Bombing Büchen, 26th April 1945

[Operation_Enterprise]

Hello!This is my first Post and I need some help!At 10:00am on the 26th April 1945 the small Town of Büchen inNorthern-Germany was bombed. The Area around the Railway-Station was blownand over 100 People lost their Lifes. The Railway routs from Hamburg toBerlin.The “Mighty Eight” bombed Büchen at the End of March and on the 7th April1945. Try to blow up the Dumps of the “Luftwaffen-Tanklager”. But who bombed Büchen, in british and U.S. Reports often as Buechen, Buchen or Bucken,on the 26th April 1945?Regards Andre

[Larry]

I understand that 25th April was the last day the 8th AF bombed industrial targets as Germany was split in two when the US & Soviet troops met.

I cannot see much activity from the USAAF in the area you mention for 26th. Is the date correct?

[Laurent Rizzotti]

In this area at this date, it is far more probable that the raid was done by RAF and was a tactical one (with medium bombers, or even Typhoon, even if the death toll is heavy for the second proposal).

[Operation_Enterprise]

Hi!

A few minutes ago i made a call to the Archivist of Büchen and ask him again for more details. He did not have more details, only the eye witnesses reports from the ground, he gaved me. The Date, 26th April 1945, is correct!

As luck would have it he phoned today with the "Kampfmittelräumdienst" (bomb disposal unit), because in Büchen was build a new Railway-Station. And the german bomb disposal unit is searching for Air-Photos and reports for the 26. April too.

It seemed like a poorly documented attack!

Regards
Andre

[Larry]

Which is the nearest big town

[Operation_Enterprise]

The nearest big town is Hamburg!

You found Büchen at the Elbe-Lübeck-Canal (called Elbe-Trave-Canal too) east of Hamburg, north of Lauenburg (at the River Elbe) and south of Lübeck, close to the border of the Provinces Schleswig-Holstein/Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Regards
Andre

[Leendert]

Andre,

It appears that Büchen and area fell under the responsibility of the British. Judging by this link http://rzkultur.de/index.php?kat=31&cont=8492 a British armoured brigade passed in the vicinity just four days later.

I'm sure you're familiar with this one: http://www.ln-online.de/magazin/ratg...brissbirne.htm

An RAF raid comes to mind, as proposed by other forum readers.

I understand some 200 people were killed in Büchen in the air raid?

Regards,

Leendert

[Operation_Enterprise]

Hi!

Yes, the 1 Green Howards (15th Infantry Brigade, 5th Infantry Division) attacked Büchen at the last light of 1 May 1945. But the Armoured Brigades of the 11th Armoured Division were nearby.

It is possible that british Fighter Bombers made this attack, in preparation for the Operation Enterprise.

Sure, i visited the talk and sitting in the audience when the Archivist of Büchen discribed the last days of war.
I know him very well, but he has no answer too.

A bit more than 100 People died. It is not known exactly because of the Destruction, many were buried unknown and in little pieces.

Regards
Andre

[Larry]

Did Buchen have a railway station or rail line running close to the town in April 1945? It looks as if it has one now.

With that many casualties in one place it may be that an ammunition train was blown up by a Spitfire or Typhoon patrol in the area.

Fighter Command Losses Volume 3 for 25th April 1945 has a Spitfire Mk IX ML141 of 401 Sqn RCAF lost to flak while straffing a train near Hamburg, which at least prooves trains were running in the area and being attacked by the Allied aircraft.