list the bombings of german rail infrastructure by the allies during ww2

During World War II, the Allies conducted numerous bombing campaigns targeting German rail infrastructure, which was crucial for the movement of troops, supplies, and equipment. Here are some of the significant operations and incidents involving bombings of German rail infrastructure:

**Bombing Campaigns Over Germany**: Throughout the war, the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) targeted German rail networks as part of their strategic bombing campaigns. Operations targeted key rail hubs, marshalling yards, and bridges.

**Operation Chastise (Dambusters Raid)** (May 16-17, 1943): Although this operation primarily targeted dams in the Ruhr Valley, it indirectly impacted rail transport due to flooding and damage to industrial areas.

**Operation Crossbow**: This operation aimed to destroy V-1 and V-2 rocket launch sites and included bombing railway systems that supported these projects across Germany and occupied territories.

**The Battle of the Ruhr** (March 1943 onwards): Targeting industrial cities and transportation hubs, many raids disrupted rail networks supporting the German war effort.

**Bombing of German Rail Yards**: Cities like Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, and Hamburg saw repeated raids targeting their rail yards, which were vital for supply movement.

**Bombing of Specific Rail Bridges**: Strategic bridges, such as the Ludendorff Bridge in Remagen (March 1945), were bombed to disrupt logistics.

**Operation Hailstone** (February 17-18, 1944): Aimed at Japanese positions in Truk, it serves as an example of how bombing missions were executed. However, the Allied bombing strategies similarly applied to Germany's rail logistics.

**Transport Disruption Raids**: Multiple campaigns throughout 1944 and early 1945 targeted the rail networks specifically to reduce German mobility in Western Europe as Allied forces pushed into Germany.

**The Dresden Bombing** (February 13-15, 1945): This devastating raid also damaged rail infrastructure in what was one of the largest cities in Germany at the time.

**Final Campaigns as Allies Advanced**: In the final months of the war, particularly during the push into Germany, bombing raids frequently targeted railways to hinder impeding logistical capabilities of retreating German forces.

This list is not exhaustive but highlights some of the key moments when Allied forces targeted German rail infrastructure during World War II, significantly impacting the German military's logistical capabilities.

Update (2024-08-08):
During World War II, the Allies targeted German rail infrastructure as part of their strategy to disrupt transportation and logistics for the German military. Here are some significant bombing campaigns and operations focused on rail infrastructure:

**Battle of the Ruhr (1943)**: This was a series of bombing raids aimed at the industrial heart of Germany, where rail yards and infrastructure were primary targets, particularly in cities like Essen and Dortmund.

**Operation Chastise (Dambusters Raid, May 1943)**: While primarily focused on the dams in the Ruhr region, the subsequent disruption had an impact on rail transport in the area.

**Bombing of Hamburg (Operation Gomorrah, July 1943)**: Along with the city’s industrial capabilities, the railway system was heavily bombed to hinder German troop movements and supplies.

**Bombing of Berlin (1943-1944)**: The Allies conducted regular bombing raids on Berlin, targeting not just military installations but also vital rail hubs.

**Operation Thunderclap (Late 1944)**: This plan involved significant bombing raids on German cities, including targeting rail networks in cities like Dresden and Leipzig to disrupt movement.

**Air Raids on the French Railways (1944)**: Following the D-Day invasion, the Allies bombed French rail infrastructure to prevent German reinforcements from reaching the front lines.

**Bombing of the Marienburg Railway Bridge (1944)**: This was a specific operation to destroy key rail bridges to stop the movement of German troops.

**Operation Pointblank (1943-1944)**: This operation included raids by the U.S. Army Air Forces targeting German transportation networks, including railroads.

**Destruction of the railway network in Eastern Germany (1945)**: As the Red Army advanced into Eastern Germany, they heavily bombed rail lines to slow German retreats.

**Allied Raids on Rail Yards and Stations (various operations)**: Throughout the war, various smaller raids targeted specific rail yards and stations across Germany and occupied territories.

These operations, among others, contributed significantly to the Allies' overall strategy of crippling German logistics and contributing to their eventual victory.