Figure 1.--The Wehrmacht's spectacular ground advances brought Moscow within range of the Luftwaffe by early-July. Hitler was anxious to get on with the job of leveling the city. These Moscow youths helped fight the fires started by the German air raids. The photograph was sent by wire on July 30, 1941 which is why it is so blury. The caption read, "Air Raid Fire Fighters: These Moscow boys, according to Soviet sources, destinguished themselves by fighting the fires set by German incendiary bombs dropped on the Russian capital." Notice the tongs and gloves for handling the incendiaries.

Hitler and Wehrmacht planners in the opening phase of Barbarossa were optimistically predicting that they would be in Moscow within weeks. The Wehrmacht was achieving stunning successes, but it was soon apparent that they would not reach Moscow in a few weeks. The Wehrmacht drive east did bring Moscow within range of Lufwaffe bombers and Hitler was anxious to get on with the task of destroying Moscow. Hitler at this stage ordered the Luftwaffe to initiate terror attacks on the the Soviet capital. Hitler's instruction to Luftwaffe chief Hermann Göring were to level both Moscow and Leningrad to the ground (July 8). He wanted to ensure that there "will be left no inhabitants that we will have to supply during the winter". Hitler issued the final order for the implementation of these raids--Führer Order No. 33 (July 19, 1941). The Luftwaffe staged a series of air raids. The first strike on Moscow was carried out by 195 bombers (July 21). That was not a force that could destroy a city the size of Moscow. Not only werw only 195 bombers involved, but they were medium twin-engine bombers designed for tacticl upport not heavy four engine bombers with large bomb loads. And they were operating a greater distances than the bombers that carried out the Blitz on London. And unlike the Battle of Britain, the Luftwaffe when there was no army operations to support, the Luftwaffe had massive army operations to support. Hitler was especially anxious to destroy the Kremlin. The emense area covered by Moscow was an imposing target for the limited Luftwaffe force available. The Luftwaffe, somewhat to its surprise, was confronted with dense air defenses. The Luftwaffe had smashed the Red Air Force in the opening days of Barbarossa. Stalin had moved much of his air force west where it was very vulnerable. Thus Barbarossa unfolded with little serious oposition from the Red Air Firce. Moscow was different. General-Mayor Mikhail Gromadin coomanding Moscow Air Defense District (Moskovskaya Zona PVO) had assembeled 585 fighters. More than half were modern types (170 MiG-3s, 95 Yak-1s, 75 LaGG-3s, 200 I-16s and 45 I-153s). Moscow was also ringed by dense anti-aircraft batteries--1,044 anti-aircraft guns. The Germans hit Moscow again with 115 bombers (July 22) and 100 bombers (July 23). The Luftwaffe was unable to maintain even this limited level of attacks. The Soviet defenses and the demands of Wehrmacht for air support forced the Luftwaffe to end large-scale raids on Moscow. The number of bombers was decreased from 100 during the third night to 50, 30, and finally no more than 15. The Luftwaffe terror campaign was reduced to nuisance raids. The raids caused only limited damage to important targets. The Kremlin in particular still stood defiently. The effectively organized Civil Defense units also limited the damage. There were, however, substantial civilian casualties. Civilians as well as officials sought refuge in the deep tunnels of the newly constructed Moscow Metro. The Wehrmacht as Barbarossa developed would move much closer to Moscow, but attrition, the weather, and the need to support ground units would prevent them from staging a major Blitz on Moscow.

Created: 7:53 AM 2/15/2011
Last updated: 7:54 AM 2/15/2011