Horror of Hamburg spreads

4th August 1943: As the sequence of bombing raids on Hamburg ends the traumatised survivors seek refuge around Germany

An oblique aerial view of severely damaged docks in the Steinwerder district of Hamburg, looking southwest from over the Rive Elbe. The area was subjected to repeated attacks by Bomber Command and USAAF raids.

Bodies lying in the streets of Hamburg after the firestorm when hurricane-force fiery winds sucked the oxygen out of the air,

The scale of the destruction in Hamburg overwhelmed the fire and rescue services.

The last bombing raid of Operation Gomorrah, the coordinated bombing of Hamburg, took place on the night of 2nd August. The bomber force hit a thunderstorm as it approached the target area, Pathfinder marking could not take place and the eventual bombing was widely dispersed. Yet a final attack was hardly needed after the series of attacks since 24th July and the firestorm of the night 27th-28th. Hamburg had been devastated in a shocking blow. The message to Germany had been delivered.