Bombing in France during WWII

German-occupied France contained a number of important targets that attracted the attention of the British, and later American bombing. In 1940, RAF Bomber Command launched attacks against German preparations for Operation Sealion, the proposed invasion of England, attacking Channel Ports in France and Belgium and sinking large numbers of barges that had been collected by the Germans for use in the invasion. Before 1944, the Allies bombed targets in France that were part of the German war industry. This included raids such as those on the Renault factory in Boulogne-Billancourt or the port facilities of Nantes in September 1943 (which killed 1,500 civilians).

Bombes Américaines de 100 et 500 Livres dans le Musée Mémorial Bataille de Normandie (Bayeux, France) — American Bombs of 100 and 500 Pound in the Museum of the Battle of Normandy (Bayeux, France)

Order Digital Image 12.318 on A4 scale

Bombardierung in Frankreich während des Zweiten Weltkrieges

Bombardeo en Francia durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial

Bombardement en France durant la Seconde Guerre Mondiale

صور وأشرطة فيديو عن التفجير في فرنسا خلال الحرب العالمية الثانية

бомбардировке во Франции во время Второй мировой войны

In preparation of Allied landings in Normandy and those in the south of France, French infrastructure (mainly rail transport) was intensively targeted by RAF and USAAF in May and June 1944. Despite intelligence provided by the French Resistance, many residential areas were hit in error or lack of accuracy. This included cities like Marseille (2000 dead), Lyon (1000 dead), Saint-Étienne, Rouen, Orléans, Grenoble, Nice, Paris surrounds, and so on. The Free French Air Force, operational since 1941, used to opt for the more risky skimming tactic when operating in national territory, to avoid civilian casualties. On 5 January 1945, British bombers struck the “Atlantic pocket” of Royan and destroyed 85% of this city. A later raid, using napalm was carried out before it was freed from Nazi occupation in April. Of the 3,000 civilians left in the city, 442 died.

Bombardamenti in Francia durante la Seconda Guerra Mondiale

Bombardeio em França durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial

French civilian casualties due to Allied strategic bombing are estimated at about half of the 67.000 French civilian dead during Allied operations in 1942–1945; the other part being mostly killed during tactical bombing in the Normandy campaign. 22% of the bombs dropped in Europe by British and American air forces between 1940 and 1945 were in France. The port city of Le Havre had been destroyed by 132 bombings during the war (5000 dead) until September 1944.