Bombing of Timișoara in World War II

During World War II, the Romanian city of Timișoara was subject to several aerial bombing raids by both Allied and Axis forces. From 1943 to 1944, the Royal Air Force (RAF) and United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) conducted both leaflet drops and strategic bombing raids over Timișoara. Following the 1944 Romanian coup d'état, the Luftwaffe and Hungarian Air Force conducted bombing raids against Timișoara.

The first Allied bombing raid against Timișoara occurred on 30 September 1943, when they conducted leaflet drops over Romanian Banat to sway local sentiments sentiment against the Axis. Subsequent Allied aerial raids until 16 June 1944 primarily consisted of leaflet drops and reconnaissance missions. An exception occurred on April 3, 1944, when Allied aircraft dropped bombs over Periam, Becicherecu Mic, Sânandrei, Variaș, Pesac, and Saravale, but these raids caused no significant damage. On 16 June 1944, when 44, or according to other sources, 41, or 39 a joint force of RAF and USAAF aircraft flew over the city and dropped approximately 100 tons of bombs which caused substantial damage to Timișoara, with significant impacts on the city's classification yards, industrial and local infrastructure and residential buildings. The raid resulted in 12 killed, 56 wounded and extensive destruction. Subsequent raids followed the next days continuing the destruction.

A particularly devastating attack took place on July 3, 1944, where 110 USAAF B-24 Liberators dropped 227.75 tons of bombs, in 94 sorties, leading to 90 deaths, 162 seriously injured and severe damage across the city. The bombings, which also targeted the city's classification yards, caused extensive casualties and damage to industrial and local infrastructure and residential buildings too.

Allied air raids over Timiș-Torontal County continued in July and August 1944 with more leaflet drops. After Romania switched sides to the Allies on August 23, 1944, Luftwaffe and Hungarian Air Force bombing raids on Timișoara intensified, primarily involving terror tactics such as intentionally targeting local civilians, which resulted in dozens of deaths. Such Axis raids also included leaflet drops, reconnaissance flights, and attacks on Allied supply lines and classification yards. On October 31/November 1, 1944, a joint German-Hungarian air force bombed the city, killing 10 and destroying 188 buildings.