During World War II, the eastern Estonian town Narva suffered from many aerial bombings by the Soviet Air Force between 1941 and 1944. Most of the buildings in the city was destroyed during the war, only 198 out of 3550 buildings were considered habitable. [1] The most damaging of these air raids are called the 'March bombings', destroying most of the city and killing hundreds.
After the Baltic States was invaded and occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940, Nazi Germany launched their invasion of the Soviet Union and the territories it occupied in 1941. German forces captured Narva in August 1941, [2] and the town remained in German occupation until 1944. After heavy fighting during the Battle of Narva, causing heavy casualties on both sides, Narva was recaptured by the Soviet forces in July 1944, after German troops withdrew from the area. [3] [4]
During the Summer War, German forces captured Narva in August 1941, [2] and the city faced minor damage due to small scale aerial bombing raids by the Soviet Union. The city would remain facing small scale air raids by the Soviet Union until 1944, [5] which would be known as the March Bombings (Estonian: Märtsipommitamine), which affected a number of Estonian cities. [6]
Starting from 25 January 1944 to 3 March 1944, a majority of the city's population was evacuated as battles approached and the Battle of Narva began. [7] The Battle of Narva began on 2 February 1944, between soldiers fighting under the Nazi German army and soldiers fighting under the Soviet army to obtain the Narva Isthmus, which was strategically important.
In late February/early March, Soviet command planned multiple air raids on Narva, and other Estonian cities, including Estonia's capital, Tallinn. Narva experienced these air raids on March 6, 7, and 8, causing major infrastructural and civilian/soldier casualties. Around 100 Soviet bombers participated in these aerial raids on Narva. [7] These air raids that affected cities in Estonia was known as the March Bombings (Estonian: Märtsipommitamine). The city was further damaged during the battle from artillery shelling by both sides. [8]
Narva was bombed again on 25 July 1944, and Narva was recaptured by the Soviet forces on 26 July 1944, after German troops withdrew from the area. [3] [4]
This is a small list of air raids that Narva experienced from 1941-1944. [9]
Narva experienced around 30 air raids in late 1941. Railway structures and bridges were targeted to disrupt German supply and troop movement. [8]
Many buildings were destroyed during the air raids and general engagements in and around Narva. At the start of 1944, around 10% of Narva was destroyed, but in late July, 95-98% of the city was destroyed. [10] [1] After World War II, some buildings could be restored, but in the 1950s, Soviet authorities removed the ruins of Narva to build apartment buildings. [10]
Narva's medieval town, dating back to the late 1600's, was almost entirely destroyed. Only a few structures were restored; the Narva Town Hall and the Hermann Castle. [11]
Civilian casualties were fairly low, due to the evacuation which evacuated 85% of the city's population. Around 900 people died during the actual air raids during 1944. [12] In 1939, Narva's total population measured 22,400, but in 1945, the city's population measured ~6,600. [13] This significant decrease is mainly due to evacuations, but also due to deportations, refugees, relocations, and other deaths during the war. [14]
Narva is a municipality and city in Estonia. It is located in the Ida-Viru County, at the eastern extreme point of Estonia, on the west bank of the Narva river which forms the Estonia–Russia international border. With 53,626 inhabitants Narva is Estonia's third largest city after capital Tallinn and Tartu.
Harju County, is one of the fifteen counties of Estonia. It is situated in northern Estonia, on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland, and borders Lääne-Viru County to the east, Järva County to the southeast, Rapla County to the south, and Lääne County to the southwest. The capital and largest city of Estonia, Tallinn, is situated in Harju County. Harju is the largest county in Estonia in terms of population, as almost half (45%) of Estonia's population lives in Harju County.
World War II (1939–1945) involved sustained strategic bombing of railways, harbours, cities, workers' and civilian housing, and industrial districts in enemy territory. Strategic bombing as a military strategy is distinct both from close air support of ground forces and from tactical air power. During World War II, many military strategists of air power believed that air forces could win major victories by attacking industrial and political infrastructure, rather than purely military targets. Strategic bombing often involved bombing areas inhabited by civilians, and some campaigns were deliberately designed to target civilian populations in order to terrorize them and disrupt their usual activities. International law at the outset of World War II did not specifically forbid the aerial bombardment of cities – despite the prior occurrence of such bombing during World War I (1914–1918), the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), and the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945).
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The Battle of Narva was a World War II military campaign, lasting from 2 February to 10 August 1944, in which the German Army Detachment "Narwa" and the Soviet Leningrad Front fought for possession of the strategically important Narva Isthmus.
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This is a sub-article to Leningrad–Novgorod Offensive and Battle of Narva.
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