Activities Ju 88s (KG 30?) Rotterdam 14-05-1940
 

Hi,

14th of May ,1940Rotterdam was bombed by He 111s of KG 54, but there always have been rumors that Ju 88s of KG 30 (?) were also involved. So far no evidence is know to support such rumors. Does anyone of you knows more or ever has seen any mention of Ju 88s involved in the attack on Rotterdam?

Best regards,

Mathieu.

Re: Activities Ju 88s (KG 30?) Rotterdam 14-05-1940
 

I believe KG30 were still based in Denmark/Norway at this time on anti-shipping operations, only moving to France on 9th June, taking over Chievres Air Base where they infamously sank the Lancastria off St.Nazaire 8 days later.

I had always thought Rotterdam was the sole work of KG54 which was operating both He111 and Ju88's at this time.

Re: Activities Ju 88s (KG 30?) Rotterdam 14-05-1940
 

Radtke. Kampfgeschwader 54. München. 1990. Page 29 and I quote:"Gegen 13.45 Uhr startet das Geschwader mit ca. 100 He 111-P, Beladung ......"

Jaap

Re: Activities Ju 88s (KG 30?) Rotterdam 14-05-1940
 

Sorry, I meant to add that only the He111-P's were involved in the attack.

"...For that purpose around 90 bombers [He-111P] of KG.54 had been made available, which could be further supported by Ju-88's of KG.4 if required..."

Phil:-)

Re: Activities Ju 88s (KG 30?) Rotterdam 14-05-1940
 

Mathieu,

There is no single official source even suggesting that another unit than KG54 nor Ju88 were involved in the bombing of Rotterdam.
On top of that:

• throughout the first week of the Westfeldzug there is no single example that a target was attacked simultaneously by two different Geschwadern. As far as I can see the Luftwaffe had a strict policy of one unit per target, almost certainly to avoid complex joint planning excercises. I suppose planning for the right fighter escort at the right time was already difficult enough.
• the only bomber units operating over The Netherlands those days and equipped with Ju88's were KG30 and III./KG4. The first was (after May 10) uniquely used for anti-shipping and the second did not take part in the bombing of Rotterdam.
• the Ju88-equipped III./KG4 did bomb on May 14: in the evening Den Helder was seriously raided, after the official start of the cease fire

Regards, Pieter

Re: Activities Ju 88s (KG 30?) Rotterdam 14-05-1940
 

Gentleman,

Thanks for your replies. I have asked this question after I read a posting on a Dutch forum see: http://www.grebbeberg.nl/index.php?p...group=7&view=3 ( unfortunately Dutch only). In this posting there is mention of a report written by Generalleutnant a.D. Lackner, who was commander of KG.54. In the report, which was written in 1952, there is this statement:

"Ein oder zwei Stuka-Gruppen - genaueres weiss ich hierüber nicht - erhielten ausserdem den Befehl, gleichzeitig besondere Punktziele in der Stadt, wei Nachrichtenzentralen, Kraftversorgung und Änliches anzugreifen."

I am not an expert on the German language but in short is say that 1 or 2 gruppe of divebombers were active to attack some special targets like broadcast stations , powerplants etc.

As far as I know the H 111 wasn't suitable to use for dive bombing, so, if the general writes the truth which unit could be involved in such attacks?

Best regards,

Mathieu.