Operation Eisenhammer (German; in English Operation Iron Hammer) was a planned strategic bombing operation against power generators near Moscow and Gorky in the Soviet Union which was planned by Nazi Germany during World War II but eventually abandoned.
The plan of the operation was created in 1943 by Professor Heinrich Steinmann (1899–1969), an official at the Reich Air Ministry. A bombing raid was to destroy twelve turbines in water and steam power-plants near Moscow, Gorky, Tula, Stalinogorsk and under the Rybinsk Reservoir, as well as to attack certain substations, transmission lines and factories. If the attack were to succeed in destroying just 2/3 of the turbines it would have knocked out about 75% of the power used by the Soviet defence industry. Only two smaller energy centers behind the Urals and in the Soviet Far East would have been left intact. At this time the Soviet Union had no turbine manufacturing capabilities and the only repair facility (in Leningrad) had been heavily damaged.
To accomplish the goal Mistel long range bombers were to be employed. To destroy water turbines special floating mines called Sommerballon ("summer balloon") were to be dropped into the water and then pulled by the current straight into the turbines.
Due to the shortage of bombers and fuel, technical problems with the floating mine and the Soviet Army overrunning advance bases, the plan was postponed repeatedly. In February 1945 however Eisenhammer was resurrected and Kampfgeschwader 200 assembled scout planes and about 100 Mistels near Berlin and waited for favourable weather to attack the plants around Moscow. After a US air raid on Berlin-Rechlin airport which destroyed 18 Mistels the plan was postponed again and shortly afterwards finally dropped.
OK, by 1945 this wouldn't have changed anything.
In late 1943, it wouldn't have changed much - maybe slows down Bagration, so the UK/US reach Berlin first. Or the US just sends more trucks and Shermans to make up for the lack of T-34's.
What if the plan is first suggested after the failure of Barbarossa? Given the first half of 1942 (perhaps less) for training, reconnaissance and construction of any special munitions. While attention is fixed on the south with Case Blue and Stalingrad, the Luftwaffe launches Eisenhammer.
What would be the consequences? It won't be an instant-win button for Germany, but if the calculations above are correct there would be a serious reduction in power to the Soviet defence industry.
Would Stalingrad fall to the Germans? Possibly, but the equipment needed for a giant street fight isn't too complex so the Red Army could probably hang onto the city.
Would 6th Army be destroyed? Probably not. There would be fewer tanks available to the Russians, so Manstein would probably be able to get 6th army out of the attempted encirclement. Assuming the Russians go for a similar plan to OTL, of course.
Consequences for 1943 and onward? That would depend on the speed at which the Russians rebuilt or replaced the destroyed infrastructure.
I don't think this will let the Germans win, but I think the Eastern Front would hold up for longer. As above, the UK/US reach Berlin, and the Russians are still fighting their way through Poland.
Comments?
The plan of the operation was created in 1943 by Professor Heinrich Steinmann (1899–1969), an official at the Reich Air Ministry. A bombing raid was to destroy twelve turbines in water and steam power-plants near Moscow, Gorky, Tula, Stalinogorsk and under the Rybinsk Reservoir, as well as to attack certain substations, transmission lines and factories. If the attack were to succeed in destroying just 2/3 of the turbines it would have knocked out about 75% of the power used by the Soviet defence industry. Only two smaller energy centers behind the Urals and in the Soviet Far East would have been left intact. At this time the Soviet Union had no turbine manufacturing capabilities and the only repair facility (in Leningrad) had been heavily damaged.
To accomplish the goal Mistel long range bombers were to be employed. To destroy water turbines special floating mines called Sommerballon ("summer balloon") were to be dropped into the water and then pulled by the current straight into the turbines.
Due to the shortage of bombers and fuel, technical problems with the floating mine and the Soviet Army overrunning advance bases, the plan was postponed repeatedly. In February 1945 however Eisenhammer was resurrected and Kampfgeschwader 200 assembled scout planes and about 100 Mistels near Berlin and waited for favourable weather to attack the plants around Moscow. After a US air raid on Berlin-Rechlin airport which destroyed 18 Mistels the plan was postponed again and shortly afterwards finally dropped.
OK, by 1945 this wouldn't have changed anything.
In late 1943, it wouldn't have changed much - maybe slows down Bagration, so the UK/US reach Berlin first. Or the US just sends more trucks and Shermans to make up for the lack of T-34's.
What if the plan is first suggested after the failure of Barbarossa? Given the first half of 1942 (perhaps less) for training, reconnaissance and construction of any special munitions. While attention is fixed on the south with Case Blue and Stalingrad, the Luftwaffe launches Eisenhammer.
What would be the consequences? It won't be an instant-win button for Germany, but if the calculations above are correct there would be a serious reduction in power to the Soviet defence industry.
Would Stalingrad fall to the Germans? Possibly, but the equipment needed for a giant street fight isn't too complex so the Red Army could probably hang onto the city.
Would 6th Army be destroyed? Probably not. There would be fewer tanks available to the Russians, so Manstein would probably be able to get 6th army out of the attempted encirclement. Assuming the Russians go for a similar plan to OTL, of course.
Consequences for 1943 and onward? That would depend on the speed at which the Russians rebuilt or replaced the destroyed infrastructure.
I don't think this will let the Germans win, but I think the Eastern Front would hold up for longer. As above, the UK/US reach Berlin, and the Russians are still fighting their way through Poland.
Comments?