The 'Forgotten Bombing' of Rotterdam by the Americans During WW-II in 1943 in Color!

This haunting colorized footage unveils the tragic "Forgotten Bombardment" of Rotterdam on March 31, 1943, when American Air Force B-17 bombers, based in Britain, mistakenly targeted residential areas in Rotterdam-West—Schiedamseweg and Bospolder-Tussendijken—rather than the intended harbor and shipbuilding facilities. Lasting just minutes, the raid killed 326 Dutch civilians and left thousands homeless, its impact overshadowed by the 1940 German bombing, earning it the moniker "Forgotten." The film captures the eerie ruins of homes and streets, with a pro-German Dutch commentator blaming the RAF, reflecting wartime propaganda. A poignant testament to war’s unintended toll, this restored archive grips history buffs and Rotterdam natives, offering a vivid glimpse of a lesser-known WWII tragedy in vibrant color.