Air attack on General Wever Barracks Potsdam-Eiche 17-08-1944

[The Tulip]

Hello everybody,

I hope you experts can help with some information about above mentionned air attack. Between 00.30 and 01.27 hours there was an air raid warning in Potsdam. About 01.00 one of the barracks was hit and some 20 air force helpers (Luftwaffe helfer und helferinnen) were killed. According to the writer of the book The night of Potsdam Hans Werner Mihan (time witness and Luftwaffe helfer) there were some 23 Mosquitos active in that area and also German nightfighters and Flak.

I am very much interested if you have information about wich RAF squadron(s) were active that night above Berlin and Potsdam. From which airfields in GB they started, Which route they flew, Did they suffer casualties, Was the`General Wever`a primary target or a target of opportunity.

Why this fascination for this air attack?
My late father was as slave worker from march 1943 untill his liberation in april 1945 working as cook at the airraid protection barrack on the `General Wever`complex. Fortunatly at the moment of the attack he was at the staying barrack a few hundred meters outside the military complex.



This aerial photo from 24-02-1944 gives a view of the military comples at the above right side. Right from the middle a sportsfield which was part of the Reichs Arbeit Dienst (RAD) camp at the other side of the road the barrack (Fremdarbeitlager) were my father and his comrades lived.

Youre help will be much appreciated.

regards,