Kitzingen was attacked in 5 waves within 1 hour and 15 minutes.
During the first bombing raid from 11.34 a.m., a total of 444 high-explosive bombs were dropped from a height of 4.5 kilometres. The second attack took place shortly afterwards. A total of 432 high-explosive bombs were unloaded, mainly over the railway station and Güterhallstraße. Just six minutes later, the third attack rolled over Kitzingen and dropped 192 high-explosive bombs. After a break of around 50 minutes, another 446 high-explosive bombs were dropped over Kitzingen within two minutes. The main target of the previous attacks was the northern part of the town up to the railway station. The fifth attack covered the entire town area and the aircraft dropped a total of 586 high-explosive bombs. The fifth attack was over at around 12.45 pm.
Extent of the destruction
Over 2,100 500-pound (approx. 227-kilogram) high-explosive bombs were dropped over Kitzingen. The attacks lasted only 8 minutes in total. Around 800 residential buildings (approx. 35%) were destroyed. The houses around the railway station, in the Krainberg area and on Würzburger Straße were particularly badly hit. The barrel factory of Andreas Klein Werk II, the Pfirschinger mineral works in Mainstraße (now Glauberstraße) and the Kitzingen brewery in Bahnhofsstraße were over 70% destroyed. They were among the three largest industrial plants in Kitzingen. Seven public buildings were completely destroyed. The Deusterschloss castle, the chapel of the Pfründespital hospital and the nave of the Protestant parish church were also badly hit.
On 5 April 1945, American troops occupied Kitzingen. The surrender went smoothly, with white flags flying everywhere as a sign of peaceful surrender.