Bombing damage in the road Breiter Ort
The Stade region was in the direct line of flight for enemy bombs on their way to and from Hamburg. In 1943, while the country was still at war, the then Headmaster and later local historian, Hans-Peter Siemens, wrote in his chronicle of the event: “It was on 3rd February, 1943, when the bomb alert sounded and inhabitants in the road, who were peacefully going about their various tasks – it was nine o’ clock in the evening – were sent hurrying into their air-raid shelters. Hit then followed upon hit, one detonation after the next. In nearly one-and-a-half hours the attack was over; our town was in mourning, with appalling destruction and losses of life to report.”
On this evening, in one bombing attack, ten buildings were destroyed. The highest amount of damage to buildings was in Breiter Ort. Four weeks later, the toll was 29 buildings damaged or destroyed in Osterjork, with eleven dead during these attacks. Troupes of workers, soldiers on leave and even older school children were deployed to help with the clearing up. Later, prisoners of war were employed in the rebuilding work. Neighbours took care of the homeless, looked after the animals and helped to clear scenes of fire. Many photographs were made, even though taking pictures was strictly forbidden.
