When the bombs fell silent: The end of the war in Schleißheim

On April 29, 1945, the Allies moved to Schleissheim. The end of the war for the community, which had previously been the target of countless air strikes.

Oberschleissheim - The thundering of guns and clouds of smoke have been announcing the coming of the Americans for days. On April 29, 1945, the fighting stopped; The Second World War ended for Schleißheim 75 years ago today.

None of the surrounding communities had to suffer and sacrifice as much as Schleißheim. The reason is simple: Immediately south of the three castles was the air base, the "source of all evil". Not only did many Air Force aircraft take off from it. It was therefore inevitably the target of sometimes massive air raids, most recently on April 18, 20, 23 and 25, 1945. The Schleißheim war diary of night fighter squadron 6 shows that on April 18 and 19, 1945, the last two-engine Ju Take off 88 enemy bombers.

GI asks pastor: "Nothing soldier in the basement?"

When the US forces finally advanced, they were able to occupy the air base without a fight - contrary to the orders of the National Socialists. This was followed by house searches in town for scattered fellow countrymen. In his later recorded memories, Josef Kranz, pastor of the parish of Maria Patrona Bavariae, describes the "visit" of five American soldiers who entered the rectory. "Nothing soldier in the basement?" Asked one of the Allies the priest. This negated. But Kranz had a guilty conscience, as can be seen from the records. He didn't really know whether his former chaplain, Karl Schneider, on the first floor had converted from a medical orderly to a shepherd. The "transformation" was still successful in time.

Up to ten days before the end of the war, Ju 88 night bombers took off from Schleissheim airfield for enemy operations. The Allies ultimately took the air base without a fight.

The Americans were otherwise active a few meters away. They cleared the new school building (now the town hall) - which mostly went through the windows. The reason? The building should be set up as a military hospital. The fight for Munich, the capital of the movement, was still ahead of the Americans. And injuries were not out of the question. They also occupied the house of master carpenter Otto Thürrigl opposite the school - for their doctors.

Young soldiers fight against the Allies in Neuherberg

The Americans had positioned a gun battery next to the church square, which fired south at the city of Munich. The Evangelical Lutheran Vicariate reported to Munich three days before the end of the war: “The Schleissheim population largely fled the place and dispersed in the area. The homeless sleep in stadiums, stables and in the air-raid shelter in the New Palace. By the way, its right wing has been destroyed and the middle section badly damaged. In these circumstances, the space in the school building, the use of which was authorized by the community when it suffered the first flight damage, cannot be used. ” 

And then there was a drama that was hardly thought possible. In the Neuherberg district to the south, 22 very young soldiers (16 to 22 years old) fought with "bazookas", according to Pastor Kranz's report, fiercely against the Americans advancing to Munich. They killed many GIs and destroyed several tanks, but ultimately all had to pay for their “heroism” with death.

Otto Bürger