance into northwest Yugoslavia.

April 11, 1941:

The German XLI Tank Corps is only 60 km away from Belgrade. German troops cross the Vardar River.

April 12, 1941:

The Germans capture Belgrade.

April 14, 1941:

Ceasefire negotiations commence.

April 15, 1941:

German troops capture Sarajevo.

April 17, 1941:

Yugoslav representatives sign an unconditional surrender.

April 18, 1941:

At 12 o'clock, the ceasefire in Yugoslavia comes into effect.2

1
Thomas, N., and Mikulan, K., Axis Forces in Yugoslavia 1941-45, Osprey Publications, 1995. ISBN 1-85532-473-3;
2
Geschichte des Zweiten Weltkrieges Vol. 3, A. A. Gretschko, Berlin: Militärverlag der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik, 1977;
Bombing of Belgrade

As part of Directive No. 25, there was also the operation codenamed "Punishment" (Unternehmen
Strafgericht), which involved indiscriminate bombing of Belgrade. Thus, on the morning of April 6, 1941, the
Luftwaffe began its attack on Yugoslavia with a bombing raid on Belgrade. Five bomber groups, comprising
439 bombers from airfields in Austria and Romania, targeted objectives in Belgrade. After the attack, all
communication channels between the Yugoslav high command and the units in the field were destroyed,
practically disabling coordinated command and operations of the Yugoslav army. 3 Under the rubble, thousands
of people lost their lives. Following the successful bombing of Belgrade, the German air force then focused on
new targets such as airports, transportation infrastructure, and concentrations of the Yugoslav army. The
Yugoslav air force, equipped with Messerschmitt 109E fighters, Hawker Hurricane Is, and Rogožarski IK-3,
shot down at least 32 German bombers and escort fighters on April 6 and 7. During the same period, 20
Yugoslav fighters were shot down, and 15 were damaged. 4 According to Yugoslav data, the bombing of
Belgrade claimed the lives of 2,271 people, and around 9,000 buildings were destroyed or damaged.5
Prior to the attack on Yugoslavia and the bombing of Belgrade on April 6, 1941, the Germans prepared a
description of Belgrade and a list and description of bombing targets for the bomber crews. In 1931, Belgrade
had a population of 268,000, with the annexed settlements of Zemun (36,000) on the left bank of the Sava
River and Pančevo (22,000) on the northern bank of the Danube River. The city extended in an east-west
direction over an area of 4 to 5 km and in a north-south direction over an area of 6 to 7 km. It was 12 to 14 km
from the north western part in Zemun to the south eastern part of Belgrade. Belgrade did not have any
significant military industry except for its former aviation industry. It was the seat of the highest state authorities
and had a strong garrison consisting of 4 to 5 infantry regiments, 2 artillery regiments, 2 cavalry regiments,
one tank regiment, and one heavy mechanized detachment (pioneers). The city housed the headquarters of 3
divisions and 3 brigades. The most important transportation link in Belgrade was the railway bridge over the
Danube, one of three in Yugoslavia. From there, roads led into the mountainous interior of old Serbia.

Opening of the bridge over the Sava in Belgrade in 1937, Bundesarchiv Bild 102-17214

3
The German Campaigns in the Balkans (Spring 1941). United States Army Centre of Military History. 1986 [1953]. CMH Pub 104-4;
4
Fatutta, F. and Covelli, L. 1941: Attack on Yugoslavia, in The International Magazine of Armies & Weapons, Year IV - Nos. 15 and
17, January and May 1975, Lugano, Switzerland;
5
Zgodovinski arhiv Beograd: Bombardovanje Beograda u drugom svetskom ratu. Beograd 1975, S. 1–5.
The targets of the bombing in Belgrade, March 1941, according to NARA RG 242 Captured German Target Dossiers Yugoslavia Y
ZR – 1 – Y ZR – 11

Targets of the bombing in Belgrade, March 1941, according to NARA RG 242 Captured German Target
Dossiers Yugoslavia Y ZR – 1 – Y ZR – 11 were as follows:

Y 10 83
6th air base and civilian (commercial) airport of the capital, size 1800 x 1100 m, 11 hangars, maintenance
workshop, fuel depot
Belgrade-Zemun Airport is the peacetime base of the 6th Fighter Aviation Regiment and the 51st and 81st
Independent Fighter Groups.
Y13 2
Air Force Headquarters
Multi-story building - quadrant E4
Y13 17
Prince Andrej Barracks - quadrant K/L/M - 11/12
Y13 18
Military Geographic Institute and Military Equipment Storage, Intendance Academy Donava (I./J.R. 18?) -
quadrant G/H/J - 2/3/4
Y13 21
Guard Infantry Barracks - quadrant M - 6
Y13 22
Royal Guard Barracks - F/J - 13/15
Y13 24
Ministry of War, General Staff, Danube Division Command, City Command, Military Academy - quadrant J/K -
6/7
Y13 57
Belgrade-Zemun Cavalry School - quadrant A - 1
Y13 58
Belgrade-Zemun Barracks - quadrant E - 4
Y13 145
Prince Peter and Prince Tomislav Barracks - quadrant J/K/L - 15/16
Y 13 146
Gendarmerie Command and one cavalry division - quadrant L - 7
Y 13 147
Belgrade Military District Command - quadrant M - 7
Y15 1
Air Traffic Control Transmitter at the Airport - only on the map
Y21 6
Belgrade-Čukarica Schell Fuel Depot on the Sava River - quadrant C/D - 11
Y23 14
Military Food Depot - quadrant H - 8/9
Y30 1
City Hall - quadrant K/L - 6
Y30 2
Ministries of Finance, Transportation, Internal Affairs, Agriculture, Forestry and Mining, Ministry Council, State
Council - quadrant J - 7
Y30 3
Ministry of Foreign Affairs - quadrant K - 7
Y30 - 4
Royal Palace in Dedinje - quadrant H - 15
Y30 5
Royal Palace in the city - quadrant - K - 6
Y30 6
Regent Prince's Palace - quadrant - H - 16
Y31 1
Town Hall - quadrant - J - 4
Y32 1
Police Headquarters - quadrant - J - 5
Y 40 15
Zemun Railway Station - quadrant - F - 6/7
Y40 33
Main Station (freight and passenger - the largest station in Belgrade)
Vulnerable parts: locomotive boiler room - quadrant F/G/H/J - 6/7/8/9
Y40 34
Belgrade-Topčider Railway Station - quadrant - E/F - 14/15
Y40 35
Belgrade-Koštunjak Railway Station and wagon depot - quadrant G - 17/18
Y40 36: Danube Station, the second most important railway station in Belgrade. This station had a special
significance due to the transhipment of goods onto ships on the Danube - quadrant - MN - 4.
Y41 3: Railway bridge over the Sava on the single-track Budapest - Novi Sad - Zemun - Belgrade line -
quadrant - F - 8/9.
Y41 4: Railway and road bridge over the Danube. One of the three railway or four road bridges over the
Danube in Yugoslavia. The next railway and road bridge over the Danube is in Novi Sad, around 70 km
northwest of Belgrade (narrow-gauge railway to Pančevo) - quadrant P - 2/4.
Y43 3: Road bridge across the Sava. Connects Belgrade and Zemun, or the old Serbia and Srem - quadrant
GH - 5.
Y45 19: Port facilities on the Danube and Sava. Belgrade has the largest inland port in Yugoslavia.
Y47 1: Main post office and telegraph, postal ministry - quadrant L - 6.
Y47 9: Radiotelegraph office - quadrant J - 4.
Y49 1: Beograd-Rakovica transmitter - quadrant G/H/J - 20/21.
Y49 4: Radio receiving station - quadrant S - 7.
Y49 5: Belgrade-Makiš radio transmitter - only on the plan.
Y50 1: Belgrade steam power plant. The only large facility for supplying Belgrade apart from Makiš (Y50-27),
with a capacity of 30,000 KW. No connections to other larger facilities of this kind - quadrant K/L - 2.
Y50 8: Belgrade-Zemun steam power plant, with a capacity of 3,400 KW. Presumably connected to Belgrade -
quadrant F - 4.
Y50 27: Belgrade-Makiš steam power plant, with a capacity of 5,300 KW (reserve power plant). Important for
supplying the southern parts of the city: Rakovica. Prominent cooling towers - only on the plan.
Y50 49: Belgrade tramway steam power plant and old power plant (direct current only). Vulnerable parts: boiler
room and engine room; the facility is recognizable by its chimneys - quadrant K - 4.
Y53 1: Main water supply system Belgrade - Bele Vode with pumps on the Sava. The only major municipal
water supply. In winter, it is supplied with clean spring water, and in summer, filtered water from the Sava is
added as needed. Electrically operated with backup steam drive. Water for purification and filtration is supplied
from the Sava through above-ground wooden pipes with a diameter of 80 cm; vulnerable parts are pumps at
the filters and the water elevator on the Sava - only on the plan.
Y53 5: Small water supply system Šest Topola, electrically operated, supplied with electricity from Makiš (Y50-
27) - quadrant E - 9.
Y53 6: Main water pipeline from the Bela Voda water supply system runs alongside the concrete bridge with 4
pipes with a diameter of 80 cm; this is a vulnerable spot of the water pipeline - quadrant D - 10.
Y53 7: Main water reservoir in the city center - quadrant N - 9.
Y56 3: Slaughterhouse - quadrant O/P - 4/5.
Y73 1: Aircraft engine factory Belgrade-Rakovica, the only operating factory of its kind in Yugoslavia, but its
production is insufficient to meet the needs of Yugoslav aviation - quadrant G - 20.
Y74 1: Ikarus Aircraft Factory Belgrade-Zemun; when operating at full capacity with 1800 workers, they
produce 7 Blenheim Mk IV aircraft per month. Due to shortages, currently only around 500 workers are
employed - quadrant F - 6.
Y74 2: Rogožarski Aircraft Factory; assembly works; monthly assembly of 1 Hawker Hurricane and Sim XIV
when employing 350 workers (a total of 600 workers employed) - only on the plan.
Y74 3: Zmaj Aircraft Factory Belgrade-Zemun, monthly production of 1 Hawker Hurricane, own production of
training aircraft, 600 workers - quadrant F - 4/5.

Active and passive air defense: Belgrade was the headquarters of the 6th Fighter Regiment and the 6th and
8th Anti-Aircraft Batteries. In addition, there were 30 heavy and 12 light anti-aircraft guns, 12 anti-aircraft
machine guns, and 17 searchlights in the city. The anti-aircraft artillery was deployed south of the city, in
Dedinje and Topčider, on the hill above the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers (Kalemegdan), and on
the eastern edge of the city.
Landmarks for bombers were the Danube with the confluence of the Sava and the island in front of it; the bend
of the Danube 14 km east of the city; the city was situated on hills in a vast plain and sharply contrasted with
its surroundings.6

6
Description of bombing targets in Belgrade, March 1941, NARA RG 242 Captured German Target Dossiers, Yugoslavia Y ZR – I to
Y ZR – II;
German bombing Belgrade 6. 4. 1941, National Archives AIR 34-490

On April 6, 1941, the first bombing of Belgrade was initiated by the 77th Bomber Group (Stuka) of dive
bombers (I. and III. Squadrons, St. G. 77). From 8:03 to 8:05, 62 Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers attacked targets
in the Topčider area (quadrant F) and dropped 60 250 kg demolition bombs (SC 250) and 248 50 kg demolition
bombs (SC 50).
Just a minute later, at 8:04, 62 Junkers Ju 88 bombers from the 51st Bomber Group (K.G. 51) attacked targets
in the city center (quadrant D). By 8:23, when the attack ended, they had dropped 18 1000 kg demolition
bombs (SC 1000), 6 500 kg demolition bombs (SC 500), 154 250 kg demolition bombs (SC 250), 2 125 kg
incendiary bombs (Flamm 250), and 122 container (cluster) bombs (AB 36) (containing 36 1 kg 1B bombs or
24 1 kg 1B bombs).
Shortly after 8:00, 24 Heinkel He 111 bombers from the 2nd Squadron of the 4th Bomber Group (II./K.G. 4)
bombed the targets in quadrant C. They dropped 24 987 kg air mines (with parachutes) (LMB 1000).
From 8:35 to 8:45, quadrant A was bombed by 92 Dornier Do 17 Z bombers from the 2nd Bomber Group,
along with the 3rd Squadron of the 3rd Bomber Group. They dropped 1294 50 kg demolition bombs (SC 50),
154 container (cluster) bombs (AB 36), and 2277 demolition bombs (SD 50) on the city.
From 12:20 to 12:36, 30 Ju 87 dive bombers from the 77th Bomber Group bombed the city for the second
time, targeting areas in quadrants A and C. They dropped 17 250 kg demolition bombs (SC 250) and 68 50 kg
demolition bombs (SC 50).
At 16:32 to 16:33, 54 Ju 87 dive bombers from the 77th Bomber Group conducted a third bombing of the city,
targeting areas in quadrants D and E. They dropped 7 500 kg demolition bombs (SC 500), 46 250 kg
demolition bombs (SC 250), and 175 50 kg demolition bombs (SC 50).
From 16:40 to 17:00, 45 Ju 88 bombers from the 51st Bomber Group continued the bombing of the city. They
targeted the western part of quadrant B, dropping 3 1000 kg demolition bombs (SC 1000), 5 500 kg demolition
bombs (SC 500), 79 250 kg demolition bombs (SC 250), 67 125 kg incendiary bombs (Flamm 250), and 96
container (cluster) bombs (AB 36). From 17:02 to 17:25, 94 Do 17 Z bombers from the 2nd Bomber Group
conducted a bombing. 63 bombers dropped 969 50 kg fragmentation bombs (SC 50) and 100 container
(cluster) bombs (AB 36) on quadrant A, while 31 bombers dropped 523 50 kg demolition bombs (SC 50) and
28 container (cluster) bombs (AB 36) on quadrant E.
The final attack of that fateful and tragic April 6, 1941, occurred during the night between 22:30 and 22:45
when 17 He 111 bombers from the 2nd Squadron of the 4th Bomber Group (II./K.G. 4) dropped 17,987 kg of
air mines (LMB 1000) on targets in quadrant A.
On April 7, 1941, from 14:30 to 17:35, the city was subjected to several disruptive attacks by 24 Ju 88
bombers from the 51st Bomber Group (K.G. 51). They dropped 2 1000 kg demolition bombs (SC 1000), 8 500
kg demolition bombs (SC 500), 22 250 kg demolition bombs (SC 250), 32 125 kg incendiary bombs (Flam
250), and 10 container (cluster) bombs (AB 36) on the city.
In the span of two days, April 6 and 7, 1941, Belgrade was bombed by a total of 107 Ju-88 bombers, 146 Ju-
87 dive bombers, 186 Do-17 bombers, and 31 He-111 bombers, totalling 470 bombers. On April 6, 1941, they
dropped a total of 6,518 bombs weighing 466,299 kg, targeting quadrants A, B, C, D, E, and F, covering the
entire city. On April 7, 1941, an additional 15,860 kg of bombs were dropped, bringing the total to 482,159 kg
of bombs over the two-day period.7

Bomber Junkers Ju 88A drop bombs (SC 250) year 1941 (asisbiz.com)

The most significant role in the bombing of Belgrade was played by the 51st Bomber Group (K.G. 51), initially
equipped with Dornier Do 17 bombers. By 1941, they had already transitioned to Junkers Ju 88 aircraft. In
March 1941, they were attached to the 4th Air Army, and on April 6th and 7th, 1941, they participated in the
attack on Belgrade from the Wiener-Neustadt airfield.8
The aircraft took off from the Wiener-Neustadt airfield, and their arrival over the target (Belgrade) was
scheduled between 8:20 and 8:35. The bombers were loaded with AB 36 cluster bombs and SC 250, SC 500,
and SC 1000 explosive bombs.9 The SC (Sprengbombe Cylindrisch) 250, 500, and 1000 bombs were high-
explosive aerial bombs weighing 250, 500, and 1000 kg, respectively.10

7
Report of the 4th Air Army on the Bombing of Belgrade. (22. 4. 1941), Bundesarchiv Freiburg, BArch RL 7-4-1;
8
Ulf Balke: Der Luftkrieg in Europa 1939–1941. Bechtermünz Verlag, Augsburg 1998, ISBN 3-86047-591-6, S. 414–415 (1057 S.);
9
Bundesarchiv Freiburg, BArch RL 10 – 655;
10
Pawlas, K. R.: Munitions-Lexikon. Band 3, Deutsche Bomben. Journal-Verlag Schwend GmbH, Schwäbisch Hall, 2. Auflage,
1992. ISBN 9783880882164, p. 26–37
The reconnaissance group consisted of 3 Ju 88 aircraft, which took off at 5:40. The first aircraft to return was
Ju 88 9K-BD at 8:55, followed by Ju 88 9K-CD at 9:04, and the last one was Ju 88 9K-DD at 10:05. They were
followed by the bombers of the 7th Squadron. The first bomber, Ju 88 9K-AR of the 7th Squadron, took off at
5:42, followed by the remaining Ju 88 bombers (9K-BR, 9K-CR, 9K-ER, 9K-FR, 9K-KR) at 2-minute intervals.
From 5:54 to 5:56, 4 bombers of the 8th Squadron took off, namely Ju 88 9K-AS, 9K-ES, 9K-HS, and 9K-MS.
The last ones to take off were the bombers of the 9th Squadron, Ju 88 9K-DS, 9K-AT, 9K-BT, 9K-CT, and 9K-
LT. The weather over the target was cloudless. At 8:23, 12 bombers arrived at an altitude of 3200 m and
dropped 35 250 kg explosive bombs, 8 500 kg bombs, 3 1000 kg bombs, 40 36 kg cluster bombs, and
incendiary bombs on the city. The anti-aircraft defence over the target was weak, with 2 bombers receiving 1
hit each. One Yugoslav fighter appeared but did not engage the bombers. Approximately 20 km northwest of
Belgrade, one Me-109 fighter crashed, but the bombers did not suffer any losses. After the attack, the
commander of the combat group assessed that a significant number of targets were hit in the western and
eastern parts of the designated attack areas. Three bombers had to return prematurely due to technical
issues, and two of them dropped four 250 kg bombs into Lake Neusiedl. By 10:10, all bombers had returned to
their home base in Vienna.

Bomber Doriner Do 17 (asisbiz.com)

At 17:00, the same 51st bomber group with 9 Ju-88 bombers (3 from the 7th squadron, 2 from the 8th
squadron, and 4 from the 9th squadron) conducted another bombing raid on Belgrade. They dropped 5,500
explosive bombs, 13 250kg bombs, 112 125kg incendiary bombs (Flamm), and 30 36kg cluster bombs over
the city. There was no significant anti-aircraft defence upon arrival at the target, only moderate defences. The
bombs ignited numerous fires throughout the city. By 18:45, all bombers had returned to their home base.
The same bomber group attacked Belgrade again on April 7th, 1941, from 15:55 to 17:35. Eight Ju-88
bombers flew over the target and dropped 1 1000kg explosive bomb, 5 500kg bombs, 13 250kg bombs, and 4
250kg incendiary bombs. The city was already engulfed in large fires from the previous day's bombing, which
were further intensified by the new attack. The anti-aircraft defence during the afternoon was partly weak and
partly strong. The bombers were attacked by one Yugoslav fighter. Seven aircraft were spotted at the Zemun
airfield. Clouds covered the sky at an altitude of 5000m, but they had dissipated at 3000m. One bomber was
damaged by a Yugoslav fighter and had to make an emergency landing in Arad, Romania.
This information is based on the report provided by Sergeant Karl Pfaff regarding the bombing of Belgrade and
the emergency landing in Arad on April 7, 1941. At 17:15, they dropped their bombs from an altitude of 2500m
and turned back towards Austria when they were suddenly attacked by a Yugoslav Me-109 fighter emerging
from the clouds. The aircraft (Ju-88) was hit by 4 shells, one of which destroyed the left engine. As a result, the
plane began losing altitude, and they headed towards the nearest airfield. They flew over Timi șoara at 1600m
and then descended to the Arad airfield. During the emergency landing, Lieutenant Voigtländer was killed, and
the other crew members sustained minor and major injuries.11

Yugoslav fighter Hawker Hurricanes I year 1941 (asisbiz.com)

In addition to the 51st bomber group, several other bomber groups participated in the bombing of Belgrade:
the 77th Sturzkampfgeschwader (StG 77) dive bomber group, the 2nd bomber group (K.G. 2), the 3rd bomber
group (K.G. 3), and the 4th bomber group (K.G. 4). All these bomber groups, along with fighter groups,
operated within the framework of the 4th Air Fleet.
The 77th Sturzkampfgeschwader (StG 77) was one of the most successful bomber groups in the Luftwaffe
during World War II. They exclusively used Junkers Ju-87 dive bombers (also known as "Stuka") for combat
missions, while Dornier Do-17 and Messerschmitt Bf-110 aircraft were utilized as reconnaissance planes. 12 In
March 1941, StG 77 was assigned to the 4th German Air Army and participated in preparations for the attack
on Yugoslavia. For this purpose, the group's headquarters, as well as the 1st and 3rd squadrons, were
relocated to the airfield in Arad, north western Romania. The 2nd squadron was sent to the Thalerhof airfield in
Graz. The 1st and 3rd squadrons took part in the bombing of Belgrade on April 6th and 7th, 1941.13
The 2nd bomber group (K.G. 2) was a Luftwaffe unit equipped with bombers, initially Dornier Do-17, later
Dornier Do-217 and Junkers Ju-188, and finally Messerschmitt Me-410. It participated in the invasion of
Poland, the war against France, the Battle of Britain, the attack on Yugoslavia and Greece, and the war
against the Soviet Union.14
By the end of March 1941, the group's headquarters, as well as the 1st and 3rd squadrons, were transferred to
the 4th Air Fleet, where they participated in the Balkan campaign as part of the VIII Air Corps. They were
stationed at the Zwölfaxing airfield near Vienna, from where they took part in the air raid on Belgrade on April
6th, 1941.15

11
Bundesarchiv Freiburg, BArch RL 10 – 655;
12
Hooton, Edward (2010). The Luftwaffe: A Study in Air Power, 1933–1945. Classic Publications. ISBN 978-1-906537-18-0;
13
Shores, Christopher F.; Cull, Brian; Malizia, Nicola (1987). Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece, and Crete, 1940–41. London: Grub
Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-07-6;
14
Wolfgang Dierich: Die Verbände der Luftwaffe 1935–1945. Gliederungen und Kurzchroniken ein Dokument. Hrsg.: Wolfgang
Dierich. Verlag Heinz Nickel, Zweibrücken 1993, ISBN 3-925480-15-3 (703 S.);
15
H. L. de Zeng, D. G. Stankey, E. J. Creek: Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933–1945. A Reference Source, Volume 1. Ian Allan
Publishing, 2007, ISBN 978-1-85780-279-5 (englisch);
Dive bombers Ju 87, StG 77, year 1941, Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1987-1210-502

3rd bomber group (K.G. 3) was a Luftwaffe unit equipped with bombers, initially Dornier Do-17, then Junkers
Ju-88, and finally Heinkel He-111. It participated in the invasion of Poland, the war against France, the Battle of
Britain, the Balkan campaign, and the German-Soviet war. In March 1941, its 3rd squadron was subordinated
to the 4th Air Fleet. On April 6th, 1941, it took part in the bombing of the Yugoslav capital.16

Bomber Heinkel He 111, Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-385-0593-05

4th bomber group (K.G. 4) was a Luftwaffe unit equipped with bombers, initially Heinkel He-111, then Junkers
Ju-88, and finally Heinkel He-177. It participated in the invasion of Poland, Norway, France, the Battle of
Britain, the Balkan campaign, and the German-Soviet war. In March 1941, its 2nd squadron was subordinated
to the 4th Air Fleet and relocated to the Aspern airfield near Vienna. On April 6th, 1941, it participated in the
bombing of Belgrade.17
16
Wolfgang Dierich: Die Verbände der Luftwaffe 1935–1945. Gliederungen und Kurzchroniken ein Dokument. Hrsg.: Wolfgang
Dierich. Verlag Heinz Nickel, Zweibrücken 1993, ISBN 3-925480-15-3 (703 S.);
17
Wolfgang Dierich: Die Verbände der Luftwaffe 1935–1945. Gliederungen und Kurzchroniken ein Dokument. Hrsg.: Wolfgang
Dierich. Verlag Heinz Nickel, Zweibrücken 1993, ISBN 3-925480-15-3 (704 S.);
Bomber Junkers Ju 88 A-1, K.G. 51, year 1941, Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-402-0265-03A

The 4th Air Fleet (Lfl. 4) was an air fleet of the Luftwaffe, established on March 18th, 1939, from the command
of the Austrian Air Force in Vienna. It did not participate in military operations in northern and western
Europe.18 Only in March 1941, when the Germans decided to attack Yugoslavia and Greece, larger units were
assigned to it. These included squadrons from various bomber and dive bomber groups, as well as fighter
groups, stationed at airfields in Austria and Romania.19

Yugoslav fighter Hawker Hurricanes I, year 1941 (asisbiz.com)

The first report on the damage caused by the bombers on April 6th and 7th in Belgrade was prepared by the
Command of the 4th Air Fleet in Vienna on April 10th, 1941, based on reconnaissance aircraft footage:

Target 302 - Ministry: A direct hit caused a strong fire. The upper floors are reported to be completely
destroyed. Due to the failure of the transmitter amplifier, the Belgrade radio is said to have ceased
broadcasting for a few days.
Target 1318 - Military-Geographical Institute: Several buildings were destroyed, but no fire broke out.
18
Ulf Balke: Der Luftkrieg in Europa 1939–1941. Bechtermünz Verlag, Augsburg 1998, ISBN 3-86047-591-6, S. 393–396;
19
Ulf Balke: Der Luftkrieg in Europa 1939–1941. Bechtermünz Verlag, Augsburg 1998, ISBN 3-86047-591-6, S. 414–415;
Target 1324 - Ministry of War: A direct hit caused a fire to break out in the building.
Target 4033 - Main Railway Station and Freight Station: The passenger station was hit and subsequently
caught fire. Several bombs fell on the freight and marshalling yards in the southern part, but with no visible
effect. One residential house was hit at the southern exit of the northeast railway triangle, and it subsequently
burned. The railway tracks were not destroyed or damaged.
Target 5049 - Old steam power plant of the Belgrade tramway: It received a bomb hit without visible
consequences.20

Bombing Belgrad 6. April 1941 (Asisbiz.com)

After the capture of Belgrade, the command of the 4th Air Army in Vienna prepared a report on the amount of
bombs dropped on Belgrade on April 15, 1941. Based on aerial and ground photographs, they assessed the
inflicted damage.

The following bombs were dropped on the city:

- 24 1,000 kg demolition bombs (SC 1000) - 24,000 kg - 2
- 17 1,000 kg air mines (LMB) - 17,000 kg - 2
- 31 500 kg demolition bombs (SC 500) - 15,500 kg - 3
- 404 250 kg demolition bombs (SC 250) - 101,000 kg - 40
- 101 250 kg incendiary bombs (Flamm 250) - 25,500 kg - 10
20
Report of the 4th Air Army on the Bombing of Belgrade, accompanied by visual material (April 22, 1941), Bundesarchiv Freiburg,
BArch RL 7- 4-1;
- 551 50 kg demolition bombs (SC 50) - 27,550 kg - 55
- 228 36 kg container bombs (AB 36) - 23

Total: 218,508 kg of bombs.21

Bombing Belgrad 6. 4. 1941, Bundesarchiv Bild 183-B09338

The all-day bombing of Belgrade on April 6, 1941 caused immense material damage, not to mention the
human casualties. Although the Yugoslav authorities had declared the city an open city, previous German
military operations had clearly shown that the Germans would not spare the city. The bombing system
employed, targeting non-military aspects of the city, demonstrated that the sole purpose was to inflict as much
damage as possible and intimidate the population. The system developed by the Germans during their
bombing of English cities, later adopted by the British and Americans in their bombing of Germany, was
actually quite straightforward.
In the first wave, heavy bombers dropped large demolition bombs (and mines) to destroy the roofs of buildings
and create openings for incendiary bombs, which were dropped by bombers in the second wave. In the third
wave, bombers returned and showered the burning city with heavy demolition bombs, causing them to fall into
the centre of fires and spread and intensify them. Due to the city's lack of preparedness for such bomb attacks,
combined with this systematic approach, the damage caused by the bombing was enormous.

Ironically, the Germans, who would occupy the city just over a week later, conducted the assessment and
clean up of the damage they had caused. The results of the analysis of the bombing's consequences were
then utilized in preparing German cities for Anglo-American bombing raids.

21
Bundesarchiv Freiburg, BArch RL 3 – 2399;
The main railway station and the railway post office were destroyed, 29. April 1941, Bundesarchiv Freiburg RL 7-4

Air and ground photographs of the damage caused by German bombing in Belgrade:

In the new power plant (Photo No. 81) hit by incendiary bombs, the upper floor with switchgear devices was
burned. The Germans quickly repaired the power plant with minor repairs.
The tram depot (Photo No. 93, Aerial Photos No. 39, 40, 41) completely burned down, along with all the trams
and buses present there.
The Parliament building suffered only minor damage to the attic due to the bombs (Photo No. 43).
At the City Castle, the demolition bombs completely destroyed one wing of the castle (Photo No. 44, 45, 52;
Aerial Photos No. 7, 9, 10).
The main railway station with warehouses and the railway post office was demolished and burned (Photo No.
47, 48, 54; Aerial Photos No. 25, 26, 27, 28, 29).
In the government district (Photo No. 55), the War and Naval Ministries (Photo No. 55; Aerial Photos No. 14,
16), the Ministry of Finance (Photo No. 57; Aerial Photos No. 17), and the Military Academy (Photo No. 58;
Aerial Photos No. 18, 19) were destroyed and burned.
At the Summer Palace (Photo No. 60, 61), bombs that fell nearby only shattered windows.
The road bridge over the Sava River was demolished (Photo No. 62, 63; Aerial Photos No. 49, 50, 51).22

22
Report of the 4th Air Army on the Bombing of Belgrade, accompanied by visual material (April 22, 1941), Bundesarchiv Freiburg,
BArch RL 7- 4-1;
Aerial photograph of Belgrade, 29. April 1941, Bundesarchiv Freiburg RL 7-4

Aerial photograph of Belgrade, 29. April 1941, Bundesarchiv Freiburg RL 7-4

On the order of Reich Marshal Hermann Göring, a report on the bombing of Belgrade and an analysis of the
inflicted damage were prepared on April 24, 1941. This information served the Germans in preparing their own
cities for Allied bombings.
Target 1317: Prince Andrew's military barracks were hit by several demolition bombs, but the damage was not
significant.
Target 1318: The Military-Geographical Institute was heavily damaged by demolition bombs and fire.
Target 1321: The main building of the Guard's barracks was lightly damaged by a 50 kg bomb, while several
side buildings in the courtyard were completely burned down.
Target 1324: The Ministry of War was almost completely burned down. Several hits from demolition bombs
caused significant damage. Only the representative building opposite the Ministry of Trade remained intact.
Target 13146: The Gendarmerie Command and one cavalry division were partially damaged by demolition
bombs.
Target 301: The People's Assembly was not hit. Craters from demolition bombs can be found on the road in
front of and behind the Assembly building.
Target 302: Ministries were not hit, and there were no consequences from fires.
Target 303: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was not hit.

In the government district, the Ministry of War and the Ministry of the Navy were destroyed., 29. April 1941, Bundesarchiv Freiburg
RL 7-4

Target 305: The Royal Palace in the city centre was damaged by demolition bombs, and a part of the building
collapsed.
Target 311: The City Hall was not hit.
Target 321: The Police Headquarters was not hit. The nearby demolition bomb explosions caused glass
breakage on the building.
Target 4033: The Main Train Station was completely burned down, along with the nearby warehouses and train
carriages on the tracks. The postal building at the station also burned down.
Target 471: The Main Post Office, Telegraph, and Telephone Exchange were not hit.
Target 501: The Belgrade Steam Power Plant was heavily damaged by the fires caused by incendiary bombs
and was not operational.

The reason for the collapse of several multi-story buildings during the bombing was that the Germans set the
fuzzes on the bombs with a time delay, causing the bombs to explode only after penetrating multiple floors.
The delayed-action fuzzes were also evident on the roads, where there were mostly no bomb craters but
instead, the bombs exploded deep underground, lifting entire sections of the road surface. The explosions of
the aerial mines (LMB) caused the destruction or severe damage of buildings within a radius of 20 to 25
meters, which later had to be demolished.
The road bridge over the Sava River was blown up., 29. April 1941, Bundesarchiv Freiburg RL 7-4

Incendiary bombs caused significant damage in the northern part of the city along the Danube, where entire
city quarters and industrial plants were set on fire. In the power plant, the wooden roof of the turbine hall
caught fire. The burning parts of the roof, falling onto the turbines, severely damaged and partially destroyed
sensitive measuring and control devices. The control room of the power plant and the coal storage completely
burned down. German military experts assessed that the damage to the power plant was so extensive that it
could not be repaired in the foreseeable future. To ensure uninterrupted water supply, they attempted to put at
least one turbine back into operation. The extent to which the incendiary bombs (Flamm 250) contributed to
the intensity of the fire could not be determined. The Germans estimated that the main targets of the attack,
the city centre and the north western part of the city, were destroyed by 40 to 50%. However, when assessing
the damage to the entire city, they concluded that 20 to 25% of the buildings were destroyed. The Germans
considered any building that could no longer serve its original purpose after the bombing as destroyed.

The power plant was hit by incendiary bombs, 29. 4. 1941, Bundesarchiv Freiburg RL 7 – 4
The German bombing of Belgrade in April 1941 caused significant damage to the city's communal
infrastructure, including the water supply, sewerage system, and electrical network. The damage was
particularly severe because the sewerage pipes were not reinforced with concrete. Additionally, the rubble from
the destroyed residential buildings obstructed the roads, requiring clearance before repairs could be made to
the underground pipes. During the removal of debris from the streets to access the damaged sewerage and
water pipes, numerous bodies were discovered.

Repair of water pipes damaged during the April bombardment, Bundesarchiv Freiburg RL 16 - 13

By the end of May 1941, the Germans managed to repair 70% of the damaged sewerage and water pipes,
restoring functioning sewage and water supply to that portion of the city. The bombing also disrupted the city's
electricity supply. The only power plant in the city was located near the city harbor and was primarily hit by
incendiary bombs, although some demolition bombs were also dropped on it. The incendiary bombs ignited a
fire on the wooden roof of the power plant and in the coal storage area, which contained around 10,000 tons of
lignite.

Destroyed Military Academy, 29. April 1941, Bundesarchiv Freiburg RL 7-4

The burning debris from the roof caused damage to the turbines, control room, switchgear, and electrical
cables of the main elevator. As the power plant did not have a firefighting unit, the fire rapidly spread, causing
significant damage. Furthermore, the rain that fell in the following days soaked the turbine generators,
necessitating their drying before they could be restarted. This was only possible after the construction of a
makeshift roof over the machinery room.
The tram depot was completely destroyed by fire, 29. April 1941, Bundesarchiv Freiburg RL 7-4

The most challenging task was extinguishing the fire in the coal storage area, which was only accomplished
when a water excavator was brought to the power plant, finally extinguishing the flames with water jets.
Approximately 8,000 tons of lignite were saved. Out of 183 transformers and distribution substations, most
were located underground. Seven transformer substations were directly hit and completely destroyed, while
high and low voltage cables were severed at over 1,000 points.

Repair of the tram track in April 1941, Bundesarchiv Freiburg RL 16 - 13

The power supply cables crossing the Sava and Danube rivers were also severed when the bridges were
blown up. Two destroyed transformers were repaired, and the remaining five were bypassed. The technical
battalion of the German army managed to extinguish the fire in the storage area and power plant machinery
room and temporarily restore one turbine, providing electricity to a portion of Belgrade by the end of May.
One wing of the city castle was completely demolished, 29. April 1941, Bundesarchiv Freiburg RL 7-4

The city tramway system was heavily affected by the bombing. A total of 38 motor vehicles were completely
destroyed, 26 were severely damaged, 24 suffered minor damage, and only 15 vehicles remained
undamaged. Additionally, 36 tram carriages were completely destroyed, 18 were moderately damaged, and 6
remained undamaged. The tramway network's electrical infrastructure was more or less heavily damaged at
25 locations, while the tracks were damaged at 16 locations. The lighting system of the tramway network was
also damaged in several places. By the end of May 1941, tramway operations were partially restored, but on a
very limited scale due to the near-complete destruction of the fleet.

Road repairs in April 1941, Bundesarchiv Freiburg RL 16 - 13

From the experiences in devastated Belgrade, the Germans realized that the disruption (destruction) of the
sewage and water supply posed a much greater challenge for the city than the interruption of electricity and
gas supply, especially during hot summer days when life in the densely populated city centre became almost
unbearable.23

23
Poročilo o škodi in njeni odpravi po bombardiranju, 28. 5. 1941, Bundesarchiv Freibrug BArch RL 16 – 13-32;
The coal storage of the power plant was burning for several days, April 1941, Bundesarchiv Freiburg RL 16 - 13

On April 11, 1941, the 51st Bomber Group was assigned the task of attacking Belgrade and airports near
Banja Luka, Ključ, Bosanska Gradiška, Prijedor, and Brod. If the attack on Belgrade was not possible, the
secondary target was Novi Sad. Six aircraft from the 7th Squadron, four aircraft from the 8th Squadron, and
four aircraft from the 9th Squadron were involved in the attack. Four bombers were redirected to the
secondary target, Novi Sad, while the remaining aircraft dropped bombs on the northern and eastern parts of
the city. The extent of the damage caused by these bombings is unknown.

Aerial footage of the road bridge over the Sava River (z. sl. 84 - F Y 43-41 H.K.), 29. 4. 1941, Bundesarchiv Freiburg RL 7 – 4

Three bombers attacked the hangars at the airport in Novi Sad. The northern hangar was hit and caught fire.
One bomb hit a residential building. One bomber dropped bombs on a barracks settlement north of the Sava
River (?). The effects of these hits could not be observed due to thick clouds.
The bombing of the airport in Belgrade-Zemun, April 1941, magazine Signal 1941

In Banja Luka, bombers attacked a military convoy on the road from Banja Luka to Bosanski Gradiska. Bombs
dropped from heights of 20 to 1000 meters fell 10 to 15 meters from the road. They then attacked the convoy
five more times at low altitude and strafed it. One bomber dropped bombs on the town of Bosanska Gradiška.
The effects of the hits could not be observed as the aircraft immediately ascended into the clouds.

Yugoslav fighter Hawker Hurricanes I, 1941 (asisbiz.com)

There was no anti-aircraft artillery at the target. Two unidentified Yugoslav fighters pursued the bombers over
Novi Sad but did not attack them. People on the ground shot at the bombers as they flew away from Belgrade
towards the north.
Belgrade was bombed by 4 bombers, Novi Sad by 4, Banja Luka by 3, Bosanska Gradiška by 1, and the
western part of Brod by 1 bomber. They dropped 1,000 kg bomb, 4 500 kg bombs, 37 250 kg bombs, and 20
50 kg bombs, totalling 13,250 kg of bombs.24

24
Bundesarchiv Freiburg, BArch RL 10 – 655;
Shot Down German Aircraft over Yugoslavia, April 1941, National Archives AIR 34-491

Unexploded German Bombs

10% of all dropped bombs did not explode:

2 1000 kg demolition bombs (SC 1000) - 2,000 kg

2 1000 kg aerial mines (LMB) - 2,000 kg
3 500 kg demolition bombs (SC 500) - 1,500 kg
40 250 kg demolition bombs (SC 250) - 10,000 kg
10 250 kg incendiary bombs (Flamm 250) - 2,500 kg
55 50 kg demolition bombs (SC 50) - 2,750 kg
23 36 kg container bombs (AB 36) - 828 kg
Total of 135 unexploded bombs or 21.5 tons of bombs.

German Bombs SC 50, SC 250, PC 500, SC 500, SC 1000, SC 1800

During the war in Yugoslavia from March 28 to April 15, 1941, the 51st Bomber Group, Department I.a, carried
out 14 combat missions involving 148 Ju-88 aircraft. They flew a total of 482 hours and covered a distance of
144,600 km. They dropped a total of 154,200 kg of bombs on various targets, including 25 incendiary bombs
weighing 250 kg, 10 incendiary bombs ranging from 116 to 400 kg, 9 1000 kg high-explosive bombs, 51 500
kg bombs, 394 250 kg bombs, and 240 50 kg bombs. They lost 2 aircraft, with 7 others being damaged, and 4
airmen were killed. They also shot down one Yugoslav Hurricane fighter plane.25

Loading a 500 kg demolition bomb (SC500) (Asisbiz.com)

Germany lost just over 60 aircraft during the April War in Yugoslavia, with more than 70 members of the
aircrews killed or missing. Italy lost 10 aircraft, while Hungary lost one aircraft.

Demolition 250 kg bombs (SC250) under the Ju 88 bomber (asisbiz.com)

The Kingdom of Yugoslavia lost 49 aircraft, resulting in the death of 103 pilots and crew members. The
Independent State of Croatia, established in July 1941, formed an air force using captured Yugoslav aircraft,
totalling more than 200 planes.26

25
Bundesarchiv Freiburg, BArch RL 10 – 655;
26
Shores, C., Cull, B. and Malizia, N., Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece & Crete - 1940-41, Grub Street, London, 1987. ISBN 0-
948817-07-0;
 Allied Bombings of Belgrade in 1944
In the middle of 1942, a fleet of United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) aircraft arrived in Great Britain. The
US government was determined to have their air forces, along with the British, indiscriminately bomb German
cities. They believed that their B-17 bombers could carry out "precision bombing" of vital targets in Germany,
such as factories, naval bases, shipyards, railway stations, railway junctions, power plants, steelworks, and
airports.27
In January 1943, the Allies, at the Casablanca Conference, agreed that joint RAF and USAAF bomber groups
would, under Operation Point-blank, launch coordinated attacks to destroy German military and industrial
systems and undermine the morale of the German population through precise bombing. 28 In reality, "precision
bombing" meant that bombs would fall somewhere near the target. The target area was represented by a
circle with a radius of 300 meters around the selected target. Although the accuracy of bombing improved
during the war, studies showed that only about 20% of all bombs fell within the target area. 29 In the fall of 1944,
only 7% of all bombs dropped by the bombers of the 8th US Air Force hit the target area. Nevertheless, the
explosions of tons of bombs dropped over German cities day and night ultimately caused enough damage to
force the German command to relocate a significant number of fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft guns from the
Eastern and Western fronts to Germany, which was an important result of the Allied strategic bombing. In
February 1944, as a continuation of the combined bombing offensive, they carried out the operation called "Big
Week," which heavily impacted the aircraft industry and fighter units of the Luftwaffe, compelling the Germans
to disperse their military industry.30

Strategic Objectives of the Mediterranean Air Forces 1943-1945, NARA RG 243 European War G 2 Target Damage File Box 19

27
Noble, Frankland, The Bombing Offensive Against Germany: Outlines and Perspectives, London: Faber 1965, s.114;
28
Harris, Arthur Travers, ed Cox, Sebastian (1995). Despatch on War Operations: 23 February 1942, to 8th May, 1945 ,
Routledge, ISBN 0-7146-4692-X, s.196;
29
United States Strategic Bombing Survey. The Effects of Strategic Bombing on German Transportation. 1947, str. 57;
?
Horst Boog; Derry Cook-Radmore, trans., "Part I: The Strategic Air War in Europe and Air Defence of the Reich, 1943–44",
in Germany and the Second World War, Volume VII: The Strategic Air War in Europe and the War in the West and East Asia, 1943–
44/5 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006 [Stuttgart: Deutsche Veralgs-Anstalt GmbH, 2005]), s. 153–158;
30
Horst Boog; Derry Cook-Radmore, trans., "Part I: The Strategic Air War in Europe and Air Defence of the Reich, 1943–44",
in Germany and the Second World War, Volume VII: The Strategic Air War in Europe and the War in the West and East Asia, 1943–
44/5 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006 [Stuttgart: Deutsche Veralgs-Anstalt GmbH, 2005]), s. 153–158;
Despite the doubts about the effectiveness of the bombing campaign, it is a fact that German industrial
production actually increased during the war. 31 This raises questions about the extent to which Allied strategic
bombing succeeded in reducing German military production. However, it is difficult to determine how much the
production would have increased without strategic bombing.32
On the other hand, part of the strategic bombing campaign was extremely successful. Attacks on
transportation infrastructure such as canals and railways not only made transportation more difficult but at
times even paralysed the movement of materials and troops. Additionally, the bombing of oil fields and
refineries was highly successful and played a significant role in Germany's ultimate collapse in 1945.33
In April and May 1944, as part of Operation Pointblank, the US 15th Air Force conducted bombings in the
Balkans.34 In April, the British No. 205 Group began its most important task of the war, the aerial mining of the
Danube River. The Danube, one of the world's largest rivers, served as a crucial commercial link for Germany
with Southeast Europe, through which approximately 8,000,000 tons of goods were transported to Germany
between 1942 and 1944. RAF bombers started laying mines in the Danube on the night of April 8, 1944, in the
section that flows through Yugoslavia. The mine-laying operations continued until September 10, 1944. During
this time, Wellington and Liberator bombers conducted 372 sorties, dropping a total of 1,315 mines (693.2
tons) in the Hungarian, Yugoslavian, and Romanian waters of the Danube. As a result, river traffic practically
came to a halt as river captains were unwilling to navigate the river until they were certain it was safe. The
Germans had to quickly establish mine-clearing units on the Danube.

German footage of the Pančevo Bridge, March 5, 1943, Bundesarchiv Freibrug RH 66 – 2078

31
Williamson Murray, Allan Reed Millett, "A War to Be Won: fighting the Second World War", s. 319;
32
Demystifying the German »Armament miracle” during World War II., Lutz Budraß, University of Bochum, Jonas Scherner
University of Mannheim, Jochen Streb University of Hohenheim, Yale University Centre Discussion Paper no. 905, January 2005, s.
27;
33
"United States Strategic Bombing Survey, established by the Secretary of War on 3 November 1944, pursuant to a directive from
the late President Roosevelt, 30 September 1945". Anesi.com. Retrieved 1 November 2015, s. 254;
34
Davis, Richard G. Bombing the European Axis Powers: A Digest of the Combined Bomber Offensive 1939 – 1945. Historical Air
University Press Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 2006, s. 332, 346;
Despite relocating some units from northern German waters, the Germans were unable to clear the rivers of
mines to a sufficient extent to ensure safe navigation. As a result, they permanently lost the ability to transport
cargo along the Danube. The British intelligence service, likely with the help of Ultra, determined that between
April and July 1944, the tonnage transported on the Danube decreased by 338 percent, and approximately
100 river steamers were sunk by mines during that time. Through the decryption of documents (Enigma), the
Allies discovered that prior to the start of mine-laying operations in the Danube in April 1944, the majority of
cargo on the river consisted of petroleum products (with a small amount of grain and food) from Romania. By
June 1944, the transportation of Romanian petroleum products on the Danube had decreased by 75 percent.
The Germans were thus forced to redirect the oil traffic from the river to railways, further straining an already
overloaded German rail system, particularly in the Balkans.35
Despite relocating some units from northern German waters, they were unable to clear the rivers of mines
sufficiently to ensure safe navigation. As a result, the Germans permanently lost the ability to transport cargo
along the Danube.
The British intelligence service, likely with the help of Ultra, focused on bombing railway connections in the
Balkans, with Belgrade being one of the main railway junctions. In the fall of 1943 and winter of 1944, they
began systematically gathering information on potential targets in Belgrade. On September 28, 1943, based
on reconnaissance photographs from the North African Squadron's photographic unit, they compiled a list of
potential targets in Belgrade, Zemun, and Pančevo:

Scout photograph of the Zemun Airport and Rogozarsky Factory, September 19, 1943, National Archives AIR 34-491

35
Davis, Richard G. Bombing the European Axis Powers: A Digest of the Combined Bomber Offensive 1939 – 1945. Historical Air
University Press Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 2006, s. 338 – 339;
1. Belgrade-Pančevo railway bridge over the Danube on the Belgrade-Budapest line, serving as an alternative
railway connection to Hungary and Romania.
2. Belgrade-Zemun railway bridge over the Sava on the Belgrade-Zagreb line, a crucial crossing for north-
south traffic.
3. The main railway station, measuring 3500x1500m, featuring a round turntable for locomotive turning and
workshops for minor repairs.
4. Belgrade-Zemun Road bridge over the Sava, approximately 2 km long and around 60 m above the water,
believed to be the only road bridge.
5. Belgrade port on the Sava, including warehouses, docks, cranes, and a connecting rail line to the northern
bank's Sava railway station.

Potential bombing targets in Belgrade, September 19, 1943, National Archives AIR 34-490

6. Ikarus aircraft parts factory in Zemun, suspected of producing parts for Me-109 aircraft. Camouflaged to
resemble a small park, it was located north of Zemun airport, with a small runway nearby. No data was
available on the factory's capacity.
7. Rogozarsky aircraft parts factory in Zemun, believed to manufacture parts for Me-109 and featuring a
hangar for assembling aircraft with space for 60 to 70 fighters. The factory was situated west of Zemun airport,
immediately behind the hangars. Cliffs up to 100 m high were located northwest of the factory. No data was
available on the factory's capacity.
8. Zmaj aircraft parts factory in Zemun, assumed to produce parts for Me-109, situated approximately 500 m
north of the Ikarus factory. No data was available on the factory's capacity.
9. City power plant in the northern part of Belgrade, along the Danube. A steam power plant with a capacity of
22,000 horsepower, it was the main supplier of electricity to Belgrade.
10. Zemun power plant in the northeast part of Zemun, near the Danube, supplying electricity to local aircraft
parts factories and Zemun airport.
11. Zemun airport, located 4.5 km west of Belgrade and 3 km south of Zemun. It had four runways: northeast-
southwest (7,500 m), south-north (7,100 m), northwest-southeast (5,300 m), and east-west (3,200 m), situated
at an elevation of 214 m. The airport featured one triple, six double, and six single hangars, an administration
building, and workshops located on the western and northwestern edges. It was the largest military airport in
the Balkans and was likely home to a flight school.
12. Pančevo airport, approximately 5 km northeast of Pančevo, measuring 5,500 x 4,000 m at an elevation of
250 m. The airport had four hangars, barracks, a flight school, and an administration building located on the
southwest edge.36

Scouting photo of the Ikarus aircraft parts factory in Zemun, September 19, 1943., National Archives AIR 34-491

In early November, on November 9, 1943, a report was prepared on the railway capacities of Belgrade.
Belgrade was located on the main railway line Zagreb-Niš. From Belgrade, the railway line continued through
Sarajevo to Dubrovnik. The railway line from Zagreb to Belgrade passed through Zemun and the railway
bridge with five arches leading to the main station in Belgrade. At the main railway station in Belgrade, there
were 1,250 wagons and 60 locomotives, at the Topčider station there were 130 wagons, at the northwest
station 100 wagons and 10 locomotives, at the Danube station 120 wagons, and at the Zemun station 500
wagons. There were 4 covered railway platforms at the main station. West of the station, there were 3 or 4
sheds used as warehouses, with 14 service tracks leading to them. The railway station was about 1,200
meters long and about 500 meters wide, with 23 tracks. Further west, there was a narrow-gauge line that
connected to the line towards Sarajevo. Further south, near the docks, was the Beograd Sava freight station,
which had 8 narrow gauge tracks and a shed with a loading ramp. This station had a small engine shed and a
turntable for locomotive rotation. 250 meters from the main station, there were 16 sidings and a maintenance
shed. One kilometre northwest of the main station, there was a semi-circular building - a locomotive
maintenance facility built around a turntable, with 16 tracks leading to it. The Topčider station was located
about 1.5 kilometres southeast of the main station on the Belgrade-Niš line and had two railway platforms.37

36
Report from the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit of the North African Squadron on targets in Belgrade, Zemun, and Pančevo
on September 28, 1943, National Archives, AIR 34/490;
37
Report on the Railway Capacities of Belgrade, November 9, 1943, National Archives, AIR 34/490;
Reconnaissance photograph of Belgrade, the railway station, and the railway bridge, October 26, 1943, National Archives AIR 34-
490

On November 16, 1943, based on reconnaissance flights (October 26, 1943) and on-site information, the
British prepared a report on potential targets in Belgrade. They focused on anti-aircraft defences, airports,
aircraft factories, and communications. It was found that the Germans had 19 heavy and 24 light anti-aircraft
guns (flak) in the city. At the Zemun airport, there was 1 small aircraft, 1 Ju-88 bomber, 4 Do-217 bombers, 8
Italian bombers, 18 transport planes, and 6 other aircraft, totalling 39 aircraft. At the Pančevo airport (partially
visible due to clouds), there were 3 SEF aircraft, 55 Ju-87s, and one glider. The aircraft industry was
consolidated under WERKE VII, which was part of the aircraft factory in Wiener-Neustadt and comprised the
former Yugoslav factories Ikarus (the most important), Rogožarsky, and Zmaj. The factories did not assemble
aircraft but manufactured parts for the Me-109 fighter. The Zemun airport served as a transit airport where
maintenance and aircraft repairs were carried out.
Ikarus was the most important factory for manufacturing aircraft parts, while Rogožarsky factory produced
parts for aircraft wings and cabins for Me-109 Gs fighters. The Zmaj factory (insignificant) was said to collect
and send rescue packages for aircraft to Germany.
All railway connections to the south of the Balkans originated from Belgrade. The railway lines from Vienna to
Zagreb to Belgrade and from Vienna to Budapest to Belgrade intersected here and continued towards
Romania, Niš, and Skopje.38
At the beginning of 1944 (January 31, 1944), information about targets, specifically bridges in Belgrade, was
prepared for bomber planners. One of the main targets was the single-track railway and road bridge over the
Danube in Belgrade called the Pančevo Bridge. The bridge was located about 3 km east of the confluence of
the Danube and Sava Rivers. The confluence was a recognizable landmark situated in the eastern part of
Belgrade. The railway connection from Belgrade to Bucharest in Romania passed through Pančevo and
Timișoara. The route that could also use the railway bridge in Novi Sad to cross the Danube was important for
traffic as an alternative route to Budapest and beyond. The bridge played a significant role in the railway traffic
between Southeast Yugoslavia, Albania, Greece, the western part of Bulgaria, and the areas north of the

38
The aircraft factories In Belgrade, November 16, 1943, National Archives, AIR 34/490;
Danube. It represented the only crossing over the Danube between Novi Sad and Giurgiu in Romania.
Therefore, the destruction of this bridge would have a considerable impact on railway traffic across the Danube
in this area. The 1.5 km long bridge consisted of 7 metal arches, each 160 m long, with 5 masonry approach
arches on the right bank and 8 flat supports on the left bank. Two main supports were destroyed by the
Yugoslav army in April 1941. The Germans repaired them and replaced them with different foundations in the
river. The weakest parts of the bridge were the two repaired arches. If they were successfully hit and
destroyed, the repair of the bridge would be significantly complicated and prolonged.39

Targets for bombing in Belgrade, informational map, October 16, 1943, National Archives AIR 34-490

In the spring of 1944 (March 6, 1944), the main railway station and the Belgrade-Niš railway with a side line to
Mala Kršna were identified as important targets in Belgrade. The Topčider railway station with its sidings was
primarily intended for military transport, which was connected to the military barracks in the area. The Kraljevo
railway warehouse was believed to be a fuel depot. Southeast of the Košutnjak railway station, there was the
Rakovica aircraft engine factory. The size of the building was 135 x 96 m. In the vicinity, a newly constructed
automobile factory was said to have a flat roof that was camouflaged. The outlines of the towers and roof were
painted with false shadows. The size of the building was 90 x 90 m. About 700 m south of the Rakovica aircraft
engine factory, there were two unidentified factory buildings. The northern building was a large well-built
structure with workshops measuring 54 x 49 m, while the southern building had an H-shaped design
surrounded by smaller buildings.40
39
Information regarding targets - bridges, in Belgrade, January 31, 1944, National Archives, AIR 34/490;
40
The railway lines in Belgrade, March 6, 1944, National Archives, AIR 34/490;
Just before the initial bombing raids, on April 6, 1944, the British received a report stating that an aircraft parts
factory was located in Karaburma, Belgrade, about which they had no prior information. Based on the report,
they speculated that it could be the UTVA aircraft factory in Pančevo, established in 1937, which was involved
in the assembly and repair of British aircraft. According to reports from May 1942, the factory produced aircraft
fuselages, wings, and gliders. Additionally, there was a workshop in Pančevo for repairing Daimler-Benz
engines. However, the factory observed in the footage near the Pančevo bridge was believed to be a different
factory.41

Scouting photograph of Karaburma, March 30, 1944, National Archives AIR 34-534

At the end of 1943, the Allies landed in Italy, and with the capture of Italian airfields, a path was opened for
American bombers to reach Central Europe (Germany, Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and, of course, the
former Yugoslavia). The Americans primarily used B-17 and B-24 bombers for bombing cities in the former
Yugoslavia. The distance from Italian airfields to Belgrade and back was approximately 800 miles (1200 km),
and the B-17 bomber could carry a payload of 3,000 kg on this distance. 42 The B-24 bomber could carry a
slightly larger payload of 3,600 kg on the same distance. They mostly used 500-pound (230 kg) bombs.43
After RAF bombers started laying mines in the Danube River that flows through Yugoslavia on the night of April
8, 1944, and the Allies, through Ultra (with the help of Enigma), deciphered German messages and learned
about the drastic decrease in oil traffic on the Danube, they decided to attack the second most important
transportation system for oil from Romania—the railway network in the Balkans. Therefore, on April 16, 1944,
Belgrade became one of the targets.44

41
Karaburma, 6. 4. 1944, National Archives, AIR 34/490;
42
Doyle, David (2020). B-17 Flying Fortress, Vol. 1: Boeing's Model 299 through B-17D in World War II . Atglen: Schiffer Publishing,
Ltd. pp. 6–7. ISBN 9780764359552;
43
Loftin, L.K. Jr. (1985), Quest for Performance: The Evolution of Modern Aircraft. NASA SP-468 , NASA Scientific and Technical
Information Branch, retrieved 1 March 2023;
44
Davis, Richard G. Bombing the European Axis Powers: A Digest of the Combined Bomber Offensive 1939 – 1945. Historical Air
University Press Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 2006, s. 338 – 339;
The target was the railway and road bridge over the Danube in Belgrade, October 26, 1943., National Archives AIR 34-490

Bombing raid on April 16, 1944

On April 16, 1944, a total of 120 B-17 bombers from the 2nd, 97th, 99th, 301st, and 463rd Bombardment
Groups, along with 29 B-24 bombers from the 451st and 461st Bombardment Groups, conducted a bombing
raid on the Rogožarski aircraft factory and the Zemun airfield near Belgrade. The anti-aircraft fire (flak) was
strong and accurate. Despite a third of the bombers not dropping their bombs, the aircraft factory sustained
significant damage. Most of the workshops and the boiler room were destroyed. At the airfield, two hangars
and three aircraft were destroyed, barracks were damaged, and the runway was disabled. 45 The 97th Group of
the 5th Wing hit the Belgrade Zemun Airdrome factory with the score of about 32% within 1000 feet and 70%
within 2000 feet. 46
The 29 bombers from the 463rd Bombardment Group targeted the airfield in Pančevo, where they destroyed
one aircraft, damaged the airport building, and disabled the runway. The 2nd and 99th Bombardment Groups
each lost one Flying Fortress (B-17) due to flak, and the 461st Bombardment Group lost one Liberator (B-
24).47 In total, 178 B-24 and B-17 bombers dropped 502.5 tons (2,185 500-pound bombs) during the attack.
Additionally, they dropped 55.7 tons (242 500-pound bombs) of anti-personnel bombs in this raid.48

45
Davis, Richard G. Bombing the European Axis Powers: A Digest of the Combined Bomber Offensive 1939 – 1945. Historical Air
University Press Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 2006, Excel worksheets 1942 through 1945 on the Allied bombing campaign -
Belgrade;
46
Air Force Historical Research Centre (AFHRA) Reel A6321 s. 5;
47
Mahoney, Kevin A. Fifteenth Air Force against the Axis: Combat Missions over Europe during World War II. Lanham, Toronto,
Plymouth: Scarecrow Press, 2013, s. 92;
48
Davis, Richard G. Bombing the European Axis Powers: A Digest of the Combined Bomber Offensive 1939 – 1945. Historical Air
University Press Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 2006, Excel worksheets 1942 through 1945 on the Allied bombing campaign -
Belgrade;
Bombing of Zemun Airport, April 16, 1944, NARA RG 242 Yugoslavia YZRI. – YZRII;

Bombing of Zemun Airport and Rogožarsky factory, April 16, 1944, NARA RG 242 Yugoslavia YZRI. – YZRII;
Bombing raid on April 17, 1944

The 5th Bomb Wing's bomb groups of the 15th United States Air Force carried out bombings on April 17, 1944,
targeting three objectives in Belgrade. The bombing operation was heavily hindered by cloudy weather and
strong and accurate anti-aircraft defence. 125 B-17 bombers from the 2nd, 301st, 463rd, and 483rd bomb
groups targeted the main railway station and the station near the Sava River. Most of their bombs fell on
surrounding fields, while a smaller number hit the main railway station, damaging warehouses, the passenger
terminal, train compositions at the station, and the river port. They destroyed 25 freight cars at the main railway
station and an additional 20 on the side tracks towards the passenger terminal, which caught fire. Some
bombs also hit the storage facilities at the station, where there were around 100 freight cars, but only a few of
them were hit and damaged. Approximately 150 passenger cars on the sidings near the passenger station
were hit by 4 bombs, of which 15 were destroyed or heavily damaged. The bombs narrowly missed the
rotating platform at the railway station but destroyed 5 steam locomotives and a nearby building. Several
bombs fell on the coal storage area, causing multiple fires. Two large warehouses on the sidings were
completely destroyed, while a third was heavily damaged. The main railway line at the station was repeatedly
hit and severed in all directions. Bombs destroyed two arches of the railway bridge over the Sava River,
rendering it impassable. The military barracks located northwest of the station on the other side of the Sava
River were hit by multiple bombs, completely destroying 32 out of 67 buildings, with several others being
damaged and engulfed in flames. In addition to high-explosive bombs, 79.3 tons of anti-personnel bombs were
dropped on the barracks.

Bombing Belgrad 17. 4. 1944, NARA RG 242 Yugoslavia YZRI. – YZRII

On April 17, 1944, 33 B-17 bombers from the 99th bomb group attacked the Ikarus aircraft factory, damaging
buildings within the factory, while some bombs also fell on the city. 26 B-17 bombers from the 97th bomb group
and 35 B-24 bombers from the 451st bomb group targeted the Rogožarski aircraft factory and the nearby
Zemun Airport. They destroyed 9 aircraft, the main workshop at the factory, the heating plant, damaged
hangars and airport buildings, and cratered the runway at the airport. 49
The 97th Group of the 5th Wing, the oldest Group in the 15th USAAF, hit Rogozarski Airdrome and Aircraft
Factory with the exceptional score of about 73% of its hits within 1000 feet and 95% within 2000 feet of its
briefed aiming point.50

Bombing Rogozarski Airdrome and Aircraft Factory 17. 4. 1944, Air Force Historical Research Centre (AFHRA) Reel A6321 s. 5

One B-24 bomber from the 451st bomb group was shot down by anti-aircraft defence. Due to poor weather
conditions, the 460th and 461st bomb groups returned without dropping bombs. The bombers were escorted
by 98 P-38 fighters from the 1st and 82nd Fighter Groups, as well as 38 P-47 fighters from the 325th Fighter
Group. Due to the bad weather, half of the P-47 fighters missed the rendezvous with the bombers destined for
Belgrade and joined the group heading to bomb Sofia. 51 A total of 219 B-17 and B-24 bombers dropped 456
tons (or 1983 500-pound) of bombs.52

49
Davis, Richard G. Bombing the European Axis Powers: A Digest of the Combined Bomber Offensive 1939 – 1945. Historical Air
University Press Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 2006, Excel worksheets 1942 through 1945 on the Allied bombing campaign -
Belgrade;
50
Air Force Historical Research Centre (AFHRA) Reel A6321 s. 5;
51
Mahoney, Kevin A. Fifteenth Air Force against the Axis: Combat Missions over Europe during World War II. Lanham, Toronto,
Plymouth: Scarecrow Press, 2013, s. 93;
52
Davis, Richard G. Bombing the European Axis Powers: A Digest of the Combined Bomber Offensive 1939 – 1945. Historical Air
University Press Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 2006, Excel worksheets 1942 through 1945 on the Allied bombing campaign -
Belgrade;
Bombing Belgrad 17. 4. 1944, USAF, 5th Wing, 301. B.G. USAF

On April 19, 1944, Allied reconnaissance aircraft photographed the damage caused by the bombing on April
17, 1944. The main railway station and its surroundings showed a significant concentration of bomb hits. The
main passenger terminal was heavily damaged and only partially usable. The main railway lines leading to
Pančevo, Niš, and Zemun were severed in several places, both at the station and beyond. The railway bridge
over the Sava River in Zemun was heavily damaged. However, by May 5, the Allies determined that repair
work on the bridge over the Sava River was in full swing. They had repaired both collapsed arches of the
bridge, and railway traffic was expected to resume over the bridge shortly.53

53
The main railway station after the bombing on April 17, 1944, National Archives, AIR 34/490;
Damage report to the airport and factories in Zemun, April 17, 1944., National Archives AIR 34-534
Damage report after bombing on 17. 4. 1944, 19. 4. 1944, National Archives AIR 34-490

Damage report to the main railway station after the bombing on April 17, 1944., 19. 4. 1944, National Archives AIR 34-490
Bombing raid on April 21, 1944

34 B-17 bombers bombed the main railway station in Belgrade and dropped 85 tons, or 370 500-pound
bombs, on it.54

Aerial reconnaissance photograph of Belgrade, May 1, 1944, National Archives AIR 34-490

Bombing raid on April 24, 1944

Nineteen B-17 bombers from the 483rd Bombardment Group targeted the Ikarus factory and destroyed the
main production hall, causing damage to the nearby Savska railway station. The anti-aircraft defence was
moderate and imprecise, resulting in no losses for the bombers. 55 A total of 57 tons, or 248 500-pound bombs,
were dropped.56 On the same day, reconnaissance aircraft photographed the Main and Savska railway
stations. It was observed that most of the damage had been repaired, but there were still many (around 700)
destroyed wagons on the side tracks. A smaller turntable for locomotives was also noticed. The railway bridge
over the Sava River was still destroyed. On the side tracks on the southern bank of the bridge, there were 400
freight wagons, and between the main railway station and the Zemun station, four long trains with freight
wagons were parked on the main line. Around 100 freight wagons were present at the Zemun railway station,
along with an additional 50 wagons carrying coal, and six locomotives were at the locomotive depot. At the
Danube station, there were 100 freight wagons. The main tracks at the Sava railway station were cleared, but
54
Davis, Richard G. Bombing the European Axis Powers: A Digest of the Combined Bomber Offensive 1939 – 1945. Historical Air
University Press Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 2006, Excel worksheets 1942 through 1945 on the Allied bombing campaign -
Belgrade;
55
Mahoney, Kevin A. Fifteenth Air Force against the Axis: Combat Missions over Europe during World War II. Lanham, Toronto,
Plymouth: Scarecrow Press, 2013, s. 98;
56
Davis, Richard G. Bombing the European Axis Powers: A Digest of the Combined Bomber Offensive 1939 – 1945. Historical Air
University Press Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 2006, Excel worksheets 1942 through 1945 on the Allied bombing campaign -
Belgrade;
only a small portion of the destroyed wagons were removed. Between April 19 and 24, 1944, approximately 35
wagons departed from the station, while around 60 wagons arrived. Twelve steam locomotives were visible
outside the building with a turntable. There were around 400 freight wagons on the side tracks along the river,
two operational steam locomotives, and a freight train was arriving at the station from the south. At the
northern end of the station, the Germans had deployed two batteries of light flak on wagons.57

Damage report to the Ikarus factory after the bombing on April 24, 1944., NARA RG 243 European War G 2 Target Damage File Box
19

The main hall of the Ikarus factory was hit by four bombs and completely destroyed. The assembly hall was
also destroyed. The corner of a larger shed was damaged, and four bombs hit the ditches west of the factory.
Part of the Zemun railway station was destroyed, and although four bombs hit the railway tracks, the main
lines remained undamaged, allowing train traffic to continue.58

57
The Main Station and the Sava and Zemun railway stations, April 24, 1944, National Archives, AIR 34/490;
58
Damage report after the bombing on April 24, 1944, NARA U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey, European War, G – 2 Target Damage
File IIIA (367 – IIIA (388);
Aerial reconnaissance photograph of the Pančevo Bridge, April 24, 1944., National Archives AIR 34-490

Bombing raid on May 7, 1944

35 B-17 bombers from the 483rd Bomb Group targeted the Pančevo Railway Bridge. Due to poor weather and
effective anti-aircraft defence, they failed to hit the bridge. The bad weather also prevented 42 P-47 fighters
from the 325th Fighter Group from joining them.59 The bombers dropped 105 tons, or 456 500-pound bombs.60
On May 17, 1944, reconnaissance aircraft photographed the bridge and observed that repair work on the
bridge was completed. They also spotted a train with 20 freight cars crossing the bridge. There was little
activity at the Sava Freight Station as there were still a significant number of destroyed freight cars there. The
station and its sidings contained approximately 700 freight cars. There were three smaller train compositions at
the station with 26 cars, including three smaller Red Cross cars.61

59
Mahoney, Kevin A. Fifteenth Air Force against the Axis: Combat Missions over Europe during World War II. Lanham, Toronto,
Plymouth: Scarecrow Press, 2013, s. 109;
60
Davis, Richard G. Bombing the European Axis Powers: A Digest of the Combined Bomber Offensive 1939 – 1945. Historical Air
University Press Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 2006, Excel worksheets 1942 through 1945 on the Allied bombing campaign -
Belgrade;
61
Sava Railway Station, May 17, 1944., National Archives, AIR 34/490;
Bombing Pančevo Bridge, May 7, 1944, Air Force Historical Research Centre (AFHRA) Reel A6321 s. 8

Reconnaissance photograph of the Pančevo Bridge, May 13, 1944.National Archives AIR 34-491
Bombing raid on May 18, 1944

28 B-17 bombers from the 2nd Bomb Group and 87 B-24 bombers from the 449th, 461st, and 484th Bomb
Groups bombed the main railway station Sava in Belgrade as an alternate target. Due to heavy cloud cover,
they missed the primary target and only hit and disrupted a side track near the transformer. Most of the bombs
fell on open fields. The anti-aircraft defence was weak and inaccurate, although they managed to shoot down
one B-24 bomber from the 449th Bomb Group.62 The B-17 bombers dropped 69.9 tons, or 304,500-pound
bombs, while the B-24 bombers dropped 220.5 tons, or 959,500-pound bombs, totalling 290.4 tons, or
1,263,500-pound bombs.63

Damage assessment at Zemun airfield and its vicinity, May 18, 1944, National Archives AIR 34-491

Bombing raid on June 6, 1944

62
Mahoney, Kevin A. Fifteenth Air Force against the Axis: Combat Missions over Europe during World War II. Lanham, Toronto,
Plymouth: Scarecrow Press, 2013, s. 117;
63
Davis, Richard G. Bombing the European Axis Powers: A Digest of the Combined Bomber Offensive 1939 – 1945. Historical Air
University Press Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 2006, Excel worksheets 1942 through 1945 on the Allied bombing campaign -
Belgrade;
28 B-17 bombers from the 463rd Bombardment Group bombed the main railway station in Belgrade. Despite
dense clouds over the target, they managed to hit and damage the locomotive depot, freight cars, locomotive
turntable, and railway tracks. They also hit the approaches to the railway bridge and the river port. One B-17
bomber was hit by anti-aircraft defence.64 The bombers dropped 84 tons, or 365,500-pound, bombs.65

Targets for bombing on June 6, 1944 - the Sava Port and Sava Čukarica, June 1944, National Archives AIR 34-490

On June 9, 1944, reconnaissance planes photographed the bridges over the Sava River and the main railway
station in Belgrade to assess the damage from the bombing on June 6, 1944. Thick clouds covering Belgrade
prevented an accurate assessment of the damage. The railway bridge used for the route to Zagreb was
64
Mahoney, Kevin A. Fifteenth Air Force against the Axis: Combat Missions over Europe during World War II. Lanham, Toronto,
Plymouth: Scarecrow Press, 2013, s. 141 - 142;
65
Davis, Richard G. Bombing the European Axis Powers: A Digest of the Combined Bomber Offensive 1939 – 1945. Historical Air
University Press Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 2006, Excel worksheets 1942 through 1945 on the Allied bombing campaign -
Belgrade;
undamaged. Due to complete cloud cover over the northern approach to the bridge, it was impossible to
assess the damage in that area. Numerous craters were visible between the tracks at the southern approach
and the railway station, but it could not be confirmed whether the main tracks were severed. The rotating
platform in the roundhouse for locomotives was hit directly and completely destroyed. There was significant
damage to residential buildings and the main road southeast of the railway station, which was completely
blocked due to numerous craters, one of which was exceptionally large.66

Bombing raid on July 3, 1944

28 bombers B-24 from the 464th Bombardment Group, 55th Bombardment Wing, targeted Shell fuel depots in
Belgrade amidst moderate but imprecise flak. The bombs hit several fuel tanks, damaging a portion of the
depot, multiple river vessels, docks, and nearby buildings in the port area. 67 The bombers dropped 70 tons, or
304,500-pound, bombs.68 The relatively small fuel depot sustained significant damage, with most of the fuel
pumping and filling installations destroyed. One large and two medium-sized tanks were destroyed, while
another medium-sized tank was damaged. This resulted in the destruction of two-thirds of the tanks capable of
holding 20,000 tons of fuel. The large storage facility adjacent to the pumping station had its roof damaged. A
medium-sized administrative building was partially destroyed, and a smaller storage facility was completely
destroyed. The railway tracks leading to the depot were severed, as well as the line towards Sarajevo. The
sugar refinery, located in three large warehouses southwest of the fuel depot along the coast, was also
destroyed.69

Bombing of the Shell fuel depot in Belgrade, July 3, 1944, NARA RG 242 Yugoslavia YZRI. - YZRII.

After defeats in Romania in the summer of 1944, Army Group E began withdrawing from the Greek islands,
mainland Greece, and the southern Balkans in the autumn of 1944. Army Group E left Greece and Albania
with approximately 350,000 personnel and 10,000 motor vehicles.
The agreements between the Allies to prevent the German forces in Greece from withdrawing to Central
Europe are not known. Visible cooperation between Anglo-American and Soviet forces was mainly observed in

66
The main railway station in Belgrade, June 9, 1944., National Archives, AIR 34/490;
67
Mahoney, Kevin A. Fifteenth Air Force against the Axis: Combat Missions over Europe during World War II. Lanham, Toronto,
Plymouth: Scarecrow Press, 2013, s. 168;
68
Davis, Richard G. Bombing the European Axis Powers: A Digest of the Combined Bomber Offensive 1939 – 1945. Historical Air
University Press Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 2006, Excel worksheets 1942 through 1945 on the Allied bombing campaign -
Belgrade;
69
Damage Report to Shell's fuel depot in Čukarica, July 8, 1944., National Archives, AIR 34-495;
the field of air combat. The "Balkan Air Forces" and Russian air forces - particularly represented by a
contingent of Bulgarian air forces under their command - made joint efforts to hinder and disrupt the retreat of
Army Group E. As the German air forces were no longer a significant adversary in the second half of 1944, the
Allies could freely attack communications in the Balkans and German columns during the retreat.
Operation Ratweek, which took place in the first week of September 1944, was the only serious attempt to
destroy primarily the transportation communications in the Balkans and thereby, if not prevent, at least hinder
and impede the German retreat. Despite the significant success of the operation, the bombing of
communications in the Balkans was not continued. Instead, the Allies returned to ineffective strategic bombing
of major cities. Rather than directing their subsequent aerial attacks on the crossings over the Drina River and
the movements of Army Group E, the heavy bombers were used with little success to bomb larger cities in the
Balkans, causing significant collateral damage. It is difficult to understand why the Allies resorted to heavy
bomber raids again after the combined actions of the Balkan air forces and the sabotage operations by
Yugoslav partisans had practically halted the movements of Army Group E. This raises the question of why,
based on this successful experience, they did not resort to airborne operations, where well-trained Allied
paratroopers, with the assistance of Yugoslav partisans, could have achieved even greater success in
sabotage actions. Interestingly, even the command of Army Group E expected that at least one Allied division
would land in Albania since it was the weakest and least defended German flank in the west. This question
becomes even more intriguing as rumours of an Allied landing in Istria were not mere rumours, but there were
serious operational plans for its execution.70

70
Klaus Schmider: Der jugoslawische Kriegsschauplatz. In: Karl-Heinz Frieser, Klaus Schmider, Klaus Schönherr, Gerhard
Schreiber, Krisztián Ungváry, Bernd Wegner: Das Deutsche Reich und der Zweite Weltkrieg, Band 8, Die Ostfront 1943/44 – Der
Krieg im Osten und an den Nebenfronten. Im Auftrag des MGFA hrsg. von Karl-Heinz Frieser, Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, München
2007, ISBN 978-3-421-06235-2, s. 1009–1088;
Assessment of damage after the bombing of the fuel depot in Čukarica, July 3, 1944, 8. 7. 1944, National Archives AIR 34-495

Bombing raid on September 3, 1944

18 B-17 bombers from the 97th and 99th Bombardment Groups of the 5th Bombardment Wing, escorted by 25
P-38 fighters from the 1st Fighter Group, bombed the road bridge in Belgrade. The bombs damaged the bridge
and its approaches, train compositions at the main station, military barracks, and a factory. 80 B-17 bombers
from the 2nd and 463rd Bombardment Groups bombed the railway bridge over the Sava River. The bombs
damaged the bridge and its approaches, as well as a nearby factory. 54 B-17 bombers from the 301st and
483rd Bombardment Groups bombed the railway bridge in Pančevo. They hit several arches of the bridge,
causing significant damage.71 The bombs also destroyed multiple warehouses nearby. In total, 152 B-17
bombers dropped 451.5 tons or 1,936 500-pound bombs.72

71
Mahoney, Kevin A. Fifteenth Air Force against the Axis: Combat Missions over Europe during World War II. Lanham, Toronto,
Plymouth: Scarecrow Press, 2013, s. 227 - 228;
72
Davis, Richard G. Bombing the European Axis Powers: A Digest of the Combined Bomber Offensive 1939 – 1945. Historical Air
University Press Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 2006, Excel worksheets 1942 through 1945 on the Allied bombing campaign -
Belgrade;
Bombing of the Pančevo Bridge, September 3rd, 1944, NARA RG 243 European War G 2 Target Damage File Box 19

On the same day, reconnaissance aircraft photographed the bridges over the Sava and Danube rivers, as well
as the main railway station. The road bridge over the Sava was not destroyed but suffered severe damage and
was impassable. One or more bomb hits tore off about 100 meters of road on the westernmost arch of the
bridge. Additional damage was visible on the bridge structure itself. A bomb also hit the western approach to
the bridge. The railway bridge over the Sava was also not destroyed but received three hits on its first and
second arches from the west, rendering it impassable. A bomb hit severed the tracks on the western approach
to the bridge. The Pančevo railway bridge over the Danube was not hit. However, bomb hits temporarily
severed the tracks on the Pančevo-Zagreb and Pančevo-Niš railway lines. Multiple bomb hits severed the
railway tracks at the main railway station in Belgrade, destroying at least 10 sidings and damaging several
wagons. On September 8, 1944, reconnaissance aircraft again photographed the bridges over the Sava. The
traffic across the railway bridge, whose arch was destroyed in the September 3, 1944 attack, was completely
interrupted, and there were no visible attempts to repair the bridge.73

73
Report on the damage to the bridges over the Sava River, September 3rd to September 8th, 1944., National Archives, AIR 34/490;
The Pančevo bridge was heavily damaged on September 3, 1944, NARA RG 242 Yugoslavia YZRI. - YZRII.

Bombing raid on September 6, 1944

Eighty B-24 bombers from the 49th Bomb Wing, accompanied by 26 P-38 fighters from the 14th Fighter
Group, bombarded the railway bridges over the Sava River in Belgrade. Despite heavy but inaccurate flak, the
bombs caused damage to both bridges, the roundhouse for locomotive maintenance, and the side and main
tracks at the railway station.74 The B-24 bombers dropped 117 tons, or 509 500-pound bombs. 75 The railway
bridge over the Sava River had its tracks severed at the southern approach, rendering it unusable for traffic.
The eastern bridge over the Sava River had its northern approach span destroyed, making it impassable. The
road bridge did not sustain any hits, and the damage from the September 3 bombing had mostly been
repaired, allowing the bridge to be back in use. The Sava railway station was hit by multiple bombs, causing
destruction to several tracks at the railway junction. However, one track remained undamaged, ensuring that
traffic towards Niš was not interrupted. The round building with a rotating platform for locomotives suffered a
direct hit, resulting in significant damage. The circular track leading from the main station to the riverside side
tracks was severed at multiple locations and rendered impassable. The main line to Pančevo remained
unaffected and operational.76

74
Mahoney, Kevin A. Fifteenth Air Force against the Axis: Combat Missions over Europe during World War II. Lanham, Toronto,
Plymouth: Scarecrow Press, 2013, s. 230;
75
Davis, Richard G. Bombing the European Axis Powers: A Digest of the Combined Bomber Offensive 1939 – 1945. Historical Air
University Press Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 2006, Excel worksheets 1942 through 1945 on the Allied bombing campaign -
Belgrade;
76
Report on the damage after the bombing on September 6, 1944. NARA U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey, European War, G – 2
Target Damage File IIIA (367 – IIIA (388);
Bombing of the railway station in Belgrade, September 6, 1944, NARA RG 208 AA Yugoslavia Action Air Box. no. 354

The bombing of the railway station in Belgrade, September 6, 1944., NARA RG 208 AA Yugoslavia Action Air Box. no. 354
Zemun airport, September 8, 1944, National Archives AIR 34-491

Bombing raid on September 8, 1944

On September 8, 1944, 103 B-24 bombers from the 454th, 455th, and 459th Bombardment Groups,
accompanied by 26 P-38 fighters from the 14th Fighter Group, once again bombed both railway bridges over
the Sava River. The bombs damaged both bridges and their approaches. The flak was intense and accurate,
resulting in the loss of one bomber from the 454th and 455th Bombardment Groups each. 77 The B-24 bombers
dropped a total of 288 tons, or 1,252 500-pound bombs.78

Bombing of the bridges over the Sava River on September 8, 1944, NARA RG 208 AA Yugoslavia Action Air Box. no. 354

77
Mahoney, Kevin A. Fifteenth Air Force against the Axis: Combat Missions over Europe during World War II. Lanham, Toronto,
Plymouth: Scarecrow Press, 2013, s. 231;
78
Davis, Richard G. Bombing the European Axis Powers: A Digest of the Combined Bomber Offensive 1939 – 1945. Historical Air
University Press Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 2006, Excel worksheets 1942 through 1945 on the Allied bombing campaign -
Belgrade;
The mission report states that out of 79 aircraft at all four Belgrade airfields, 75 were destroyed. The railway
bridges over the Sava River suffered significant damage, with every fourth span receiving severe structural
damage. The western bridge had already sustained major damage in the attacks on September 3rd and 6th,
with at least two spans damaged, rendering the bridge impassable. The eastern bridge was hit by at least four
bombs, resulting in the railway track being severed at two locations. The effects of the explosions were also
visible on the northern approach to the bridge. The road bridge was operational again, allowing traffic to flow
over it. The western part of the railway junction sustained multiple hits and was impassable. The tracks leading
from the Sava station to the bridge were severed, rendering them impassable. The roundhouse with a rotating
platform was directly hit and destroyed. Several craters were visible at the station, and at least 20 wagons
were destroyed.79

The Liberator bomber was hit directly by anti-aircraft fire in 1944 (asisbiz.com)

On September 8, 1944, the German heavy anti-aircraft artillery unit, consisting of the 1st to 4th batteries of
Flak 549, stationed near the stands at the sports field in Topčider, shot down an American B-24 bomber over
Belgrade. Two other heavy Flak units, the 1st to 3rd batteries of Flak 566 (located 1800 meters northeast of
the Danube Bridge) and the 1st battery of training Flak Jug 21, also participated in the downing. At 10:12, a
group of 9 B-24 bombers flew over Belgrade at an altitude of 6600 meters. The Flak engaged the group from
10:14 to 10:16. The Flak batteries 549, 566, and the training Flak managed to hit one bomber with 10 105mm
and 12 88mm cannons. Flames and white smoke erupted from one of the engines, and the bomber left the
formation, heading southeast of Belgrade while losing altitude. Seven out of the 11 crew members bailed out of
the aircraft. The plane subsequently crashed and exploded near the village of Zaklopača. Four crew members
died in the wreckage, while two crew members, a lieutenant and a sergeant, were captured by Chetniks and
handed over to the Germans. The remaining five crew members were likely rescued by Partisans (they landed
in the so-called Partisan-controlled territory). This was the eighth plane shot down by the 549th unit.80

Bombing raid on September 18, 1944

79
Report on the damage caused by the bombing on September 8, 1944., NARA U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey, European War, G –
2 Target Damage File IIIA (367 – IIIA (388);
80
Report on the shooting down of the American B-24 bomber over Belgrade on September 8, 1944., Bundesarchiv Freiburg BArch
RL 5 -269, fol. 1 – 27;
52 B-17 bombers from the 301st and 483rd Bomb Groups, accompanied by moderate but accurate anti-
aircraft fire, bombed the railway bridges over the Sava River in Belgrade. Although the bridges were not
directly hit, they sustained damage to the side tracks and a small factory nearby. 81 The B-17 bombers dropped
a total of 154.5 tons, or 672 500-pound bombs.82

List of bombing targets in Belgrade and Zemun, 1944, National Archives AIR 34-491

On September 19, 1944, reconnaissance aircraft photographed the railway bridge over the Sava River in
Belgrade. The bridge appeared undamaged and fully operational. Some new bomb craters were visible near
the bridge foundations on the eastern side of the river. The bombs that fell between the two bridges likely
caused only superficial damage to the bridge supports, which apparently did not affect the usability of the
bridge for traffic. On September 24, 1944, reconnaissance aircraft photographed the bridge again and found
no changes. The bridge remained impassable, and no repair work was observed.83

81
Mahoney, Kevin A. Fifteenth Air Force against the Axis: Combat Missions over Europe during World War II. Lanham, Toronto,
Plymouth: Scarecrow Press, 2013, s. 237;
82
Davis, Richard G. Bombing the European Axis Powers: A Digest of the Combined Bomber Offensive 1939 – 1945. Historical Air
University Press Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 2006, Excel worksheets 1942 through 1945 on the Allied bombing campaign -
Belgrade;
83
The railway bridge over the Sava River in Belgrade from September 19th to September 24th, 1944., National Archives, AIR
34/490;
German reconnaissance aerial photograph of Belgrade and Zemun, October 22, 1944, National Archives AIR 34-534

Just a month before the partisans, with the assistance of the Soviet Army, captured Belgrade (on October 20,
1944), the Allies conducted another aerial reconnaissance on September 21, 1944, as part of the Operation
Ratweek. They observed that the landing strip at Zemun Airport was still unusable, but there were 26 aircraft
parked on it (9 Ju 52, 2 He 111, 7 Ju 88, 2 Dfs 230, 1 Fw 58, 4 Fi. 156, 1 W 34).
The heavily damaged railway bridge from the September 8 attack was still impassable. The railway tracks on
the bridge remained severed at multiple locations, but repair work was visibly underway. There were freight
train compositions stationed on both approaches to the bridge.
The Sava Freight Railway Station was back in operation, with only the northern section of the side tracks
blocked. The rotating platform on the main track had been completely restored. The station housed around
250 freight wagons and a large number of open freight wagons.
The Zemun Railway Station was operational, but it had only around 170 freight wagons. The rotating platform
had not yet been restored, and there were a significant number of wagons on the side tracks. West of the
station, there were approximately 220 freight wagons on the side tracks.
At the city pier, there were 12 river freight vessels (one self-propelled and one for oil transportation) and one
raft. Upstream from the Sava Bridge, there was a small turning point at the anchorage and moorings.84

84
Damage report following the bombings during Operation Ratweek. NARA U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey, European War, G – 2
Target Damage File IIIA (367 – IIIA (388);
German reconnaissance aerial photograph of the main train station in Belgrade, October 22, 1944, National Archives AIR 34-534

In the Allied bombings of Belgrade in 1944, around 1,300 Belgrade’s (civilians) were killed, along with 60
prisoners in the Sejmišče camp. In Zemun alone, in April 1944, 205 people died during the bombings. In total,
approximately 1,600 people died in the bombings of 1944, excluding prisoners of war in the Zemun camp
(Dulag Semlin 172) and German soldiers.85

German reconnaissance aerial photograph of Belgrade, January 4, 1945, National Archives AIR 34-534

Bombing raids on Belgrade

85
Bojanić, Miloš: Number of civilian casualties in the Allied bombing of Serbia 1943-1944: available data, estimates, and analysis.
Thematic collection Juhorski zapis., Istorijski arhiv Kruševac, Udruženje za kulturu i umetnost Logos Svojnovo, Kruševac – Svojnovo
2018, str. 140 – 142;
Datum Število bombnikov 110 kg (250 230 kg (500 450 kg (1000 860 kg (1900 Zažigalne bombe Število umrlih Skupaj
lb) lb) lb) lb)
16. 4. 1944 178 B-17 in B-24 2.185 502.5 t
17. 4. 1944 219 B-17 in B-24 1.983 456.0 t
21. 4. 1944 34 B-17 370 85.0 t
24. 4. 1944 19 B-17 248 57.0 t
7. 5. 1944 35 B-17 456 105.0 t
18. 5. 1944 115 B-17 in B-24 1.263 290.4 t
6. 6. 1944 28 B-17 365 84.0 t
3. 7. 1944 28 B-17 304 70.0 t
3. 9. 1944 152 B-17 in B-24 1.936 451.5 t
6. 9. 1944 80 B-24 509 117.0 t
8. 9. 1944 103 B-24 1.252 288.0 t
18. 9. 1944 52 B-17 672 154.5 t
Skupaj 1.043 11.543 1.600 2.660.9 tone

1,043 American aircraft dropped a total of 11,543 500-pound bombs or 2,660.9 tons of explosives over
Belgrade. Since we currently only have data on the quantity of bombs dropped in tons, we used the 500-pound
American bomb, which was the most commonly used, to calculate the number of bombs.

10% unexploded bombs

Out of 11,543 (500 lb – 230 kg) bombs, 1,154 bombs remained unexploded, weighing 265.4 tons.
Total: 11,543 bombs - 1,154 unexploded bombs - 265.4 tons

15% unexploded bombs

Out of 11,543 (500 lb – 230 kg) bombs, 1,731 bombs remained unexploded, weighing 398 tons.
Total: 11,543 bombs - 1,731 unexploded bombs - 398 tons

American demolition bombs used during World War II in our area:

250 lb = 110 kg
500 lb = 230 kg
1,000 lb = 450 kg
2,000 lb = 900 kg

Incendiary bombs:
500 lb = 230 kg