Throughout World War II, the threat of aerial bombardment was a persistent reality, with many European cities facing repeated nighttime attacks intended to catch defenders off guard and inflict maximum damage. The city of Konstanz in Germany, however, escaped much of the devastation that befell other urban centers during the conflict, thanks in part to a creative and unconventional approach involving the strategic use of lighting.
Konstanz is a historic city
Located in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, Konstanz sits along the shores of Lake Constance near the foothills of the Swiss Alps. The city borders the Swiss municipality of Kreuzlingen, with the international boundary passing directly through the surrounding urban area.
Human settlement in the region can be traced back to the late Stone Age, while the city’s name is thought to have originated during the era of Roman rule. For more than twelve centuries, Konstanz served as the seat of a Roman Catholic principality. The city achieved particular prominence in the early 1400s when it became the site of the Council of Constance, a major church assembly called to address the Great Schism that had divided the Catholic Church.
Following the unification of Germany in 1871, Konstanz became part of the newly established German Empire. In the aftermath of World War I, the city was incorporated into the Republic of Baden, where it operated under the governmental framework of the Weimar Republic.
Air raids during World War II
Also known as strategic bombings, air raids were experienced by many cities within Europe during the Second World War. They targeted key locations, including highly populated cities, transportation hubs, and production factories, and aimed to cripple the opposing forces.
These attacks typically occurred at night and were paired with ground forces to ensure the most damage was inflicted. The overall goal was to disrupt the enemy as much as possible. They were fairly effective, and as the war progressed, such bombings occurred with more frequency.
The Germans’ primary focus was England, where they targeted London and port cities. The Allies caused much more damage in Germany, and their air raids decimated such cities as Hamburg and Dresden. This was due to the fact their aircraft were able to carry more bombs than their Luftwaffe counterparts.
Konstanz refuses to go dark
To protect themselves from air raids, many cities enforced nightly blackouts. Residents were prohibited from lighting candles indoors and were instructed to cover their windows with curtains or black paint. Streetlights were turned off, and vehicles were barred from using headlights.
This approach was intended to make it harder for attacking forces to locate and strike their targets. By doing so, essential services and facilities had a better chance of surviving the bombings, and civilian safety was prioritized.
While most German cities followed these blackout measures, Konstanz did not. Instead, it chose to keep its lights on, inspired by its Swiss neighbors in Kreuzlingen, who could remain lit due to the country’s neutrality. The idea was straightforward: by keeping the lights on, they hoped the Allies would assume Konstanz was part of Switzerland.
This strategy proved successful. American pilots flying above mistook Konstanz for a Swiss city and refrained from bombing. As a result, Konstanz preserved much of its original architecture, eventually fostering a flourishing tourism industry in the post-war years.
Konstanz contributed to the war effort in Germany
Looking back, the Allies probably wished they hadn’t been fooled by the tactic, as Konstanz played an active role in the German war effort. The city produced parts for the German arsenal, all of which were used against the Allies.
Konstanz manufactured radar parts for German submarines, as well as for guns. Schwarzwald Flugzeugbau GmbH developed its flying torpedoes at a facility in the city, while aircraft manufacturer Dornier transferred a portion of its production there after the bombing of Friedrichshafen.
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As well, Konstanz actively participated in the deportation of Jewish citizens from Germany. In October 1940, the last were sent to the Gurs internment camp in southwestern France. Those still alive in August 1943 are believed to have died at either Auschwitz or Sobibór.