bombing of Coventry

E6102

The bombing of Coventry was a devastating World War II German air raid on the English city of Coventry in November 1940, causing massive destruction and civilian casualties and becoming a symbol of the Blitz.


Statements (56)
Predicate Object
instanceOf World War II event
aerial bombing
military operation
war crime allegation
aftermath extensive urban destruction
major disruption of industrial production
strengthening of British resolve
aircraftUsed Dornier Do 17 bombers
Heinkel He 111 bombers
Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive bombers
Junkers Ju 88 bombers
airDefense Anti-aircraft artillery around Coventry
RAF night fighters
alsoKnownAs Coventry Blitz
attacker Luftwaffe
belligerent Nazi Germany
United Kingdom
buildingsDamagedOrDestroyed more than 43,000 houses
buildingsDestroyed over 4,300 homes
cathedralStatus medieval cathedral ruined
civilianDeaths around 568 people
civilianInjured over 1,200 people
codename Operation Mondscheinsonate
commander Albert Kesselring
Hugo Sperrle
conflict Second World War
country United Kingdom
defensiveForce Royal Air Force
endDate 1940-11-15
historicalDebate controversy over extent of prior British intelligence knowledge
industrialFacilitiesDamagedOrDestroyed around 75 percent of city’s factories
legacy inspired term "to coventrate" meaning to devastate a city by bombing
preserved ruins of old Coventry Cathedral as memorial
location Coventry
method area bombing
strategic bombing
navigationSystemUsedByAttackers Knickebein radio navigation system
X-Gerät radio navigation system
notableStructureDestroyed Coventry Cathedral
St Michael’s Cathedral
numberOfAircraft more than 400 German bombers
partOf World War II
the Blitz
result German tactical success but strategic failure
startDate 1940-11-14
symbolism symbol of civilian suffering in war
symbol of the Blitz
target City of Coventry
Coventry city centre
industrial facilities in Coventry
time night of 14–15 November 1940
translationOfCodename Moonlight Sonata
weapon high-explosive bombs
incendiary bombs
parachute mines
year 1940

Referenced by (9)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Operation Mondscheinsonate ("Coventry Blitz")
bombing of Coventry ("Coventry Blitz")
alsoKnownAs
Blitz ("Coventry Blitz")
The Blitz ("Coventry Blitz")
notableEvent
Moonlight Sonata ("Luftwaffe air raid on Coventry")
codenameFor
Coventry Cathedral ("Coventry Blitz")
destroyedInEvent
Luftwaffe
involvedIn
British home front during World War II ("Coventry Blitz")
significantEvent
Coventry ("Coventry Blitz")
wasBombedInEvent

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