Figure 1.--Austria like eastern Germany for much of the War was beyond the effective range of Allied bombers. This changed in 1944 and Allied bomber began to hit targets in Austria. The main target was Vienna. Austria wss not targeted to the same degree as the rest of the Reich as it was not as industrilized as Germany and fewer war industries were located there. Vienna and Innsbruck were, however, heavily damaged.

Vienna and Austria in general became known as the Reich's bomb shelter. Early German military victories, the limited range of British bombers, and Italy's entry into the War meant that Austria was shielded from direct attack during much of the War. Austria's location south of Germany and north of Italy along with Luftwaffe air defences, put Austria unlike much of the Reich beyond the effective range of Allied bombers. The British began the strategic bombing of NAZI Germany in earnest with the arrival of the Lancaster heavy bomber (1942). The United States joined the effort with a joint around-the-clock bombing campign (1943). This was conducted by Bomber Command and the U.S. 8th Air Force from bases in Britain. The first raid to hit Austria was conducted by the Soviets (September 4, 1942). Petlyakov Pe-8 bombers flew a 2,000 mile round trip raid which also targeted Vienna, Budapest, Koenigsberg, and Breslau. [Dickinson] This was a prpaganda raid. The Soviets did not commit major resources to strategic bombing. The air war over Austria changed with the disastrous defeats suffered by the Italian Army. The Italians quit the War and signed an armistace and the Allies invaded (September 1943). The important Italian air base at Foggia brought Austria and southern Germany within range of American bombers. The 9th Air Force was assined the task. Austria was not targeted to the same extent as the rest of Germany, because it was not nearly as industrialized, but by 1944, Austria was being regularly bombed. As with targets in the rest of the Reich, the arrival of American P-51 escorts, meant that targets anywhere in the Reich could be bombed with acceptable losses. The main target of the effort in Austria was Vienna, the country's capital and major city. Oil fields and an important petro-chemical center was located near Vienna. And by this stage of the War, petroleum infrastructure had become the priority targget along with the transport system. Anticipating American attacks, the Germans began strenthening Vienna's air defenses. As a result of earlier air battles over northern Germany, however, the Luftwaffe was no longer a major force. And little fuel was available for the units still operating. Vienna's air defenses were thus primarily anti-aircraft batteries, largely manned by Hitler Youth boys. The defenses included a ring of anti-aircraft batteries and three mssive Flak towers--hardened anti-aircraft gun blockhouses built in the city itself. Anti-aircraft batteries were not nearly as effective as the Luftwaffe had been before fighters began escoring the bombers. The first American raid targeted the refinery at Floridsdorf and mined the Danube (March 17, 1944). The other major target was Innsbruck, rail hub in western Austria through which German forces in Italky were being supplied. The Allies after succeeding in reentering the Continentg with the D-Day landings and breaking out of the Normandy beachead resumed the stategic bombing campaign with ever increasing force (September 1944). Allied bombers began regular attacks on Austrian industrial and transportation centers as well as targets in southern Germany and the German-occupied Balkans. Thus Allied air raids hit Vienna and other Austrian cities with increadsing frquency during the winter of 1944-45. Local authorities attempted to hide war industry factories that were trgeted by the bombers. Some factories were moved to bomb-proof sites such as the Seegrotte caves near Hinterbr�hl. Others were camafloged. As in Germany, as a result of Armament Minister Alber Speers initiatives, Austrian war plants increased production. Many of these plants used forced and slave labor from nearby concentration camps, primarily Mauthhusen and its sub-camps. POWs were also used. The bombing continued throughout early-1945. The last raid was conducted (April 12, 1945).

The Reich's Bomb Shelter (1939-43)

Vienna and Austria in general became known as the Reich's bomb shelter. Early German military victories, the limited range of British bombers, and Italy's entry into the War meant that Austria was shielded from direct attack during much of the War. Austria's location south of Germany and north of Italy along with Luftwaffe air defences, put Austria unlike much of the Reich beyond the effective range of Allied bombers. The British began the strategic bombing of NAZI Germany in earnest with the arrival of the Lancaster heavy bomber (1942). The United States joined the effort with a joint around-the-clock bombing campign (1943). This was conducted by Bomber Command and the U.S. 8th Air Force from bases in Britain.

Soviet Raid (September 1942)

The first raid to hit Austria was conducted by the Soviets (September 4, 1942). Petlyakov Pe-8 bombers flew a 2,000 mile round trip raid which also targeted Vienna, Budapest, Koenigsberg, and Breslau. [Dickinson] This was a prpaganda raid. The Soviets did not commit major resources to strategic bombing.

Italian Armistice (September 1943)

The air war over Austria changed with the disastrous defeats suffered by the Italian Army. The Italians suffered severe losses before the arrival of the Germans (1940). The Afrika Korps including Itakian units was defeated at El Alamein (Seoptember 1943). The Germans comandered the vehicles, escaping to the west and left the Italians behind. The Axis in Tunisia surrendered, some 275,000 men mstly Italkisns were cotured (May 1943). Sicily was invaded and fell (July 1943) The Italians quit the War and signed an armistace. The Allies invaded (September 1943). The important Italian air base at Foggia brought Austria and southern Germany within range of American bombers.

American 15th Air Force (1943-45)

The 9th Air Force was supported American operations in North Africa, Sicily, and the jnvaion of Italy. It was then transferred to Britain to become the tactical support for the liberation of Frabce abnd invasion of Germany. The 15th Air Force was activated for operations from Italy. The 15th AF primary function was the strategic bombardment of targetss in Axis and Axis occupied countries. This meant Italy, France, Germany (including Austria), Romania, Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Greece. It was activated as the 15th Air Force (November 1, 1943) shortly after the Allies invsion had secured southern Italy and Italian bases becme availble. The Wings included: 5th Bombardment, 42d Bombardment, 47th Bombardment, 49th Bombardment, 55th Bombardment, 304th Bombardment, 305th Bombardment, 306th Fighter, and the 307th Bombardment. The stations included Tunis, Tunisia and Bari, Italy. The primary base was the well developed Foggia base near Bari. The first commnder was Maj Gen James H Doolittle. The 15th Air Force supported Allied drves up the Italian Peninsuls. The 15th was also assigned the task of destroying the heavily defended Poesti oil fields in Romnia. Its other major targets were located in the Reuch, southern Germny nbd Austria. The primary mission of destroying Germn industry ws given to the 8th Air Firce. The 15th Air D=Firce once cnsytiytuted more hsn a year after the8th had an db=vbtage in tht becuse if the Itlin wether it was rarelu socked in. Austria was not targeted to the same extent as the rest of Germany, because it was not nearly as industrialized, but by 1944, Austria was being regularly bombed. As with targets in the rest of the Reich, the arrival of American P-51 escorts, meant that targets anywhere in the Reich could be bombed with acceptable losses.

Austrian Targets

The main target of the Allied strategic bombing campaign in Austria was Vienna, the country's capital and major city. Oil fields and an important petro-chemical center was located in and around Vienna. It was not a major oil producer, but by this stage of the War it was viurtully the only natural oil rsource the Reich had left. And petroleum infrastructure had become the Allies priority targget along with the transport system. The other major target was Innsbruck, rail hub in western Austria through which German forces in Italy were being supplied.

Air Defenses

Anticipating American attacks, the Germans began strenthening Vienna's air defenses. As a result of earlier air battles over northern Germany, however, the Luftwaffe was no longer a major force. And little fuel was available for the units still operating. Vienna's air defenses were thus primarily anti-aircraft batteries, largely manned by Hitler Youth boys. The defenses included a ring of anti-aircraft batteries and three mssive Flak towers--hardened anti-aircraft gun blockhouses built in the city itself. Anti-aircraft batteries were not nearly as effective as the Luftwaffe had been before fighters began escoring the bombers. Local authorities attempted to hide war industry factories that were trgeted by the bombers. Some factories were moved to bomb-proof sites such as the Seegrotte caves near Hinterbr�hl. Others were camafloged. As in Germany, as a result of Armament Minister Alber Speers initiatives, Austrian war plants increased production.

Slave Labor

Many of these plants used forced and slave labor from nearby concentration camps, primarily Mauthhusen and its sub-camps. POWs were also used. The bombing continued throughout early-1945. The last raid was conducted (April 12, 1945).

Allied Raids (1944-45)

Austria was beyond the reach of Allied bombers until 1943 when the Allied invasion of Italy allowed them to establish an air base at Foggia (October 1943). The bombing, however did not begin until 1944, mostly after D-Day (June 1944). The first American raid targeted the refinery at Floridsdorf and mined the Danube (March 17, 1944). The Allies after succeeding in reentering the Continent with the D-Day landings and breaking out of the Normandy beachead resumed the stategic bombing campaign with ever increasing force (September 1944). Allied bombers began regular attacks on Austrian industrial and transportation centers as well as targets in southern Germany and the German-occupied Balkans. Thus Allied air raids hit Vienna and other Austrian cities with increadsing frquency during the winter of 1944-45. Local authorities attempted to hide war industry factories that were trgeted by the bombers. Some factories were moved to bomb-proof sites such as the Seegrotte caves near Hinterbr�hl. Others were camafloged. As in Germany, as a result of Armament Minister Alber Speers initiatives, Austrian war plants increased production.

Bauder von Schirach

Hitler selected Bauder von Schirach, his former Hitler Youth leader, the job of rounding up Czechs and Jews in Austria and deporting them. He appointed him Gauleiter of Vienna. He deoorted some 185,000 Austrian Jews to their death in the NAZI camps in Poland. As the War clearly was going aginst Germany he pretended to be concerned about them. Mostly he enjoyed the cultural pleasures of Vienna, far removed from the War. Finalkly the War reached Vienna with the Allied bombing. He was deathly afraid of the bombing. He ordered the cellars of the Hofburg Palace, which he had made into his headquarters, turmned into a bomb-proff shelter. He also turned the lower level of the extensive subterranean Vienna air defence coordination center in the forests to the west of Vienna outfitted with personal facilities for his protection. The Viennese named the command and control center the 'Schirach-Bunker'. He remained in Vienna until the Red Army approched. He was not interested in organizing the defense of the city even though his Hotler Youth movement had taught young boys the bobility of fighting to the death for the Fatherland. He was not going to fight to the death or commit suiside like many fervent NAZIs. He fled Vienna with his fmily. He tried to hide in Germany as amystery writer after the War. Finally fearing Austrian anti-NAZIs and French occupation troops, he quietly entered the American occupation zone and surrendered. [Conot, p. 424.]

Damage

For the most part the German public (including the Austrians) were spared the horrors of war. Occupied countries were exploited to keep the Reich fed. The war was fought primarily on the territory of other countries. The War finnally came home to Austria in the final year. First with the Allied strategic bombing campaign and then with final month of the War and the arrival of the Soviet Red Army in Vienna and the east and the Americans in the west (April 1945). The resulting damage in the last year of the War was enormous, much of it was due to the Allied statrgic bombing campaign. Austria was not a heavily indutrialized country like Germany. The principal target for the Allied strategic bombing campaign was German war industries . Austria was bombed, but not as heavily as German cities because of the lack of heavy industry. The primary target was Vienna. Vienna was bombed 52 times during the War, primarily by the United States Air Force. Some 87,000 houses were destroyed about 20 percent of the city. Only a handfull of vehiles survived the bombing. An estimated 3,000 bomb craters pocketed the city. The famed Schwarzenberg Palace was bombed but rebuilt after the War. Bridges were destroyed and sewers, gas and water pipes had badly damaged. The other major target of the strategic bombing cmpaign was the transport system which was largely wrecked. Allied bombers hit Innsbruck in western Austria before Vienna (December 1943). Innsbruck was an importnt transport hub where four rail lines (Arlbergbahn from the west, Mittenwaldbahn from the north, Westbahn from the east and Brennerbahn from the south), converge. Innsbruck was a railroad supply center for German forces fighting the Allies in Italy. The strategic biombiung also targeted the transport system. The damage to Austrian farms was minor, althoug the War losses affected the rural workforce. The destruction of the transport system. however, meant that supplies needed by the farmers could not be delivered. The damage to infrastructure meant that it was also difficult for farmers to get their food harvest into the cities. The NAZI war economy operated by seizing food from occupied people. As the occupied countries were liberated this was no longer possible and in the last year of the War serious food shortages developed throughout the Reich. The Allied bombing and damage to the transport system only worsened the food situation. Austrians survived on a 'near-starvation diet' with daily rations remaining below 2000 calories (1945-46). [Lewis, p. 142.] Austria is one of the foremost producers of hydroelectric power in Europe. Austria had small oil fields. There was also some coal production and coal was the primary fuel for industry and home heating. The country's coal was mostly imported from Germany. The destruction of the transport system cut off Austria from neeed coal imports. The Americans who occupied southern Germany had to restore the rail routes and ship in German coal on easy credit terms.

Sources

Conot, Robert E. Justice at Niremberg (Carroll & Graf Publishers: New York, 1983).

Created: 6:32 AM 11/11/2016
Last updated: 4:37 PM 12/7/2018