One of the main squares in Pforzheim, Germany, is called the Square of the 23rd of February 1945.
On that day, shortly before the end of the Second World War, 379 British bombers destroyed the city in only twenty-two minutes, killing more than 18,000 people — nearly a third of the population.
This was the highest percentage of the population killed in any German city, and the attack was the third most devastating of the war, after Dresden and Hamburg.
Platz der Synagoge, Pforzheim
This “Square of the Synagogue” in Pforzheim marks the (approximate) location of the Jewish Synagogue that was destroyed by the Nazis during their pogrom night in November 1938.
My photos in this post are from 2007. I revised the text in 2021.
See more posts on Pforzheim, Germany.
See also: Stumbling blocks in Freiburg, Germany.
It seems a shame that while the bombing of Dresden and Hamburg is well known, I for one had never heard about the devastation of Pforzheim
So terribly sad . . .
I knew about Dresden and Hamburg but not this. You keep giving me things that I need to go away and research, so thank you for that. In fact, apart from the name, it occurs to me that I know very little about Pforzheim at all.
Stunning history of Pforzheim- Wow. Jarring to think of that much loss in such little time.
As always thanks for sharing your travels and history. 🙂