WWII bomb killed an elephant?

[Oystaman]

i found this on the net and was wondering if it were true.

The very first bomb dropped by the Allies on Berlin during World War II killed the only elephant in the Berlin Zoo.

If it is true then why were they dropping bombs on the zoo? Maybe it was next to an armaments factory or something.

I cant really see Churchill going “Hmm lousy Krauts. lets hit 'em where it hurts. GO AFTER JUMBO”

eh?

[Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor]

Early bombing by the RAF was none too accurate, in WW2.
Early bombing by the American AAF was none too accurate, in WW2.
Later bombing by the RAF was none too accurate, in WW2.
Later bombing by the American AAF was none too accurate, in WW2.

Ditto the Luftwaffe.

Nobody’s bombing was very accurate , until guided or “smart” weapons came along.
Add bad weather, poor maps, inexperienced aircrews, fighters & flak—it’s no suprise that Jumbo went to Boot Hill.

[APB]

The Tiergarden zoo was in the middle of the city close to the major government buildings, including the Reich Chancellery. A near miss could well have taken out the elephant.

[grimpixie]

*Originally posted by Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor *
Nobody’s bombing was very accurate , until guided or “smart” weapons came along.

Tell that to the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade…

Gp

[bernse]

That smart weapon hit exactly where it was supposed too.

[Darwin_s_Finch]

*Originally posted by Oystaman *
The very first bomb dropped by the Allies on Berlin during World War II killed the only elephant in the Berlin Zoo.

While I don’t doubt for a second that one or more elephants were bombed during the course of the war (not, I’m sure, as primary targets, of course), or even during the first attack on Berlin, I do seriously doubt anyone can prove one way or another that the very first bomb to fall on Berlin is the one which took out the pachyderm in question.

[bonzer]

While I don’t doubt for a second that one or more elephants were bombed during the course of the war (not, I’m sure, as primary targets, of course), or even during the first attack on Berlin, I do seriously doubt anyone can

While it may not have been the case during the first attacks (in 1940), by the time Allied bombing of the city became serious the Zoo actually was a serious target. This was because it’d become the site of one of a handful of massive concrete anti-aircraft batteries. Not a primary strategic target, but a key tactical one. The animals were still in their cages.

[warinner]

Oystaman wrote:

The very first bomb dropped by the Allies on Berlin during World War II killed the only elephant in the Berlin Zoo.

No, it’s not true. There were nine elephants at the Berlin Zoo and they survived unscathed until a RAF raid on November 22/23, 1943.

Check out this account from Ursula Gebel in Martin Middlebrook’s ‘The Berlin Raids:’

My family were shareholders in the Zoo which meant that we had free entrance at any time. In the afternoon of 22 November [1943], being very fond of animals, I went there. I remember staying for a long time at the elephant cage, watching them performing tricks and stunts with the keeper. There were six females and one baby elephant. Just before closing time, the baby elephant turned the handle of a barrel organ and played a goodbye melody.

Next day I went back to the Zoo because I had heard that it had been heavily bombed. It was closed but I managed to get inside through a damaged entrance. I was amazed. There were water-filled craters everywhere and all the buildings were destroyed and burnt out. All the big animal houses were gone. The six female elephants and the baby were nothing but blackened carcasses, roasted to death by phosphorous bombs. A terrible smell lingered above the total destruction of my beloved Zoo. There were blasted and dead animals everywhere. The only living thing, in his big pond, was a big bull hippopotamus called Knautschke, still swimming while above him his shelter burned down.

Only one elephant survived the entire war.

Andrew Warinner