Am Alsenplatz

An event in the series Operation Gomorrah - The Architecture of War in EimsbüttelTour title: Destruction, Air War and Reconstruction in EimsbüttelThe “Operation Gomorrah” city tour in Hamburg visits historic sites connected to the air war during World War II and shows how the bombings are still reflected in the cityscape today. The focus is on the Eimsbüttel district, which was particularly hard hit during the attacks. Under the code name Operation Gomorrah, Allied air forces bombed the city of Hamburg in July 1943. Within a few days, one of the most devastating catastrophes of the air war in World War II unfolded. Large parts of the city were destroyed, tens of thousands of people lost their lives, and hundreds of thousands were left homeless. Eimsbüttel was also severely damaged by the massive air raids. After the war, extensive reconstruction began here. In the following years, a development program promoted by the Hamburg Building Authority created hundreds of new apartments. Plaques on many buildings still commemorate the destruction and postwar reconstruction. The Eimsbüttel market square played a central role in this process. After the war, the square became one of the most important collection points for rubble from across Hamburg. Trucks brought tons of bricks, concrete and metal from the destroyed districts there every day.