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April 21, 1943 - Luftwaffe raid on the Granite City
For More Events on This Day in Scottish History - https://bagtownclans.com/index.php/thisday/april21/
Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History. I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we turn our attention to a somber chapter in Scotland's wartime past—the Aberdeen Blitz of April 21, 1943. This devastating Luftwaffe air raid brought destruction to the Granite City, claiming 125 lives and leaving thousands homeless. It stands as the deadliest attack on a Scottish city after the Clydebank Blitz. For more stories like this, visit my blog at bagtownclans.com/thisday. The link will be in the description!
Aberdeen, often referred to as "Siren City," was the most frequently bombed city in Britain between 1940 and 1943. Its strategic importance as a port and industrial hub made it a prime target for German air raids. The city's distinctive granite buildings, which gleamed under moonlight, unfortunately made it an easy target for enemy bombers.
On the night of April 21, 1943, around 30 Dornier Do 217 bombers from occupied Norway took to the skies, heading toward Aberdeen. Arriving around 10 p.m., they unleashed a furious 44-minute assault, dropping 127 bombs—including high explosives, incendiaries, and cluster munitions—across the city. The attack was not only from above; the streets were strafed with machine-gun fire, adding to the chaos and destruction.
The raid resulted in the deaths of 98 civilians and 27 soldiers, the latter perishing when a bomb struck the canteen at Gordon Barracks. In addition, 93 people were seriously injured, and 139 sustained lesser injuries. The physical damage was staggering: over 12,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, with 599 rendered uninhabitable. Key structures like Middlefield School, Bedford Road residences, and Royal Cornhill Hospital suffered significant damage.
The psychological impact on Aberdeen's residents was profound. The following day, the city was in shock, grappling with the scale of the devastation. Due to wartime censorship aimed at maintaining morale, newspapers could not mention Aberdeen by name, but the photographs and reports made the location unmistakable.
Despite the destruction, the resilience of Aberdonians shone through. Communities rallied to support one another, and efforts to rebuild began swiftly. The Aberdeen Blitz serves as a poignant reminder of the city's endurance and the sacrifices made during World War II.
Thank you for joining me today on This Day in Scottish History. For more insights into Scotland's rich and complex past, visit my blog at bagtownclans.com/thisday. Until next time, I'm Colin MacDonald—Haste Ye Back!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bagtown.substack.com
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By Bagtown ClansFor More Events on This Day in Scottish History - https://bagtownclans.com/index.php/thisday/april21/
Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History. I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we turn our attention to a somber chapter in Scotland's wartime past—the Aberdeen Blitz of April 21, 1943. This devastating Luftwaffe air raid brought destruction to the Granite City, claiming 125 lives and leaving thousands homeless. It stands as the deadliest attack on a Scottish city after the Clydebank Blitz. For more stories like this, visit my blog at bagtownclans.com/thisday. The link will be in the description!
Aberdeen, often referred to as "Siren City," was the most frequently bombed city in Britain between 1940 and 1943. Its strategic importance as a port and industrial hub made it a prime target for German air raids. The city's distinctive granite buildings, which gleamed under moonlight, unfortunately made it an easy target for enemy bombers.
On the night of April 21, 1943, around 30 Dornier Do 217 bombers from occupied Norway took to the skies, heading toward Aberdeen. Arriving around 10 p.m., they unleashed a furious 44-minute assault, dropping 127 bombs—including high explosives, incendiaries, and cluster munitions—across the city. The attack was not only from above; the streets were strafed with machine-gun fire, adding to the chaos and destruction.
The raid resulted in the deaths of 98 civilians and 27 soldiers, the latter perishing when a bomb struck the canteen at Gordon Barracks. In addition, 93 people were seriously injured, and 139 sustained lesser injuries. The physical damage was staggering: over 12,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, with 599 rendered uninhabitable. Key structures like Middlefield School, Bedford Road residences, and Royal Cornhill Hospital suffered significant damage.
The psychological impact on Aberdeen's residents was profound. The following day, the city was in shock, grappling with the scale of the devastation. Due to wartime censorship aimed at maintaining morale, newspapers could not mention Aberdeen by name, but the photographs and reports made the location unmistakable.
Despite the destruction, the resilience of Aberdonians shone through. Communities rallied to support one another, and efforts to rebuild began swiftly. The Aberdeen Blitz serves as a poignant reminder of the city's endurance and the sacrifices made during World War II.
Thank you for joining me today on This Day in Scottish History. For more insights into Scotland's rich and complex past, visit my blog at bagtownclans.com/thisday. Until next time, I'm Colin MacDonald—Haste Ye Back!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bagtown.substack.com