History: Der Feuerplan/The Fire Plan (1918)

Delta Force · Apr 4, 2017

Der Feuerplan was an Imperial German plan for launching a firebombing campaign against Paris, London, and New York City using zeppelins and strategic bombers. Due to the ineffectiveness of conventional strategic bombing during World War I, Imperial Germany developed the 1 kilogram (2.2 pound) B-1E Elektron bomblet in April 1918. While studies indicated that firebombs would be a potent strategic weapon, the Elektron bomb had the additional qualities of being lightweight (due to using a mixture of magnesium and aluminum) and producing magnesium fires that would be made even more intense if water was used to try to extinguish them.

Here's more information on the planned use of firebombing against Paris and London, translated from the German Wikipedia article and rewritten for readability:

Since fire bombs were still completely unknown, their initial deployment on a large scale would lead to complete confusion and trigger fierce fires in Paris and London. In order to achieve the greatest possible effect, the air raids on Paris and London were to be continued after the first large opening blow at night, until no German bomber would be more operational.

The Bombergeschwader 3 and the Riesenflugzeugabteilung 501 would attack London and the Bombergeschwader 1, 2 and 4 would bomb Paris. For the attacks on Paris, the German bombers would have to cross the Franco-German front line twice and deal with enemy fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft guns, while Bombergeschwader 3 was expected to have much fewer aircraft losses because it would only have to cross the North Sea.

The bombers were mostly aircraft of the companies Gotha and Zeppelin-Staaken. For these gigantic planes, none of the grass fields which had previously been used were sufficient for takeoffs and landings and concrete runways had to be built for them in Flanders. For the flights to England, the bombers would have reduced payloads to allow more fuel to be carried for the long flight.

The bomber groups had been ready to attack Paris and London since August 1918, but but the order had already been postponed twice due to rainy and cloudy conditions over England making large scale fires and flight difficult. Finally, on September 23, 1918, the Supreme Army Command gave the order for preparations to be carried out overnight. The first wave would consist of 36 aircraft against London and 45 aircraft against Paris. However, later that evening, when the bomber units were on the brink of departure, Supreme Army Commander Erich Ludendorff ordered the operation canceled because the war was turning against Germany and firebombing the enemy's capital cities would not provide a good basis for peace talks.
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Here's some information on the planned air raid against New York, also from German Wikipedia and rewritten for readability:

While the planned bomb attacks with airplanes on Paris and London were under the leadership of the Supreme Army Command, the navy had zeppelins which could be used to bomb New York and return to Germany. An air attack on New York was planned by Peter Strasser using three zeppelins (L 70/LZ 122, L 71/LZ 113, and L 72/LZ 114) with a load of four tons of explosive and fire bombs.

On July 18, 1918, Strasser handed over his plan to Admiral Reinhard Scheer, the head of naval warfare. The bombardment was intended to damage both the city and the morale of the American population. On 19 July, Scheer returned the planning documents with the handwritten note "No".
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lordroel · Apr 4, 2017

Delta Force said: ↑

Der Feuerplan was an Imperial German plan for launching a firebombing campaign against Paris, London, and New York City using zeppelins and strategic bombers. Due to the ineffectiveness of conventional strategic bombing during World War I, Imperial Germany developed the 1 kilogram (2.2 pound) B-1E Elektron bomblet in April 1918. While studies indicated that firebombs would be a potent strategic weapon, the Elektron bomb had the additional qualities of being lightweight (due to using a mixture of magnesium and aluminum) and producing magnesium fires that would be made even more intense if water was used to try to extinguish them.

Here's more information on the planned use of firebombing against Paris and London, translated from the German Wikipedia article and rewritten for readability:

Here's some information on the planned air raid against New York, also from German Wikipedia and rewritten for readability:
Click to expand...

I would assume the British and French will react in kind of the Germans are going to fire bomb London ore Paris.

What if...

History: Der Feuerplan/The Fire Plan (1918)

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History: Der Feuerplan/The Fire Plan (1918)

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