Why was Exeter bombed so much in WW2?
During WW2, Exeter saw 19 air attacks, which caused the death of 265 people.
For a smaller city that didn’t have a military significance, this was quite unusual.
So why was Exeter bombed so much in WW2? Here’s a full explanation.
The Baedeker Blitz
Exeter’s bombing in World War II wasn’t just about strategic targets – it was about sending a message.
The city was hit as part of the “Baedeker Blitz,” a series of retaliatory raids launched by Nazi Germany in response to the Allied bombing of Lübeck, a historic German city.
The Luftwaffe’s goal wasn’t to cripple industry or military installations but to strike at the heart of Britain’s cultural heritage.
The name “Baedeker Blitz” comes from the Baedeker travel guide, which was the then-equivalent of a Rough Guide or Lonely Planet.
The Nazis used this guide as a hit list, choosing targets that were rich in history and architectural beauty.
By bombing these cities, the Nazis aimed to demoralize the British public, attacking not just their homes but their national pride.
Exeter’s strategic and symbolic importance
Exeter, with its ancient cathedral, medieval buildings, and status as a historic centre in the South West, was an obvious target.
The city’s cultural and symbolic importance made it a prime candidate for this campaign of psychological warfare.
The raids were meant to show that nowhere was safe, not even Britain’s most treasured cities. It was an attack on the very identity of the nation.
The impact of the bombing on Exeter
The bombing of Exeter left scars that are still visible today.
The Luftwaffe carried out a series of raids in April and May 1942, with the most devastating attack occurring on the night of 3rd May.
The city’s historic heart bore the brunt of the destruction.
Exeter Cathedral, though damaged, was spared the worst, but many of the surrounding medieval buildings were not so lucky.
Streets that had stood for centuries were reduced to rubble in a matter of hours.
The impact on the civilian population was severe.
Hundreds of homes were destroyed, and many lives were lost.
The city’s infrastructure was shattered, with fires raging across Exeter, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake.
The psychological toll on the survivors was immense; their city, a place of history and beauty, had been violated in the most brutal way.
The long-term effects of the bombing were profound. The destruction of so many historical buildings meant that much of Exeter’s architectural heritage was lost forever. Rebuilding efforts in the post-war years focused on practicality, often at the expense of preserving the city’s original character.
This is why nowadays, Exeter has some beautiful medieval buildings (the Cathedral miraculously was relatively unscathed) but they’re all sandwiched between 1950s quickly built structures.
