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| Bombing of Enkhuizen | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part ofWorld War II | |||||
 Damage to theDrommedaris following the bombing. | |||||
| |||||
| Belligerents | |||||
 United Kingdom |  Nazi Germany | ||||
| Units involved | |||||
| Strength | |||||
| 4Typhoon orSupermarine Spitfire IX bombers | |||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
| 24 civilian deaths | |||||
Thebombing of Enkhuizen took place on 15 March 1945, when fourRAF Spitfires targetedGermanWasserschutzpolizei boats in the city’s port.[1] The bombs missed their targets, striking the neighbourhood instead. The raid, which lasted about two minutes, killed 24 civilians, wounded many, and caused extensive damage to the harbour district.[2]
According to a British report, the motive for the bombing was the threat created by the presence of twelveWasserschutzpolizei boats moored in the port of the city.[2] These had been stationed there by theNazis to prevent residents from fleeing to the liberated side ofIJsselmeer. There were fears that the boats could be used for a German attack on the liberated east of the Netherlands.
At approximately 15:30 on Sunday, March 15, fourSpitfires flew overEnkhuizen at a low altitude from the west with the German boats as their target. Though the bombs covered much of the area, the boats in thedry dock were not hit. The planes then flew to the IJsselmeer and returned for another attack, which was unsuccessful. During the bombing, one of the British planes was hit and crashed nearKatwoude. The pilot was rescued by theDutch resistance, and taken into hiding for the remainder of the war.
The bombardment lasted two minutes, during which the aircraft dropped 1.7 tons of bombs on the port of Enkhuizen.[2]
Instead of the dry docks, the bombs hit the surrounding neighbourhood, which resulted in 24 civilian casualties, many wounded, and widespread damage.[1][3] The bombing led to the collapse of theDrommedaris bridge and the building damaged. Other buildings around the port, especially the carpenter, sustained heavy damage.[2]
Those who died in the bombings, along withAllied airmen who crashed nearby, are buried in the Enkhuizen General Cemetery, which also includesCommonwealth war graves.[4]
