Heart of Berlin Bombed

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 217, 13 September 1940, Page 8

Heart of Berlin Bombed

BOMB REPORTED TO HAVE HIT REICHSTAG Nazis Admit Numerous Fires United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. LONDON, September 11. While London was receiving its nightly dose of German air brutality on the night of Tuesday and Wednesday, Berlin, according to neutral correspondents, was given a strong taste of its own medicine when the R.A.F. penetrated the capital’s defences and bombed Central Berlin. A thermite bomb crashed through the roof of the Reichstag and smouldered in the hall before being extinguished. The Reichstag is not used at present, and is still undergoing reconstruction after the 1933 fire. Other bombs fell in this district, which contains Government offices. Incendiary bombs peppered the area around the United States Embassy, near which a 5001 b. bomb fell. A high-explosive bomb was dropped near the Ministry of the Interior, smashing ground-floor windows in a building occupied by an American news service. A heavy bomb landed in the centre of the Avenue of Splendour, which is Hitler’s particular pride.

An Air Ministry communique describes the concentrated bombing of the big Potsdam Railway Station in the centre of the city, and states that a large fire and other smaller fires were caused on the targets. Thi; station is one of Germany's matin termini, and handles traffic for Magdeburg and South-Western Germany.

The Air Ministry news service says that the R.A.F. repeatedly hit Potsdam Station with heavy bombs and several hundred incendiaries. The pilots of all the British machines claimed several direct hits on the station and yards. Several planes attacked by gliding through the anti-aircraft barrage. Fires broke out as showers of incendiary bombs fell. One fire was particularly large, and there were several smaller ores. The raiders left for home after releasing all their bombs.

Agency reports from Berlin state that bombs also fell on the famous Berlin boulevard, Untcr den Linden, and near the Wilhelmstrasse, where the Fgich Chancellery and Foreign Office are situated. The Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press of America says the Reichstag, the interior of which was burnt when the Nazis come to power in 1933. was struck »y an Incendiary bomb during the raid. It is stated that the City was so well lit up by flares that it was possible to read a newspaper in the light. •

The Air Ministry communique on the raid on Berlin states: “Potsdam station was repeatedly hit with heavy bombs and some 100 incendiary bombs when the Royal Air Force again raided the German capital last night. There was ground-haze over most of the city, but the aircraft located the target at 12.15 a.m. and began the attack. All the planes which took part claimed direct hits, and fires broke out. One of them was particularly large, and there were a number of smaller Arcs.’' The German news agency admits that a 151 b. incendiary bomb fell ten feet from Dr. Goebbels’s residence in Berlin, tearing a deep hole in The Berlin radio states that a de-layed-action bomb which fell in the grounds of the United States -Embassy cannot be removed and will destroy not only the Embassy but other important buildings if it explodes. The police have closed several streets of Berlin because of the fear of time bombs. To-day’s German communique says: “On Tuesday night, bhe enemy bombed various localities in north France, Belgium and northern Germany, but caused little damage. A few enemy planes succeeded in reaching Berlin and dropping bombs there. Numerous fires l roke out in the residential and bilsicess quarters. In the centre of the town, two hospitals were hit. A few streets had to be temporarily evacuated in the diplomatic quarter owing to the danger of the collapse of buildings. One bomb fell on the Reichstag building au l another on the Academy of Art. Five civilians were killed and several injured. The Security and Auxiliary Services, by energetic action, together with members of the civil population, prevented numerous incendiary bomos from doing great damage. "