8. The Plan to Flood Germany’s Industrial Heartland
The Ruhr was and remains Germany’s industrial heartland, and during both world wars, it was the country’s major arms and armaments manufacturing center. For years, even before the start of WWII, the British had explored the feasibility of destroying the Ruhr’s dams to flood the region and disrupt its production. Numerous proposals were examined, but none produced a plan that had a decent chance of success. The problem was accuracy: theoretically, a big enough bomb, such as the 10 ton Earthquake Bomb that burrows deep underground before exploding, could destroy a dam by seismic waves if dropped from 40,000 feet. However, no bomber existed that could carry such a heavy bomb to the required height, then drop it close enough to the targeted dam.
On March 21st, 1943, 617 Squadron, a special Royal Air Force unit, was formed and tasked with destroying dams in the Ruhr Valley. Led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson, bombers were to fly at night along a dangerous route that left them exposed to deadly antiaircraft fire in order to come within viable attack positions, then accurately deliver their ordnance to the targeted dams, notwithstanding protective torpedo nets shielding the concrete structures. The result was Operation Chastise, a daring raid against the Edersee, Sorpe, and Mohne dams conducted on the night of May 16-17, 1943.
