HAVOC IN GERMANY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 11 January 1944, Page 2

HAVOC IN GERMANY

HOW DAMAGE IS SPREAD Washington, Dec. 10. Colonel Ray Clifton, instructor at Fort Leavenworth General Staff School, in an article in the school s monthly military review, expresses the opinion that the formation of five infantry divisions from Luftwaffe personnel indicates a German aircraft shortage. He adds: “Allied bombing has reduced German production to 1500 planes a month, mostly fighters.”

Colonel Clifton gives the following details of damage to German industrial centres caused by air raids: —Essen, destroyed; Emden, 60 per cent, of town and dock areas destroyed; Bremen, 20 per cent.; Lubeck, 40 per cent.; Roscent, destroyed; Hamburg. 75 per cent, destroyed and 80 per cent, of the people homeless and 25,000 killed; Cologne, 60 per cent, destroyed. 15,000 to 20,000 killed, and 35,000 homeless; Lorient (France), mostly destroyed and heavy concrete submarine base working 20 per cent, of capacity; Berlin, widespread damage, 250,000 people fled in September, and an additional 500,000 living outside the city.