During World War II, many cities in Europe were bombed and destroyed. However, one city that remained relatively untouched was Prague, the capital city of Czechoslovakia.
This led to the question: Why wasn’t Prague bombed during World War II? There are several reasons why this happened.
Geography
One reason why Prague was not bombed during World War II is because of its geography. The city is located in a valley, surrounded by hills and mountains.
This made it difficult for bombers to Target the city accurately. The hills and mountains also provided natural barriers that protected the city from aerial attacks.
Cultural Importance
Prague is a city with a rich cultural heritage. It has many historic buildings, museums, and art galleries that attract tourists from all over the world.
During World War II, there were concerns about damaging these cultural treasures. The Allies did not want to risk destroying them, as they knew it would have a detrimental impact on the world’s cultural heritage.
Resistance Movement
Another reason why Prague was not bombed during World War II is because of the resistance movement in Czechoslovakia. The Czech resistance played an important role in disrupting German operations in the country.
They also provided valuable intelligence to the Allies. Bombing Prague could have had unintended consequences, such as killing members of the resistance movement or damaging their operations.
Bomber Command’s Priorities
The priorities of Bomber Command during World War II were strategic Targets such as military installations, factories, and transportation hubs. Prague did not have any significant military installations or factories that were deemed necessary for winning the war. As such, it was not considered a priority Target for bombing.
The Munich Agreement
Another reason why Prague was not bombed during World War II is because of the Munich Agreement signed on September 30, 1938. This agreement allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland, a region in Czechoslovakia that was inhabited by ethnic Germans.
In return, Germany promised not to make any further territorial demands in Europe. This agreement essentially gave Germany permission to invade Czechoslovakia without facing any military intervention from the Allies.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are several reasons why Prague was not bombed during World War II. Its geography made it difficult to Target accurately, it was a city with a rich cultural heritage that the Allies did not want to risk damaging, and the resistance movement made bombing the city a risky proposition.
Additionally, Bomber Command’s priorities were focused on strategic Targets rather than cities like Prague that did not have any significant military installations or factories. Finally, the Munich Agreement gave Germany permission to invade Czechoslovakia without facing any military intervention from the Allies. All of these factors combined meant that Prague remained relatively untouched during World War II.