– This was one of the largest civilian losses in Norway during the war, ” says historian, author, and statsarkivar in Bergen, norway, Yngve Nedrebø.
It was just after the clock nine flyalarmen notified that an attack could come. A half hour later, the alarm again. It meant that it was now the seriously. At Holen school was pupils ordered down in the basement and naturfagsalen. These served as shelters.
It would prove to be fatal. Three bombs hit the school and actually shared it in two.
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the BOMBING OF LAKSEVÅG: the Image is taken from one of the 152 british bombers.
Photo: state archives German ubåtbunker goal
the Aim of the british bombing this relatively mild and fine on the Wednesday was the German ubåtbunkeren “Bruno”. As the crow flies only a few hundred metres away. A completely Norwegian annual consumption of cement was used to build the bunker.
– A TRAGEDY that can NEVER BE FINISHED WITH: Yngve Nedrebø has written a book about the air attacks against the Laksevåg.
Photo: Ole-André Lagmandokk / NRK
It was a key base for the German ubåtvåpenet in search of allied convoys. The british navy thought it was therefore important to get the set out of operation. The air force held, however, again. They believed the danger of high civilian casualties were large.
– The british navy feared the germans ‘new submarines,” says Yngve Nedrebø.
In 2012 he released a book about the allied air attacks against Laksevåg in 1944 and 1945.
the Story of the bombing of Laksevåg is a case you probably will never get finished. New pieces continue to emerge, ” says Nedrebø
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were TOTALLY demolished: Laksevåg after the bombing 4. October 1944. Ubåtbunkeren “Bruno”, to the left, as is the whole.
Photo: university of Bergen Library – ‘ll never Forget
One of the students at the Holen school this oktoberdagen in 1944, the 13-year-old Trygve Freyvald Guldbrandsen. The horrid memories he forget never. NRK interviewed him in connection with the 70-year anniversary of the bombing.
The first thing that came to after the attack was the German ubåtmannskaper. They ran up to the school from the ubåtbunkeren, and treated us as if they were our mothers. Incredibly considerate. Comforted me, said Guldbrandsen in connection with the 70-year anniversary.
I saw it not myself, but others who survived have told that they saw the germans who wept when they pulled out the dead and wounded children.
today, he is 88 years old. He lives in Øystese in Hardanger, where he for many years was a teacher. He believes the Norwegian wartime history has not always been correctly told.
In hindsight, the English dropped away with a lot, ” says Trygve Freyvald Guldbransen 75 years after british aircraft bombed Laksevåg.
also Read: Barnegraver due Trygve Freyvald Gulbrandsen was lying in ruins when the allies bombed Laksevåg for 70 years ago. He was rescued by the germans. You need javascript to see the video.
Trygve Freyvald Gulbrandsen was lying in ruins when the allies bombed Laksevåg for 70 years ago. He was rescued by the germans.
Could be avoided
It was not only the Holen school that was hit this oktoberdagen in 1944. Large parts of the central Laksevåg was laid in ruins. Ubåtbunkeren “Bruno” got minimal damage. Total of 193 people lost their lives. One of the greatest civilian tragedies during the second world war in Norway.
Yngve Nedrebø says it all could and should have been avoided:
The allies knew that the germans would run out of resources in a short period of time. Submarines without the diesel would no longer constituted any danger.
the Attack was the first and foremost of a psychological nature. The united kingdom wanted to show that the germans were unable to defend themselves.
the Price the people at Laksevåg had to pay was very high.
Filmavisen reports in the propaganda-style about what they call an anglo-american terrorist attack on Bergen in 1944. You need javascript to see the video.
Filmavisen reports in the propaganda-style about what they call an anglo-american terrorist attack on Bergen in 1944.
