Normandy in the face of bombing

The city of Rouen was essentially the target of Allied aviation. A large-scale operation intended to hinder the German retreat and to encourage the advance of the troops (planned for the landing) was carried out from 30 May to 5 June. This period will be nicknamed the "red week". The first strategic points were affected: Bridges over the Seine, Port and marshalling yards. But it is also the architectural heritage of the city: Cathedral, Churches, Law Courts and historic centre. There were 400 bombs, each weighing one tonne, 1500 people were killed, 2000 victims and 40000 disaster victims during the "red week".

Finally, on 25 August, the allied air force massively bombed General Von Kluge's army, which had retreated after escaping the encirclement of Falaise. When the town was liberated on 30 August, it was quite largely destroyed, as shown in the photograph, probably taken at that time. It is estimated that nearly 3,000 Rouennais civilians were killed during these allied attacks.

"On April 18, 1944, around 6 p.m., a friend of my father's came to warn us that there were alarming rumours circulating... The Resistance would have been informed that a major bombing was to take place that very night on the marshalling yard and on the bridges! Alas, it was true. A little after midnight, I believe, a second took place. Suddenly, a violent draught swept through our legs. We all screamed and really believed our last hour had come. Miraculously, the torpedo fell a few meters away." Françoise Menuisement's story

The first bombing takes place on June 6 from 13:30 with the release of 156 tons of bombs that killed 500 people. The next day, there are 200 more victims. The bombing took place over 78 days, destroying more than 75% of the city. They took place mainly between June 6 and June 12, to help the troops make their way from the coast to the city. A third act was enough to see a first outcome: on July 7, about 500 bombers, flying low, dropped 2,500 tons of bombs in less than an hour. The British entered a destroyed Caen. The situation was temporary, because the north of the city was still occupied by the Germans. On 17 July, the fourth and last act, the Caennais were liberated.

"We took advantage of a quieter moment to take refuge on Pasteur's street where it was already crowded. In retrospect, I think it's crazy, no one was shouting, no one was crying... There were no more people, rich or poor, it was very supportive. We didn't know if we'd still be alive in the evening or not!" - Anne-Marie Chebance

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The bombing of the city of Le Havre took place between the 5th and 11th September 1944, 80% of the city was destroyed, the city is probably the most devastated in France. The bombing by the Royal Air Force began on 5 September after Lieutenant-General John Crocker proposed to German Colonel Eberhard Wildermuth to surrender, the latter refused.

The toll of this week's shelling was 1,800 tonnes of bombs, 2,053 civilians dead or missing and some 80,000 people affected. More than 11,000 Germans were taken prisoner.

"At 6.10 pm by chance I stand at the window, I see people running and shouting: "They've just launched a rocket, they're going to bomb! ». I grab the suitcases still ready, close the door and go down to the cellar. (...) The bombing rages on. (...) Suddenly, a red glow invades the cellar, a burst shakes the whole building, stones fly in the corridor, dense dust prevents us from breathing, all this is mixed with a smell of sulphur. (...) I believe my last hour has come. The street is just a pile of rubble; the fires are increasing. At home, everything is pulverized, it's unimaginable. (...) I find human remains in my room. Time goes by, the daylight is waning, and Jean doesn't come home..." - Françoise P.