World War II History for April 23

Today in WWII History Audio Clip: CBS World News Today from 18 April 1943. World War II History for April 23 23 Apr 1942 – German bombers attacked, nicknamed the "Baedeker Raids," Exeter and later Bath, Norwick, York, and other "medieval-city centres." Almost 1,000 English civilians were killed. On March 28 of the same year, 234 British bombers struck the German port of Lubeck, an industrial town of only "moderate importance." The attack was ordered (according to Sir Arthur Harris, head of British Bomber Command) as more of a morale booster for British flyers than anything else, but the destruction wreaked on Lubeck was significant: Two thousand buildings were totaled, 312 German civilians were killed, and 15,000 Germans were left homeless. As an act of reprisal, the Germans attacked cathedral cities of great historical significance. The 15th-century Guildhall, in York, as an example, was destroyed. The Germans called their air attacks "Baedeker Raids," named for the German publishing company famous for guidebooks popular with tourists. The Luftwaffe vowed to bomb every building in Britain that the Baedeker guide had awarded "three stars."[1] 23 Apr 1942 – In Texas, Kenedy Alien Detention Camp began receiving prisoners. It housed more than 3,500 Japanese, German and other foreign nationals during WWII. [1] "Germans begin "Baedeker Raids" on England," The History Channel website, http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=6430 (accessed Apr 23, 2009).