August 10, 1943 — 500 Bombers

SCAN0097

SCAN0098

Transcription (excerpt)

…10 августа… более 500 бомбардировщиков… 13 сбито… видно за 100 километров…

Context

On August 10, 1943, Raisa witnessed (or heard about) a massive Allied bombing raid visible from Schönaich — approximately 100 km away. More than 500 bombers, 13 shot down. This likely refers to the bombing of Schweinfurt or Nuremberg, both within range.

For Raisa and the other forced laborers, these raids carried a double meaning — terror from the bombs, but also hope that the war was coming to an end. The masters who had seemed so powerful were now the ones being bombed.

Source: SCAN0097–SCAN0098