RAID ON BERLIN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 202, 27 August 1943, Page 5

RAID ON BERLIN

CAUSES DEEP IMPRESSION IN BRITAIN HAVOC DESCRIBED BY GERMAN SAILOR I Special Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.) Recd. o p.m London, Aug. 25. The R.A.F.’s latest raid on Berlin has been given as much prominence as the Quebec conference and the Kharkov victory and has caused a ' deep impression. This is because, as the Daily Telegraph states editorially: “Berlin is the most important single objective in Germany, not only as the seat of government and a centre of communications and industry, but also as the holy of holies of German militarism and will for war.” It is estimated that 700 bombers took part, and the raid is regarded as the opening phase of the Battle for Berlin. The loss of 58 bombers is stated to be the highest single price Bomber Command has paid for its assault . against the German war machine, but it is pointed out that it is the price of victory and that the losses were small in proportion to the large forces sent over. Some idea of the terrible havoc these raids cause is reported by the Daily Telegraph's Stockholm correspondent, interviewing a .stoker who deserted from a German ship at Hamburg. The stoker said: “We lay far out in the River Elbe all that terrible week from July 24 to August 1. The dock area was simply a mass of flames, from which grotesquely twisted girders stuck up white fingers. The submarine yards appear to the layman's eye to be smashed beyond all hope of repair. At Hewaldtswerke,

the bows of three wrecked U-boats stick up from the water, while at the Blohmund-Voss yards the damage is even worse. Oil fires were probably the worst, because the fire brigades lacked chemical equipment to extinguish them and were compelled to watch them spread and go on blazing until the oil stores were burned out. The great refineries of Rhenaniaossag burned for a fortnight. At hafen the heat was so intense that it blistered buildings on the other side of the river bank. Fire brigades were called in from all northern Germany. “Civilian morale completely broke down in many districts. People went mad in shelters They screamed and threw themselves, biting and clawing, against the doors, which were locked against them by wardens. Relief work did not begin properly for 24 hours. Flour mills and silos at Hamburg harbour burned for two days and nights. “It was not only fire and direct hits but also the terrific blast of heavy type bombs that killed most of the civilians. There were many ugly scenes and anti-party demonstrations. People carried Hitler’s portrait from shattered houses and burned it in the streets, but on the whole the civilians were too stunned by shock to riot open 1 >. “If this is g.n example of what your Air Force intends to do to Berlin, then <iod help the Berliners, for i doubt if they can take it in the same way as our dour Hamburgers did.’’