Nuremberg — Main Railroad Marshalling Yard

Mission Narrative

On February 21, 1945, the 351st struck deep into southern Germany, attacking the main railroad marshalling yards at Nuremberg — the symbolic heart of the Nazi movement and a major transportation hub in Bavaria. Nuremberg's rail yards were critical for north-south rail traffic through Germany, connecting the industrial north with Austria and the remaining German-held territories in the south.

Nuremberg held enormous symbolic significance for the Nazi regime. It was the site of the massive annual party rallies, and its medieval old town had been a centerpiece of Nazi propaganda. By February 1945, the city had been heavily bombed by the RAF, but its rail infrastructure remained a functioning and important target.

This mission was part of the massive Operation Clarion — a coordinated Allied air assault launched on February 22 that targeted transportation across Germany. The February 21 Nuremberg strike was one of the preliminary operations for Clarion.

Strategic Context

Operation Clarion, launched on February 22, 1945, was one of the most ambitious air operations of the war — a single-day coordinated assault by every available Allied air force (8th AF, 9th AF, 15th AF, RAF Bomber Command, and tactical air forces) against transportation targets across Germany. The goal was to deliver a simultaneous, nationwide blow to the German rail and road network that would be impossible to repair. The February 21 strikes at Nuremberg were among the preliminary operations that set the stage for Clarion.