Pforzheim 1945

On February 23, 1945, Pforzheim was almost completely destroyed in an attack by 379 British bombers. Within 22 minutes, up to 17,600 people lost their lives. The bombers and the firestorm that developed in the densely built old town killed 31.4% of the city's population. After Hamburg and Dresden, this was the deadliest attack in Germany. During the later stages of World War II, Pforzheim, a town in southwestern Germany, was bombed several times. The largest raid, and one of the most devastating area bombings of the war, was carried out by the Royal Air Force (RAF) on the evening of February 23, 1945. About one-fifth of the town's population, over 17,000 people, were killed in the air raid, and about 83% of the town's buildings were destroyed.