What were some of the biggest losses incurred? For example-Largest number of B-17s lost on a raid-etc etc etc It will be interesting to see what everyone comes up with...
Panzer, not my area of expertise, but I seem to recall there was a date in 1943 called "Black Wed" (Thrus, Fri?) There were so many bombers lost that daylight bombing was cancelled for a while.
Your correct about that. I just dont recall details. I seem to remember that they lost 80 something bombers out of appx 120?
You guys are killing me kidding......but there are several big nasty dates that stung the 8th A.Force over the Reich. During October 1943 the Bomber formations remained largely unescorted. Only by a couple of P-47 fighter groups which had to turn around once they were within site of Germany, due to lack of fuels. Only when the 9th A.F. 354th fighter group, equipped with the P-51 did the Allied escorts make the Luftwaffe feel the sting of their guns. October 14, 1943 where the US bombers lost 60 plus bombers and in return claimed over 360 Luftwaffe a/c, but in reality the Luftwaffe lost around 60 themselves. January 11, 1944 where the Allies lost another 60 plus bombers(this mission is being studied in lenght by our forum friend Stevin O !) The Allies claimed a total of 257 German a/c but in reality the Luftwaffe lost only 39. When the Germans switiched tactics in the summer of 44 with heavily armed Fw 190's and protected by escort staffeln, Allied losses started to mount again the high point possibly for these heavy Fw 190 fighters was on September 27, 1944 where over 32 B-24's were shot down out of the sky in less than 5 minutes, all from the 445th bomb group who in the bomber stream took a wrong turn and were in event un-protected by P-51's. I am currently helping two surving crewmen of the 445th write a book about this mission.....Kassel, September 27, 1944. E
Here is most probably the largest loss during the battles over the Reich at night. March 30/31, 1944. Over 110 RAF bombers were lost over Germany in an attack on Nürnberg/Schweinfurt areas......Forhheim and Erlangen, Gräfenberg. At least 95 of the bombers were reported as missing in action due to either Flak or German night fighter activity. No one source either British or German has ever agreed as the the firm numbers of a/c of both sides reported shot down. From the BA/MA archiv's from Freiburg, Germany reports of a total of 108 claims for RAF bombers......gag ! E
Largest German losses on land: Operation Balgration: Soviet offensive against Army Group Center. German losses equal 350,000 men (28 divisions)
The largest losses always come through surrenders, rather than casualties. Look at the German encirclements of entire Russian armies in the opening stages of Barbarossa, or the UK surrender at Singapore. There is also the American "losses" in the first wave of the Bulge, where whole regiments from green US divisioons surrendered.
OK. Anfentitten is right... We must remember September 1941: the battle for Kiev. Army Group South of Von Runstedt surounded and destroyed five Soviet armies. Making a total of aproximately 650.000+ men. Perhaps 750.000! And that is without counting Bjialostok, Minsk, Smoliensk... We should remember also February 3rd 1943: 350.000 men lost in a city on the Volga... I am at my office now, so I cannot post too much, but will do it later. (I am working during holidays... 11 hours a day!)
Let's be more specific here ! Are we talking a single days battle like the first posts or are we mentioning multibattle-campaigns ? When it is mentioned that 100's of thousands of Soviet troops are captured this obviously has incurred during many days of fighting...... E
