Luftwaffe units involved in Rennes Railway yards raid, 17th June 1940?

[Peter D Evans]

Can anybody confirm which Luftwaffe unit(s) were involved in the raid on Rennes Railway yards on the 17th June 1940? I note from the excellent "The Battle of France, Then and Now" by P.D.Cornwell [After The Battle, 2007] that on the same day, Ju88 units of IV.Fligerkorps (inc. KG30) were involved in the sinking of the liner Lancastria, but no mention of the Rennes raid is made...

Many thanks in advance for any pointers

Cheers
Peter D Evans
LEMB Administrator

[Laurent Rizzotti]

All French sources agree that the Rennes bombing was made by a small German formation that dropped only a few bombs, one hitting an ammunition train that blew up, killing many people in other trains parked around it.

This french webpage has a witness speaking of "3 German bombers, probably Do 17", and as also a video showing the results of the raid (German propaganda):
http://www.wiki-rennes.fr/Bombardement_du_17_juin_1940

But other witnesses said "3 Stuka", "3 fighter bombers", "5 bombers", etc...

I think the conclusion can only be that it was a small German formation that dropped only some bombs... and so it could be a part of any unit flying this day over Britanny against another target and that attacked these trains as an opportunity target. Or even a reconnaissance flight.

[Brian]

Hi Laurent

Did I read the report correctly, that 508 soldiers including 156 British were killed in the explosions?

Cheers
Brian

[Laurent Rizzotti]

At least 508 soldiers: the number given in the text are for three units only.

For example, the text gives the number of 156 British Engineers killed in the raid: 200 British soldiers are buried in Rennes with a death date on 17 june 1940, including some RAF ones, for example.
See a list there for 177 of them : http://www.lelancastria.com/17-juin-...-Rennes-a.html

The body count of this raid will probably never be known: the first link I gave said that 805 bodies were buried, and speculates that around one thousand people were killed by the bombing and the explosion (including civilians), but all other sources will give numbers between 2000 and 5000 dead... but without any more details.

[Peter D Evans]

Thanks for the feedback Laurent...

Brian, here are some additional external links concerning this incident:

Roll of Honour – Rennes troop train bombing, 17th June 1940
Rennes, Brittany, France, June 1940. After Dunkirk, escaping to the west. Chapter 1
Rennes; 17 juin 1940, tragédie dans la gare à la plaine de Baud (WARNING! includes graphic images)

I also agree that this appears to have been a target of opportunity, so perhaps it was one of the two units who recorded losses (both from "The Battle of France..." tome) on this day?

1./KG26 - Heinkel He111
3./KG30 - Junkers Ju88A - possibly aircraft that attacked the Lancastria

Hopefully others can add more info...

Cheers
Peter D Evans
LEMB Administrator

[Brian]

Thanks Laurent and Peter

I tragedy about which I knew very little.

Cheers
Brian

[arnaud]

Am Tage : Kampfeinsatz wie gestern, jedoch durch wetterlage eingeschränkt. Vernichtende Wirkung des Vormittagsangriffs der III./KG 76 auf Bahnhof Rennes... (Bundesarchiv)

[robert]

I can add that only one squadron of III./KG76 was involved.

Robert

[Peter D Evans]

My pleasure Brian... you and me both!

Arnaud, many thanks indeed for the excerpt, do you have a specific document source for this info please?

Robert, thanks for the additional info. Looking here, III./KG76 could have been based at Cormeilles-en-Vexin and equipped with Do17Z's, but there is no mention of them being involved in this action in "Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-45, Volume 2"..

Cheers
Peter D Evans
LEMB Administrator

[Larry Hickey]

Peter,

According to the EOE translation of the "Original" Heinrich Weiss manuscript (copyright IHRA, 2010), under Air Corps I it states:

"b) KG76:
Shortly after 11.00 hrs the railway station in Rennes became the target of a low-level attack carried out by one squadron from KG76. Fifteen goods and transport trains were at the railway station and some 120 SC50 bombs exploded on the target with devastating effects. An ammo train loaded with 12 tons of explosives had been mistakenly placed between trains loaded with refugees, wounded soldiers and French soldiers returning from England (they were shipped to England in course of evacuation of Dunkirk). The ammo train was hit by a stick of bombs and exploded. The huge explosion caused a large column of fire and smoke. According to French sources some 2000 people (soldiers and civilians) were killed by this explosion and further 900 were injured.
At 18.03 hrs I./KG76 took off from Cambrai and attacked, mostly from low level, enemy troops on roads and in the woods near Vannes-sur-Cosson, Craon, Clemont, Aubigny-sur-Nere and Salbris. The railway station in Salbris as well as road bridge over the Cher and the canal near Vierzon were also successfully attacked."

Since the account mentions the activities of I./KG76, which does not involve an attack on Rennes, it seems compatible with the previous posts by Arnaud and Robert that the planes which hit Rennes were Do17Zs from III./KG76. I find no further reference to the attack on Rennes in either the "Original" or "Coastal War" Weiss manuscripts, both of which have been translated for June 17th.

I hope that this helps.

Regards.