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(Saturday, March 28, 1942, 11:18 p.m.-Palm Sunday, March 29, 1942, 2:58 a.m. Central European Summer Time; during the Bombing of Lübeck in World War II) — Lübeck became the first German city to be attacked in substantial numbers tonight when the Royal Air Force created a firestorm that caused severe damage to the historic centre, with bombs destroying three of the main churches and large parts of the built-up area.

About 400 tons of bombs were dropped by 234 Wellington and Stirling bombers, including 25,000 incendiary devices and a handful of 1.8-tonne landmines. The strike cost the RAF Bomber Command twelve planes.

Thirty percent of the city was destroyed, with the medieval town center accounting for 80 percent or more of the total. 15,000 Germans were displaced.

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The attack was carried out in three waves, with the first consisting of experienced aircrew in aircraft equipped with Gee electronic navigation systems (although Lübeck was beyond Gee’s range, it aided preliminary navigation).

This was the start of Bomber Command’s new policy of attacking civilian areas rather than industry. Lubeck was chosen because it is an old medieval town with small alleys and wooden framed dwellings, making it a better candidate for burning.