Atlas of Battles

battle, major, interwar and Second World War

Rotterdam Blitz

Rotterdam Blitz was a battle fought in 1940 at Rotterdam, in what is now Netherlands. It was part of World War II, which ran from 1939 to 1945. The recorded result: German victory; 884 civilian casualties; Destruction of the city centre. Recorded strength: No remaining operational fighter aircraft against 80 aircraft directly involved; 700 involved in concurrent operations.

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Fought1940
WhereRotterdam, Netherlands51.964N, 4.451E
OutcomeGerman victory; 884 civilian casualties; Destruction of the city centre
BelligerentsNetherlandsagainstGermany
Casualties and losses1,150 killed, including 210 soldiers; LVA and MLD virtually destroyedand125 soldiers
Part ofWorld War IIGerman invasion of the Netherlands

Where it sits in World War II

Battle of Pochonbo, 1937Battle of Wizna, 1939Bombing of Warsaw in World War II, 1939Baltic Sea campaigns, 1939Battle of Lwów, 1939Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski, 1939Battle of Łódź, 1939Battle of Cześniki, 1939Battle of Mikołów, 1939Battle of Pszczyna, 1939Battles of Parczew, Jabłoń and Milanów, 1939Adriatic Campaign of World War II, 1939Battle of Durrës, 19391939 Invasion of Poland, 1939Battle of Westerplatte, 1939Operation Tannenberg, 1939Defense of the Polish Post Office in Danzig, 1939Bombing of Wieluń, 1939Battle of Mława, 1939Charge at Krojanty, 1939Defense of the Coast of Poland in the September Campaign, 1939Battle of Mokra, 1939Battle of the Border, 1939Battle of Chojnice, 1939Battle of Lasy Królewskie, 1939Battle of Węgierska Górka, 1939Battle of Grudziądz, 1939Battle of Jordanów, 1939Battle of Częstochowa, 1939Battle of Borowa Góra, 1939Raid on Fraustadt, 1939Bombing of the railway station in Koło, 1939Battle of the Atlantic, 1939Defense of Katowice, 1939Battle of Piotrków Trybunalski, 1939Battle of Różan, 1939Bombing of Wilhelmshaven in World War II, 1939Battle of Tuchola Forest, 1939Battle of Tomaszów Mazowiecki, 1939Battle of Pułtusk, 1939Battle of Krasną, 1939Saar Offensive, 1939Battle of Łomża, 1939Siege of Warsaw, 1939Battle of Radom, 1939Siege of Gdynia, 1939Defense of Ochota and Wola (1939), 1939Battle of Wola Cyrusowa, 1939Battle of Odrzywoł, 1939Battle of the Bzura, 1939Battle of Hel, 1939Battle of Kampinos Forest, 1939Battle of Kępa Oksywska, 1939Battle of Jarosław, 1939Battle of Mrogą, 1939Trip to Wawrzyszew, 1939Battle of Przemyśl, 1939Battle of Kałuszyn, 1939Raid on Okęcie and Załuski, 1939Battle of Modlin, 1939Battle of Brześć Litewski, 1939Battle of Kobryń, 1939Battle of Jaworow, 1939Slovak invasion of Poland, 1939Battle of Biłgorajem, 1939Soviet invasion of Poland, 1939Battle of Wilno, 1939Battle of Wólka Węglowa, 1939Battle of Grodno, 1939Battle of Kamionka Strumiłowa, 1939Battle of Krasnobród, 1939Skirmish near Kalety, 1939Battle of Husynne, 1939Battle of Rawa Ruska, 1939Battle of Władypol, 1939Battle of Szack, 1939Battle of Wytyczno, 1939Battle of Kock, 1939Sinking of HMS Royal Oak, 1939Battle of the River Forth, 1939Battle of the River Plate, 1939Battle of the Heligoland Bight, 1939Battle of Britain, 1940Operation Weserübung, 1940Norwegian heavy water sabotage, 1940Siege of Calais, 1940Manchester Blitz, 1940Liverpool Blitz, 1940Namsos Campaign, 1940Bristol Blitz, 1940Southampton Blitz, 1940Cardiff Blitz, 1940bombardments of Venlo, 1940Newcastle Blitz, 1940Bombing of Kaiserslautern in World War II, 1940Norwich Blitz, 1940Altmark Incident, 1940Åndalsnes landings, 1940Kampene i Lunner, Oppland, 1940World War II bombing of Steinkjer, 1940Battle of Hallingdal, 1940Action in the Oslofjord, 1940Norwegian Campaign, 1940German invasion of Denmark, 1940Battles of Narvik, 1940Battle of Drøbak Sound, 1940Battle of Horten Harbour, 1940Capture of Arendal, 1940Capture of Egersund, 1940Battle of Midtskogen, 1940bombing of Elverum 1940, 1940Battle of Dombås, 1940Battle of Hegra Fortress, 1940the battle of Bjørnefjell 1940, 1940Battle of Gratangen, 1940Battle of Høljarast Bridge, 1940Battle for Kvam, 1940Battle of Eiunna Bridge, 1940Bombing of Kristiansund, 1940Bombardment Sint-Niklaas, 1940Battle of Vinjesvingen, 1940Siege of Fort Hegra, 1940Battle of France, 1940German invasion of Belgium, 1940Battle of Fort Eben-Emael, 1940German invasion of Luxembourg, 1940Battle for The Hague, 1940Battle of Maastricht, 1940Battle of Bree and Bocholt, 1940Battle of the Grebbeberg, 1940Battle of Mill, 1940Battle of Hannut, 1940Battle of the Afsluitdijk, 1940Battle of Sedan, 1940German invasion of the Netherlands, 1940Rotterdam Blitz, 1940Battle of Gembloux, 1940Battle of La Horgne, 1940Battle of Leuven, 1940Battle of Montcornet, 1940Battle of Arras, 1940Battle of Boulogne, 1940Battle of the Lys, 1940Battle of Gijzenzele, 1940Battle of Stonne, 1940Battle of Dunkirk, 1940Battle of the Ypres-Comines Canal, 1940Belgian share in the evacuation of Dunkirk, 1940Siege of Lille, 1940Bombing of Genoa in World War II, 1940Actions in Nordland, 1940Dunkirk evacuation, 1940Battle of Abbeville, 1940Bombing of Ingøy, 1940Operation Juno, 1940Battle of Amiens, 1940Battle of Pont-de-l'Arche, 1940North African campaign, 1940Italian invasion of France, 1940Battle of the Mediterranean, 1940Siege of Malta, 1940Western Desert campaign, 1940Psilander Affair, 1940Operation Collar, 1940Battle of the Espero Convoy, 1940Battle of Pont Saint-Louis, 1940Brighton Blitz, 1940Attack on Mers-El-Kebir, 1940Plymouth Blitz, 1940Action off Calabria, 1940Operation Ambassador, 1940Battle of Cape Spada, 1940Operation Hurry, 1940Birmingham Blitz, 1940Adlertag, 1940Bombing of Milan in World War II, 1940Bombing of Chemnitz in World War II, 1940Italian invasion of Egypt, 1940Italian bombing of Mandatory Palestine in World War II, 1940Battle of Britain Day, 1940Battle of Dakar, 1940Battle of Graveney Marsh, 1940Battle of Cape Passero, 1940Italian air raid on Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, 1940Attack on Convoy BN 7, 1940Air attack on Pilsen on October 21, 1940., 1940World War II in the Balkans, 1940Air Attack on Pilsen on October 28, 1940, 1940Battle of Gabon, 1940Battle of Taranto, 1940Operation MB8, 1940Battle of the Strait of Otranto, 1940Bombardments of Crotone, 1940Air attack on Pilsen on November 20, 1940, 1940Battle of Cape Spartivento, 1940German attacks on Nauru, 1940Operation Compass, 1940Battle of Nibeiwa, 1940Battle of Sidi Barrani, 1940Bombing of Mannheim in World War II, 1940Siege of Giarabub, 1940Battle of Moscow, 1941Battle of Kiev, 1941Battle of Smolensk, 1941Battle of Rostov, 1941Battle of Thermopylae, 1941Battle of the Caribbean, 1941Summer War, 1941Battle of Vevi, 1941Soviet air strikes on Berlin, 1941Bombing of Wiener Neustadt in World War II, 1941Battle of Minsk, 1941Battle of Bardia, 1941Operation Excess, 1941Battle of Ko Chang, 1941British capture of Tobruk, 1941Action at Mechili, 24 January 1941, 1941Battle of Kufra, 1941Operation Sonnenblume, 1941Battle of Beda Fomm, 1941Operation Colossus, 1941Swansea Blitz, 1941Operation Abstention, 1941Clydebank Blitz, 1941Bombing of Eindhoven Gas Holder in World War II, 1941Operation Claymore, 1941Raid on Souda Bay, 1941Battle of Cape Matapan, 1941Battle of Greece, 1941Bombing of Sarajevo in World War II, 1941Action of 4 April 1941, 1941Bombing of Belgrade in 1941, 1941Kyustendil Air Raid, 1941Bombing of Høyanger, 1941Siege of Tobruk, 1941Battle of Ptolemaida, 1941Battle of Kleisoura Pass, 1941Battle of Olympus, 1941Battle of Lake Kastoria, 1941Battle of the Tarigo Convoy, 1941Invasion of Yugoslavia, 1941Battle of Tempe Gorge, 1941Bardia raid, 1941Battle of Athens, 1941Second Battle of Amba Alagi, 1941Greenock Blitz, 1941Action of 8 May 1941, 1941Nottingham Blitz, 1941Operation Brevity, 1941Operation Rheinübung, 1941Battle of Crete, 1941Battle of Heraklion, 1941Battle of Rethymno, 1941Battle of the Denmark Strait, 1941Last battle of the battleship Bismarck, 1941Operation Skorpion, 1941Battle of 42nd Street, 1941Defense of Brest Fortress, 1941Syria–Lebanon campaign, 1941Battle of the Litani River, 1941Battle of Jezzine, 1941Battle of Kissoué, 1941Battle of Sidon, 1941Allied occupation of Iceland, 1941Operation Battleaxe, 1941Battle of Damascus, 1941Battle of Merdjayoun, 1941Operation Barbarossa, 1941Bombing of Minsk in World War II, 1941Battle of Lwów, 1941Battle of Brody, 1941Battle of Rossieny, 1941Kassa attack, 1941Action of 26 June 1941, 1941Operation Silver Fox, 1941Defense of Borisov, 1941Operation Arctic Fox, 1941Battle of Palmyra, 1941Solovyovo crossing, 1941Operation München, 1941Siege of Mahilow, 1941Battle of Deir ez-Zor, 1941Battle of Damour, 1941attack of the Tirpitz by the Soviet submarine K-21, 1941Battle of Lepel, 1941Battle of Białystok–Minsk, 1941Baltic Operation, 1941Leningrad Strategic Defensive, 1941Battle of Beirut, 1941Bombing of La Línea de la Concepción, 1941Soltsy-Dno Offensive, 1941Battle of Uman, 1941Twin Pimples raid, 1941Bombing of Moscow in 1941, 1941Battle of Grand Harbour, 1941Operation Substance, 1941Arctic convoys of World War II, 1941Siege of Odesa 1941, 1941Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran, 1941Operation Gauntlet, 1941Roslavl–Novozybkov Offensive, 1941Bombing of Königsberg in World War II, 1941Operation Beowulf, 1941Siege of Leningrad, 1941Yelnya Offensive, 1941Roslavl–Novozybkov Offensive, 1941Operation Platinum Fox, 1941Mediterranean U-boat Campaign, 1941Battle of the Sea of Azov, 1941Operation Halberd, 1941German Offensive Against Serbian Uprising, 1941Battle of Petrikowka, 1941Operation Chopper, 1941Action in Tarafal Bay, 1941Battle of Bryansk, 1941Battle of Mtsensk, 1941Battle at Borodino Field, 1941Siege of Rogatica, 1941Crimean Campaign, 1941First Battle of Kharkov, 1941Air attack on Pilsen on October 29, 1941, 1941Capture of Gorlovka, 1941Bombing of Gorky in World War II, 1941Battle of the Duisburg Convoy, 1941Tikhvin offensive, 1941Operation Crusader, 1941Operation Flipper, 1941Battle between HMAS Sydney and German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran, 1941First Battle of Bir el Gubi, 1941Point 175, 1941Battle of Pljevlja, 1941Battle for Novi Pazar, 1941Second Battle of Bir el Gubi, 1941Operation Mihailovic, 1941Battle of Cape Bon, 1941First Battle of Sirte, 1941Capture of Olovo, 1941Raid on Alexandria, 1941Battle of Sjenica, 1941Capture of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, 1941Kerch-Feodosia Landing Operation, 1941Operation Archery, 1941Operation Anklet, 1941Battle of Voronezh, 1942Operation Biting, 1942Operation Harpoon, 1942Baedeker Blitz, 1942Tatsinskaya Raid, 1942Operation Alfa, 1942Battle of Dražgoše, 1942Operation Wirbelwind, 1942Operation Vogelsang, 1942Battle of Bowmanville, 1942Battle of Lyuban, 1942Battles of Rzhev, 1942Yevpatoria assault, 1942Lake Ilmen action, 1942Clash on Mošenjska planina, 1942Second Happy Time, 1942Operation Postmaster, 1942Operation Southeast Croatia, 1942Sonderkommando Blaich, 1942Kholm Pocket, 1942Barvenkovo–Lozovaya offensive, 1942Operation Prijedor, 1942Operation Ozren, 1942Toropets–Kholm Offensive, 1942Operation Donnerkeil, 1942Channel Dash, 1942Vyazma Airborne Operation, 1942Dünamünde Action, 1942Operation Neuland, 1942Second Battle of Sirte, 1942Operation Bamberg, 1942Action of 27 March 1942, 1942St Nazaire Raid, 1942Bombing of Lübeck in World War II, 1942Easter Sunday Raid, 1942Augsburg raid, 1942Battle of Nanos, 1942Operation Trio, 1942Operation Abercrombie, 1942Exeter Blitz, 1942Bath Blitz, 1942Bombing of Cologne in World War II, 1942Battle of the St. Lawrence, 1942Battle of the Kerch Peninsula, 1942Battle of Madagascar, 1942Second Battle of Kharkov, 1942Action of 13 May 1942, 1942Demyansk Pocket, 1942Battle of Gazala, 1942Battle of Bir Hakeim, 1942Operation Anthropoid, 1942Operation Hannover, 1942bombing of Cagliari in World War II, 1942Battle at Bir el Harmat, 1942Fight at the Saints Cyril and Methodius Cathedral, 1942Axis capture of Tobruk, 1942Battle of Mersa Matruh, 1942Operation Seydlitz, 1942Battle of Rostov, 1942Battle of Kalach, 1942Raid on Sidi Haneish Airfield, 1942Battle of Kupres, 1942Battle of Rzhev, 1942Kozara Offensive, 1942Battle of the Bell Islands, 1942Operation Pedestal, 1942Attack of the U-209 on the convoy near Matveyev Island, 1942Dieppe Raid, 1942Sinyavino Offensive, 1942Air Battle of Dieppe, 1942Battle of Stalingrad, 1942Operation Nordlicht, 1942Bombing of Stalingrad in World War II, 1942Battle of Alam el Halfa, 1942Operation Caravan, 1942Operation Bigamy, 1942Operation Dryad, 1942Bombing of Vienna in World War II, 1942Night operation, 1942Clash on Lipniška mountain, 1942Operation Musketoon, 1942Operation Agreement, 1942Operation Aquatint, 1942Attack on Stalingrad, 1942Operation Gearbox, 1942Operation Anglo, 1942Oslo Mosquito raid, 1942Battle of SS Stephen Hopkins, 1942Operation Braganza, 1942Battle of Sukho Island, 1942Battle of Livno, 1942Defense of the Adzhimushkay quarry, 1942British airborne operations in North Africa, 1942Naval Battle of Casablanca, 1942Operation Reservist, 1942Operation Terminal, 1942Battle of Port Lyautey, 1942Run for Tunis, 1942Operation Blackstone, 1942Tunisia campaign, 1942Operation Torch, 1942Battle for Velikiye Luki, 1942Case Blue, 1942Operation Harling, 1942Scuttling of the French fleet in Toulon, 1942Battle of La Réunion, 1942Battle of Skerki Bank, 1942Operation Portcullis, 1942Operation Oyster, 1942Battle of El Agheila, 1942Raid on Algiers, 1942Second Defensive Battle at the Don, 1942Operation Winter Storm, 1942Operation Frankton, 1942Operation Mars, 1942Battle of the Barents Sea, 1942Battle of Kursk, 1943Battle of Kasserine Passe, 1943Battle of Smolensk, 1943Bombing of Hamburg in World War II, 1943Battle of Kiev, 1943Battle of Lenino, 1943Operation Kugelblitz, 1943Operation Hydra (1943), 1943Battle of Nikolayevka, 1943Operation Winter Magic, 1943Operation Hornung, 1943Bombing of Kassel in World War II, 1943Italian occupation of Corsica, 1943Operation Concert, 1943Operation Panther, 1943Operation Martin, 1943Battle of Goy, 1943Operation Cartoon, 1943North-Caucasian offensive operation, 1943Aul Bridgehead, 1943Operation Carmen, 1943Submarine attack on Svensgrunnen, 1943Operation Koltso, 1943Operation Spark, 1943Ostrogozhsk–Rossosh Offensive, 1943Battle of the Gulf of Gabes, 1943Case White, 1943Voronezh–Kastornoye Offensive, 1943Operation Gallop, 1943Battle of Neretva, 1943Operation Seagull, 1943Operation Uranus, 1943Battle of Krasny Bor, 1943Battle of Sidi Bou Zid, 1943Battle of Demyansk, 1943Third Battle of Kharkov, 1943Bombing of Gioia Tauro and Cittanova in World War II, 1943Operation Ochsenkopf, 1943Battle of Sedjenane, 1943Voronezh–Kharkov Offensive, 1943Battle of the Ruhr, 1943Battle of Medenine, 1943Crossing the Neretva, 1943Battle of Sokolovo, 1943Battle of Ksar Ghilane, 1943Battle of the Mareth Line, 1943Battle of El Guettar, 1943Battle of Jelenov Žleb, 1943Battle of Wadi Akarit, 1943Battle of the Cigno Convoy, 1943Air Battle of Kuban, 1943Operation Zauberflöte, 1943Battle of Takrouna, 1943Battle of Enfidaville, 1943Operation Vulcan, 1943Battle of Longstop Hill, 1943Arbatax Harbour Bombing, 1943bombing of Grosseto in World War II, 1943Operation Flax, 1943Battle of Hill 609, 1943Operation Retribution, 1943Anti-Partisan Operations in Volyn-Polissia, 1943Operation Ramrod 16, 1943Battle of the Campobasso Convoy, 1943Battle of the Sutjeska, 1943Operation Checkmate, 1943Beginning of the Battle of Sutjeska, 1943Operation Chastise, 1943Operation Cottbus, 1943Battle of Lampedusa, 1943Battle of Porta, 1943Operation Corkscrew, 1943Operation Mammoth, 1943Battle of Sarantaporos, 1943bombing of Gelsenkirchen, 1943Operation Citadel, 1943Battle of Zvornik, 1943Allied invasion of Sicily, 1943Operation Ladbroke, 1943Italian Campaign, 1943Battle of Gela, 1943Battle of Prokhorovka, 1943Operation Kutuzov, 1943Operation Chestnut, 1943Operation Fustian, 1943Donbass Strategic Offensive, 1943Operation Scylla, 1943Allied bombings of Amsterdam-Noord, 1943Wolfheze raid, 1943Battle of Troina, 1943Battle of Centuripe, 1943Battle of Belgorod, 1943Mirgorod direction offensive, 1943Operation Hermann, 1943Battle of Trahili, 1943Battle of the Dnieper, 1943Operation Safari, 1943Bombing of Pisa in World War II, 1943Operation Baytown, 1943Operation Gearbox II, 1943Bombardment of Brussels, 1943Operation Achse, 1943Dodecanese Campaign, 1943Operation Zitronella, 1943Operation Slapstick, 1943Operation Avalanche, 1943Battle of Rhodes, 1943Battle of Arachov, 1943Gran Sasso raid, 1943Battle of Turjak Castle, 1943Operation Garlic, 1943Battle of Drashovica, 1943Bombing of Avezzano, 1943Allied invasion of Italy, 1943Massacre of the Acqui Division, 1943Operation Source, 1943Donbass Strategic Offensive (August 1943), 1943Bukrin Bridgehead, 1943Rommel's Offensive, 1943Battle of Leros, 1943Melitopol Offensive, 1943Battle of Kos, 1943Operation Devon, 1943Battle of the Caucasus, 1943Bombing of Sofia in World War II, 1943Battle of Sept-Îles, 1943Operation Candytuft, 1943Kerch–Eltigen Operation, 1943Bombing of Zadar in World War II, 1943Bombing of Ancona in World War II, 1943Bombing of the Vatican, 1943Air battle of Berlin, 1943Battle of Livno, 1943Air Raid on Bari, 1943Bombing of Marseille, 1943Battle of Monte la Difensa, 1943Moro River Campaign, 1943Bombing of Leipzig in World War II, 1943Battle of Prijepolje, 1943battle of Montelungo, 1943Battle of San Pietro Infine, 1943bombardment of Porto Santo Stefano, 1943Battle of Kočevje, 1943Battle of Nevel, 1943Bombing of Padua in World War II, 1943Battle of Ortona, 1943Zhitomir–Berdichev Offensive, 1943Battle of the North Cape, 1943Battle of the Bay of Biscay, 1943Operation Hardtack, 1943Bombing of Ferrara in World War II, 1943Battle for Narva, 1944Raid on Drvar, 1944Operation Atlantic, 1944Battle of Romania, 1944bombing of Bucharest in World War II, 1944Operation Wellhit, 1944Niš operation, 1944Battle of Studzianki, 1944Action of 1 November 1944, 1944Battle of Auvere, 1944Operations Ginny I and II, 1944Battle of Lanzerath Ridge, 1944Battle of Murowana Oszmianka, 1944Bombing of Timisoara in WW2, 1944Battle of Ceber, 1944Bombing of Friedrichshafen in World War II, 1944Bombing of Brasov in WW2, 1944Bombing of Normandy, 1944Operation Baobab, 1944Battle of Graignes, 1944Bombing of Ludwigshafen and Oppau in World War II, 1944Action of 26 April 1944, 1944Valibona, 1944Operation Tempest, 1944Krasnoye Selo–Ropsha Offensive, 1944Battle of Monte Cassino, 1944Battle of Anzio, 1944Battle of Rapido River, 1944Battle of the Korsun–Cherkassy Pocket, 1944Nikopol–Krivoi Rog Offensive, 1944Battle of Cisterna, 1944Kingisepp–Gdov Offensive, 1944Battle for Narva Bridgehead, 1944Battle of Rivne, 1944Rovno–Lutsk Offensive, 1944Narva Offensive February 1944, 1944Bombing of Monte Cassino, 1944Operation Jericho, 1944Big Week, 1944Bombing of Nijmegen, 1944Battle of Kovel, 1944Battle of Ist, 1944Bereznegovatoye–Snigirevka offensive, 1944March 1944 Narva Offensive, 1944Narva Offensive, 1944Via Rasella attack, 1944Skirmish near Sadkówka, 1944Odesa offensive, 1944Ol′shanskiy amphibious landing, 1944Biarritz Bombing, 1944Operation "Ukrainian Committee", 1944Battle of Ternopil, 1944Bombing of Schaffhausen, 1944Operation Tungsten, 1944Bombing of Treviso in World War II, 1944Air strike on Darnitsa, 1944Crimean Offensive, 1944Kamenets-Podolsky Pocket, 1944First Battle of Târgu Frumos, 1944Battle of Gurby, 1944Bombing of April 21, 1944, 1944Raid on Santorini, 1944Air raid on Gerolzahn, 1944Air raid on Reisenbach, 1944Battle of 25 April 1944, 1944Exercise Tiger, 1944Landing of Turkestan legionnaires near Guryev, 1944Operation Höss, 1944Operation Diadem, 1944Operation Steinbock, 1944Operation Frantic, 1944Battle of Mont Mouchet, 1944Bombing of Cluj in WW2, 1944Bombing of Miskolc, 1944Operation Tonga, 1944Operation Dingson, 1944Normandy landings, 1944Operation Overlord, 1944Battle for Caen, 1944Battle of Cherbourg, 1944Invasion of Normandy, 1944Brécourt Manor Assault, 1944Operation Deadstick, 1944Battle of Merville Gun Battery, 1944American airborne landings in Normandy, 1944Operation Mallard, 1944Bombing of Caen, 1944Operation Perch, 1944Battle of Port-en-Bessin, 1944Bombing of La Riche, 1944Battle of Ushant, 1944Battle of Carentan, 1944Attack on Panzer Group West's headquarters at La Caine, 1944Operation Cooney, 1944Battle of Le Mesnil-Patry, 1944Battle of Villers-Bocage, 1944Battle of Bréville, 1944Battle of Bloody Gulch, 1944Mission Albany, 1944bombing of Angoulême in June 1944, 1944Invasion of Elba, 1944Battle of Douvres Radar Station, 1944Battle of Nerva Island, 1944Battle of la Truyère, 1944Mogilev Offensive, 1944Operation Martlet, 1944Operation Epsom, 1944Bobruysk Offensive, 1944Vitebsk–Orsha Offensive, 1944Battle of Cecina, 1944Battle of Ancona, 1944Vilnius Offensive, 1944Battle of Filottrano, 1944Battle of La Haye-du-Puits, 1944Minsk Offensive, 1944Operation Windsor, 1944Polotsk Offensive, 1944Šiauliai Offensive, 1944Belostock Offensive, 1944Battle of Pierres Noires, 1944Battle of Roquefixade, 1944Operation Ostra Brama, 1944Operation Charnwood, 1944Operation Jupiter, 1944Rezekne-Daugavpils offensive, 1944Battle of Foret de Mont Castre, 1944Battle of Amfilochia, 1944Lvov–Sandomierz Offensive, 1944Raid on Symi, 1944Battle of Brody, 1944Second Battle of the Odon, 1944Operation Goodwood, 1944Battle of Mount Gargan, 1944Battle of Verrières Ridge, 1944Battle of Chora - Agorelitsa, 194420 July plot, 1944Air raid on Walldürn, 1944Lwów Uprising, 1944Battle of Saint-Lô, 1944Narva Offensive, 1944Battle of Bizani Street, 1944Operation Bulbasket, 1944Operation Cobra, 1944Siegfried Line Campaign, 1944Battle of Tannenberg Line, 1944Operation Spring, 1944Battle of Montecarotto, 1944Battle of Daugavpils, 1944Bombing of Hildesheim in World War II, 1944Battle of Ljubno, 1944Battle of Młodzawy, 1944Battle of Radzymin, 1944Lorient pocket, 1944Battle of Kopaonik, 1944Battle of Karoutes, 1944Battle of Skalbmierz, 1944Battle of Jaksicami, 1944Osovets Offensive, 1944Battle for Brest, 1944Operation Bluecoat, 1944Vyronas bloko, 1944Operation Totalize, 1944Battle for Hill 140, 1944Tartu Offensive, 1944Falaise Pocket, 1944Operation Loyton, 1944Bombing of Hajdúböszörmény in the WWII, 1944Operation Lüttich, 1944Skirmish near Baranów, 1944bombing of Angoulême in August 1944, 1944Battle of Port Cros, 1944Operation Doppelkopf, 1944Battle of La Ciotat, 1944Executions of Kokkinia, 1944Battle of Chambois, 1944Operation Bagration, 1944Liberation of Paris, 1944Liberation of Martigues, 1944Operation Tractable, 1944Battle of Marseille, 1944Battle of Montélimar, 1944Operation Madelaine, 1944Battle of Audierne Bay, 1944Bombing of Brno in World War II, 1944Kaunas Offensive, 1944Battle of Toulon, 1944Battle of Nice, 1944Kallithea bloko, 1944Operation Goodwood, 1944Koukaki roundup, 1944Operation Rübezahl, 1944Battle of Meximieux, 1944Operation Nordlicht, 1944Allied Siege of La Rochelle, 1944Battle for Kraljevo Bridgehead, 1944Operation Waldfest, 1944Bombing of Le Havre, 1944Liberation of Belgium, 1944Liberation of Lyon, 1944Battle of Gemmano, 1944Battle of Merksem, 1944Battle of Nancy, 1944Battle of Turda, 1944Operation Houndsworth, 1944Battle of the Dukla Pass, 1944Battle of Moerbrugge, 1944Air battle over the Ore Mountains, 1944Operation Astonia, 1944Royan pocket, 1944Battle of Gravellona Toce, 1944Battle of Rimini, 1944Battle of Meligalas, 1944Operation Dragoon, 1944Battle of Hürtgen Forest, 1944Battle of Păuliş, 1944Siege of Dunkirk, 1944Operation Paravane, 1944Operation Market Garden, 1944Battle of Arnhem, 1944Battle of Nijmegen, 1944Allied bombing of Belgrade (1944), 1944Battle of Arracourt, 1944Battle of San Marino, 1944Battle of Porkuni, 1944Tallinn Offensive, 1944Battle of Metz, 1944Moonsund Landing Operation, 1944Battle of Overloon, 1944Operation Undergo, 1944Battle of Aachen, 1944Battle of the Scheldt, 1944Battle of Übach – Palenberg, 1944Operation Pistol, 1944Battle of Opheusden, 1944Bombing of Laksevåg, 1944Battle of Memel, 1944Petsamo–Kirkenes Offensive, 1944Battle of Tehumardi, 1944Stracin-Kumanovo Operation, 1944Battle of Crucifix Hill, 1944Courland Pocket, 1944Battle of Purocielo, 1944Amphibious Operation at Liinahamari, 1944Battle of Vukov Klanac, 1944Bombing of Braunschweig in World War II, 1944Operation Hurricane, 1944Aerial Bombing of Gorla, 1944Battle of the University, 1944Battle of Carei, 1944Operation Pegasus, 1944Riga Offensive, 1944Battle of Leszczawa Górna, 1944Lost Battalion, 1944Battle of Debrecen, 1944Budapest offensive, 1944Operation Obviate, 1944Gumbinnen Operation, 1944Bataille de Bruyères, 1944Battle of Walcheren Causeway, 1944Aarhus Air Raid, 1944Battle of Kilkis, 1944Niš incident, 1944Battle of Porta Lame, 1944Operation Infatuate, 1944Operation Clipper, 1944Operation Catechism, 1944Bregalnitsa-Strumica operation, 1944Battle of Vianden, 1944Battle of Našice, 1944Kosovo Operation, 1944Liberation of Strasbourg, 1944Belgrade offensive, 1944Baltic Offensive, 1944Battle of Monte Castello, 1944Battle of Broekhuizen, 1944Battle of Batina, 1944Dekemvriana, 1944Battle of Haalderen, 1944Operation Caesar, 1944Battle of the Bulge, 1944Operation Queen, 1944Battle of Kesternich, 1944Bombing of Siegen in World War II, 1944Operation Stösser, 1944Losheim Gap, 1944Bloody Sunday, 1944Battle of Clervaux, 1944Siege of Bastogne, 1944Battle of St. Vith, 1944Siege of Budapest, 1944Elsenborn Ridge, 1944Battle of Garfagnana, 1944Battle of Heartbreak Crossroads, 1944Operation Nordwind, 1944Operation Bodenplatte, 1945Final operations in Slovenia, 1945Battle of Bautzen, 19451945 Bombing of Prague, 1945Battle of Kolberg, 1945Battle of Groningen, 1945Mostar Operation, 1945Siege of Danzig, 1945Battles for Wilhelmshaven, 1945Battle of Aschaffenburg, 1945Action of 28 January 1945, 1945Battle of Bydgoszcz, 1945Battle of Mława, 1945Air Raids on Paderborn, 1945Battle of Mortirolo, 1945Battle of Bure, 1945Operation Solstice (Alsace), 1945Vistula–Oder Offensive, 1945East Prussian Offensive, 1945World War II destructions in Magdeburg, 1945Liberation of Warsaw, 1945Operation Konrad III, 1945Battle of Tarnova, 1945Liberation of Łódź, 1945Battle of Koło, 1945Battle of Opole, 1945Battle of Jebsheim, 1945Siege of Breslau, 1945Battle of Poznań, 1945Heiligenbeil Pocket, 1945Battle for the Kapelsche Veer, 1945Operation Blackhawk, 1945Battle of Żory (1945), 1945Battle of Kosmach, 1945Operation Solstice, 1945Operation Veritable, 1945Colmar Pocket, 1945Black Friday, 1945East Pomeranian Offensive, 1945Siege of Glogau, 1945Bombing of Dresden, 1945Operation Encore, 1945Battle of Riva Ridge, 1945Bombing of Salzwedel in World War II, 1945Luftangriff auf Wallhausen, 1945Operation Grenade, 1945Bombing of Pforzheim in World War II, 1945Lower Silesian Offensive, 1945Operation Blockbuster, 1945Operation Plunder, 1945Battle of Schoenfeld, 1945Bombing of the Bezuidenhout, 1945Battle of the Transdanubian Hills, 1945Battle of Remagen, 1945Operation Lumberjack, 1945Bombing of Ljubljana in World War II, 1945Moravia–Ostrava offensive, 1945bombing of Swinemünde, 1945Battle of Prudnik, 1945Battle of the Ligurian Sea, 1945Lika-Primorje operation, 1945Operation Carthage, 1945Operation Bowler, 1945Air raid on Neckargerach, 1945Battle of Zhovkva, 1945Bombing of České Budějovice in World War II, 1945Operation Varsity, 194525th March 1945 Bombing of Prague, 1945Battle of Frankfurt, 1945The Long Fight, 1945Operation Sarajevo, 1945Battle of Lijevče Field, 1945Upper Silesian Offensive, 1945Battle of Würzburg, 1945Operation Teardrop, 1945Battle of the Oder–Neisse, 1945Operation Tombola, 1945Operation Herring, 1945Battle of the Argenta Gap, 1945Battle of Kassel, 1945Operation Roast, 1945Bombing of Turin in World War II, 1945Bombing of Bologna in World War II, 1945Battle of Ořechov, 1945Battle of Königshofen, 1945Battle of Heilbronn, 1945Battle of Königsberg, 1945Spring 1945 offensive in Italy, 1945Operation Amherst, 1945Battle of Bologna, 1945Battaglia del Senio, 1945Samland Offensive, 1945Battle of Mołomotkami, 1945Bombing of Potsdam, 1945Battle of Montese, 1945Operation Spring Awakening, 1945Battle of Berlin, 1945Battle of the Seelow Heights, 1945Battle of Nuremberg, 1945Battle of Gaiana, 1945Ruhr Pocket, 1945Battle of Hamburg, 1945Battle for Merkendorf, 1945Battle of Odžak, 1945Battle in Berlin, 1945Race to Berlin, 1945Battle of Halbe, 1945Bombing of Obersalzberg, 1945Bombing of Vallø, 1945Battle of Collecchio, 1945Battle of Radekhiv, 1945Battle of Haglebu, 1945Operation Cowboy, 1945Storming of the Reichstag, 1945Battle of Opicina, 1945Race for Trieste, 1945Battle of Castle Itter, 1945Bratislava-Brno Offensive, 1945Prague offensive, 1945Battle of Kuryłówka, 1945Battle of Břest, 1945Western Allied invasion of Germany, 1945Operation Doomsday, 1945Battle of Slivice, 1945Attack on the NKVD Camp in Rembertów, 1945Attack on Variazh, 1945Raid on Stanislav, 1945Attack on Werbkowice Railway Station, 1946Attack on Hrubieszów, 1946Operation B, 1947Battle of Partizánska Ľupča, 1947Battle of Nezbudská Lúčka, 1947Battle of Sushky, 1955Battle of the Bozhykiv Forest, 196019371960Rotterdam Blitz, 1940
1155 placed engagements of World War II in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date1940 (year precision)
PlaceRotterdam, Netherlands
51.964N, 4.451E
KindBattle, interwar and Second World War
Territorial changeCapitulation of the Netherlands
StrengthNo remaining operational fighter aircraft80 aircraft directly involved; 700 involved in concurrent operations
Casualties and losses1,150 killed, including 210 soldiers; LVA and MLD virtually destroyed125 soldiers
Commanders
  • P. W. Scharroo
Rotterdam BlitzRotterdam BlitzBattle of Rotterdamallied bombing of RotterdamBattle of DelftBattle of VlaardingenBombing of the BezuidenhoutBattle of RotterdamBattle of DelftBombing of the BezuidenhoutAmsterdamBrusselsCologneAntwerpenDüsseldorfHaarlemBruggeCalais100 km51.964N, 4.451E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

The ground today

Relief of the ground around the site of Rotterdam Blitz
Relief within about 10.0 km of the site, contours every 5 m. Copernicus DEM GLO-30, ESA.
Satellite view of the site of Rotterdam Blitz today
The same ground from Sentinel-2 on 2023-06-09. Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2023.

The recorded site stands at about -2 m; within 10.0 km the ground runs from -17 to 27 m, 44 m of relief, gently rolling country and today it is 44% grassland, 27% built-up, 18% tree cover.

grassland: 44%built-up: 27%tree cover: 18%cropland: 4%water: 3%grassland 44%built-up 27%tree cover 18%cropland 4%water 3%
west to east, 10.0 km-7 to 5 mnorth to south, 10.0 km-6 to 13 m
Elevation from the Copernicus DEM GLO-30 (ESA, Airbus); land cover from ESA WorldCover 2021 (CC BY 4.0), within about 5 km of the recorded site. Computed, not recorded.

Nearest engagements

Contested ground: this site was fought over 3 times between 1940 and 1943.

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1940

Rotterdam Blitz is one of 4,429 engagements of the 20th century in the atlas and one of 277 in present-day Netherlands.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q714349, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article German bombing of Rotterdam, revision 1384267840, read 2026-11-15, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.