Bombing of Schweinfurt

Historic Audio Walk in Schweinfurt

Schweinfurt, 1943: At the height of WWII, this center of ball bearing production so important to the German war effort becomes a focal point in world history. The Allies hope to immobilize the German armed forces by destroying the arms industry headquartered here from the air. The Nazi regime counters by erecting numerous bunker facilities and an impressive cordon of anti-aircraft weaponry around the city. Along with soldiers and prisoners of war, high school boys and girls from all over northern Bavaria are mobilized for the defense of Schweinfurt. The air raid on October 14th, 1943 goes down in history as “Black Thursday”, the greatest defeat ever suffered by US air power. But how did Schweinfurt’s residents experience these events, perhaps the most dramatic in the city’s history? We invite you to set off on a search for clues to answers for this question, based on the actual destinies of real individuals. The app takes you to the original sites where these things occurred. Streets and buildings, along with less conspicuous relics, continue to tell the story of these tragic events. Photos, vivid reports and archive material that has previously been largely ignored beckon you to discover this city’s history anew. The free smartphone app is aimed at an audience of all educational levels and age groups that has an interest in history. The app can be activated via the city’s official websites, at the Tourism Office and by scanning the QR codes posted at the designated sites.

The audio tour itself lasts approximately one hour. All in all, you should plan roughly two-and-a-half hours from start to finish.