Bomb craters near Beerendorf
| Place: | Beerendorf (Delitzsch, North Saxony) |
|---|---|
| Type: | Sites of National Socialism | Bomb craters |
| Dating: | Second World War | 1944 AD. |
Description
Impressive evidence of the Second World War can be found in the fields and meadows between Beerendorf and Spröda. The former bomb craters of numerous high-explosive bombs can be seen in the vegetation there. The actual target of the attack was presumably Spröda Airport, which was connected to the nearby ERLA machine works, where Messerschmidt Bf 109 aircraft in particular were manufactured. The bomb craters, which are actually leveled today, are still visible from the air due to the differences in growth caused by the compaction of the crater walls during detonation and the craters subsequently filled with rather loose soil.
Ronald Heynowski/Annemarie ReckCentral Germany becomes a target
Since 1943, there had been repeated targeted attacks by British and American bomber units in central Germany. From the spring of 1944, cities, industrial plants and transport routes were regularly targeted by the Allied Air Force. Their missions are well documented and can be traced today. Among other things, there were also false or emergency airdrops over open fields. In the case of Spröda and Beerendorf near Delitzsch, however, it can be assumed that the bombs were dropped deliberately.
Ronald Heynowski/Annemarie ReckImage Source O. Braasch, Foto ©LfA 1993.
Bombs dropped on Spröda airfield
During the Second World War, Spröda airfield was used to fly in and transfer fighter planes from ERLA-Maschinenwerke, and later aircraft assembly also took place on the site. The first attack with phosphorus incendiary bombs therefore took place on December 29, 1943. This was followed by further explosive bombs on February 20 and July 7, 1944. On August 16, 1944, Spröda Airport was probably hit hardest when it was bombed by 102 Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" aircraft of the U.S. Army Air Forces. The Beerendorf outbuilding was also damaged in this attack.
Ronald Heynowski/Annemarie ReckImage Source R. Heynowski, Foto ©LfA 2003.
Bomb funnel as a fouling feature
The traces of this bombardment can still be seen today in the form of vegetation in the ground. At first glance, they resemble prehistoric burial mounds in their shape and size. They are also round structures of around 6-10 m in diameter, often surrounded by a ring of plants with conspicuously good growth and one with rather poor growth, while the interior of the circular features is often covered with dense vegetation. However, there are also clear differences that can be used to distinguish between bomb craters and burial mounds. For example, the edge zone of the bomb crater is sharp and clearly set off towards the inside, while towards the outside there are unclear, protruding to slightly star-shaped boundaries. In addition, bomb craters can overlap and sometimes deviate from the round shape. A precise analysis of the individual structures and their diameters even makes it possible to relate them to individual bomb types and their explosive forces.
Ronald Heynowski/Annemarie ReckImage Source R. Heynowski, Foto ©LfA 2023.
Literature
Ronald Heynowski, Die Spuren des Zweiten Weltkriegs. In: Regina Smolnik/Ronny Zienert (Hrsg.), Höhenflüge. Luftbilder und Archäologie in Sachsen (Dresden 2024) 106–107.
Wolfram Kaukusch, Die Flugplätze der Luftwaffe im Kreis Delitzsch. Delitzscher Heimatkalender 2006, 84–92.
Rolf Schulze, Der Luftkrieg zwischen 1940 und 1945 im Raum Delitzsch. Delitzscher Heimatkalender 2007, 84–93.
Note on monument protection
Archaeological monuments are protected by the Saxon Monument Protection Act. A permit under monument law is required for ground interventions or construction measures.
Permalink
https://archaeo-sn.de/en/ort/bomb-craters-near-beerendorf/
Citation
Ronald Heynowski/Annemarie Reck, Bomb craters near Beerendorf. In: Landesamt für Archäologie Sachsen, Website archaeo | SN (07.06.2024). https://archaeo-sn.de/en/ort/bomb-craters-near-beerendorf/ (Stand: 23.01.2025)
