All Battles

Bombing of Coventry

1940 • West Midlands Nachtangriff

Historical Overview

The 1939 Coventry bombing was an act of terrorism committed by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 25 August 1939 in which a 5.1 lb bomb upon a bicycle was placed in Coventry city centre in the West Midlands of England as part of the organisation's 1939–40 S-Plan campaign. The explosion resulted in the deaths of five civilians, with over seventy others injured.

Quick Facts

Outcome:German victory.

German Army

  • Commander: Hugo Sperrle
  • Strength: 515 Bomber
  • Casualties: 1 Flugzeug

Civilians

  • Commander: -
  • Strength: -
  • Casualties: ca. 560 Tote

Strategic Context

Testing the effectiveness of night-time carpet bombing.

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