Operation Carthage: R.A.F Mosquito Raid On Copenhagen: March 1945 - Silent Soul Series

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Operation Carthage, on 21 March 1945, was a controversial British air raid on Copenhagen, Denmark, during World War II. The target of raid was the Shellhus, Gestapo headquarters, in the city centre, a building that had been used for the storage of dossiers and the torture of Danish citizens. A similar raid against Gestapo head quarters in Aarhus October 31, 1944, had been successful.
The raid was requested by members of the Danish resistance movement in the hope of freeing imprisoned members and destroying records of the Gestapo. The R.A.F. initially turned down the request as too risky, due to the location in a crowded city core and the need for low-level bombing, but the raid was approved in early 1945 after repeated requests
Once approval had been given, its planning took several weeks. This included producing scale models of the target building, and the surrounding city itself, in preparation for a very low-level attack

The attacking force consisted of Royal Air Force de Havilland Mosquito F.B.VI fast bombers of No. 21 Squadron RAF, No. 464 Squadron RAAF, and No. 487 Squadron RNZAF, from the No. 140 Wing RAF. These were organized in three waves of six aircraft with two RAF reconnaissance Mosquito B.IVs to record the effects of the attack. Thirty RAF P-51 Mustang fighters gave air cover from German aircraft, and these also attacked antiaircraft guns during the raid.

The force left RAF Fersfield in the morning and it reached Copenhagen after 1100 hours. The raid was carried out at the rooftop level. In the course of the initial attack, a Mosquito hit a lamppost, damaging its wing, and the plane crashed into the Jeanne d'Arc School, about 1.5 km (0.93 mi) from the target. Several bombers in the second and third wave attacked the burning school, thinking it was their target, and as a result 86 schoolchildren died in the school, along with 18 adults, including many nuns.

On the following day, a reconnaissance plane surveyed the target to assess the results. The damage was heavy, with the west wing of the six-story building reduced to nearly ground level. The Danish underground supplied a photograph showing the building burning from end to end.

The raid had succeeded in destroying Gestapo headquarters and severely disrupting Gestapo operations in Denmark, as well as allowing the escape of 18 prisoners of the Gestapo. Fifty-five German soldiers, 47 of the Danish employees of the Gestapo, and eight prisoners died in the headquarters itself. Four Mosquito bombers and two Mustang fighters were lost, and nine airmen died on the Allied side.

Technical side:
Film with a GoPro4 - Sony A6300
edit with Filmora.

Music Ave Marie
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Props on the Combat Camera Men who risk thier lives filming actual combat !

SoCalUrbex
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Hey, good morning, wow, that's a Interesting bit of history, I never realized that that had happened in your country, sad in a lot of ways, thanks for bringing us that Anna, cool 👍💕

stevetaylor
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Thank you for highlighting this raid which was one of many daring raids performed by the Mosquito. I hold this aircraft close to my heart as I helped to restore a Mosquito over here in the UK which now lives at East Kirkby Airfield together with a Lancaster Bomber. I have met with many ex aircrew who flew in them, who are now sadly gone. Another great video Anna. Respects

buzzardexploration
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Thank you for sharing this piece of history, there is so much about the war that we are never taught at school.

melblues
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Very good video and that music always gives me goose bumps. Thank you Anna 🥰⚘⚘⚘

jackyhawkins
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Nice history cover, tragic that the raid went so wrong, the Mosquito was an awesome fighter /bomber !

jumpinjack
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Hi Anna wow that end tower with the staircase to the statue was impressive, thats so unfortunately tragic that they mistook the crash site for the target and so many innocents lost their lives, .im glad some prisoners were able to escape from the correct place though, its impressive they actually filmed it ive never seen it before nor knew much about it, I really appreciate you sharing the history thank you, much love my friend

UrbanKiwiana
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Incidentally, I am not asking you to take the video down. This is an important story and the loss of innocent lives needs to be remembered. I am just asking you to add a credit to the RAF for part of the videos content. Thankyou

jmichael
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Excellent video! Just some technical background almost 7781 were built by de Havilland aircraft. It was mostly made out of wood which helped give it it’s speed. Lastly it was produced between 1940-1950 and finally was retired in 1963. A testimony to it’s abilities even during a time when jets were pushing prop aircraft aside. 👍🏻✌🏻🖖🏻

jvatell
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Awesome simply amazing and i love my WWII history thank for sharing.

StantonsJourneys
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Truely a sad tale, saddly it happened many times in war

VEUET
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Hi there, can I ask where you got the raid footage video from? Great stuff.

magnust
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Very interesting story, so you can see what it was like in other countries during the horrors of WW2. Thanks for sharing.

BunkersBPV
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A great historical footage a a great strike against the Nazis! Also Ave Maria is always great and beautiful !!! 🌹

jongalt
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They flew low, but not low enough to hit a lamp "post". The plane hit a 35 M/114 ft lamp tower at the nearby railsystem.

eblita
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My grandfather flew in the first wave. 🇨🇦

Twentypoint
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Thanks for the history lesson, Darlin'. I knew the de Havillands were quite an airplane and very useful. But I had no idea they flew in and attacked a target right in the middle of Copenhagen.
If you ever decided to make some videos to help with online learning, I'm betting you could market them. I love you, Princess.(8-)

tomfrye
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I can’t find any information on where the actual spot was where the shellhus was? Any information on where it is on the map today?

samstevens
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Just saw the movie about it on Netflix

GannicusMisteriosdeHonduras
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Heya Anna. Good night 🌃 from Germany. 💫🐝
The Ave Maria is one of my favorite songs!!! At first it was only a poem.
In later arrangements from our famous composer Schubert it became a hymn. Why do you use a hymn or a chant for a WW2 video??? That confuses me a little bit!!! Did you know that it is a church choir?! Do you have an explanation for that? ♥ Good night 🌃 sweet dreams. Dearest greetings. 💫🐝

Dark-Rose-