[FrankieS]

The morning of April 20th was perceived by many residents as a “calm before the storm”. The bombs fell at 11 a.m., killing around 70 people and destroying almost as many houses. The city center of Blankenburg was in flames. But still no white flag was raised. In the afternoon, American planes flew over the place again. Only after the Americans warned again to finally hand over the city, otherwise Blankenburg would be covered with a denser carpet of bombs, was there no more resistance. At around 5:30 p.m. the handover of the city to an American officer took place in the town hall.