During the Second World War, the bombing of cities by opposing countries was commonplace. The goals were both the destruction of industrial potential and the death of civilians.
The air raid on Hamburg, Germany’s second largest city, known as Operation Gomorrah, was a catastrophic bombing that created one of the largest firestorms.
The name “Gomorrah” is biblical. It was one of two cities to be destroyed: “Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens.” – Genesis 19:24
From the beginning of the Second World War, Hamburg was repeatedly subjected to air attacks as it was a large industrial center that had a port and a transport hub. Oil refineries, shipyards, and a significant number of military-industrial facilities and enterprises were located in the city.
On January 21, 1943, the Allies adopted the Combined Bomber Offensive directive. This directive provided for “The progressive destruction and dislocation of the German military, industrial, and economic systems and the undermining of the morale of the German people to a point where their capacity for armed resistance is fatally weakened.”
