Bombing of Wesel in World War II Wesel became a target of the
Allies, particularly in its strategic position as a depot with
bridges on the Rhine. On the 16, 17, 18 and 19 February 1945,
the town was attacked by the Royal Air Force with impact and
air-burst weapons and almost entirely destroyed. On 23 March,
Wesel came under the fire of over 3,000 guns when it was
bombarded anew, in preparation for Operation Plunder. That day
80 Lancasters from No. 3 Group RAF attacked Wesel Then that
night of 23/24 March, 195 Lancasters and 23 Mosquitos of RAF
Bomber Command No. 5 Group aided in the softening up of the
German defenders. 97% of the town was destroyed before it was
finally taken by Allied troops and the population had fallen
from almost 25,000 in 1939 to 1,900 in May 1945. The town was
taken quickly with 36 civilian casualties. Field-Marshal
Montgomery said "the bombing of Wesel was a masterpiece, and was
a decisive factor in making possible our entry into the town
before midnight." See also  |This article abo