Gardening the Danube
With a length of 2,845 km, the Danube is the second-longest river in Europe after the Volga. On almost 2,415 km (from Kelheim to Sulina) the river is navigable for international cargo transport. On its way from the Black Forest (Germany) to the Black Sea (Romania and Ukraine), the Danube passes by or through ten riparian states, which makes it the most international river in the world.
ARTICLES
Peter Kaššák
With a length of 2,845 km, the
Danube is the second-longest
river in Europe after the Volga.
On almost 2,415 km (from
Kelheim to Sulina) the river
is navigable for international
cargo transport. On its
way from the Black Forest
(Germany) to the Black Sea
(Romania and Ukraine), the
Danube passes by or through
ten riparian states, which
makes it the most international
river in the world.
The complex of oil refineries
situated near Vienna was one of
the biggest in Austria and due
to its strategic position close to
the River Danube guaranteed
easy access for the importation
of crude oil from Romania and
elsewhere. Floridsdorf, Wiener
Neustadt, Moosbierbaum,
Lobau, Schwechat and Kagran
became infamously known to
crews of the American 15th
United States Army Air Force.
In 1944, approximately 88
Heavy Flak Batteries protected
this complex, with 604 heavy
flak and 840 light flak guns
aimed at the American combat
boxes of bombers. Operating
at maximum efficiency, it threw
into the air against US planes
some 600 shells every three
seconds.
But it was not only Austrian
refineries that were using
the Danube as a transport
route. The Apollo oil refinery in
Bratislava represented in 1944
an important oil-producing
facility as did oil refineries
in Hungary such as Szony,
Pétfürdő, Almásfűzűtő, Pét and
refineries in Budapest (Fanto,
Shell, Koolaz and Hungary
Petroleum Co.). Further
downstream were the Kuçovë
refinery, Doiceşti and the oil
storage depot at Targoviste,
Bulgaria, Brod refinery in
Yugoslavia, and finally the well-
known refinery and depots at
Ploesti, in Romania.
The smooth functioning of the
Danube transport system was
crucial for Germany, so its
disruption was highly desirable
for the Allies. Two main options
presented themselves to the
allied planners in Italy. One
involved the destruction of the
oil refineries, port facilities
and other infrastructure. The
other required the interdiction
of Danube river traffic by
mining. Both options would be
resorted to as the USAAF and
RAF sought to cut Germany
off from its much-needed
Romanian oil.
Ground crew of 70 squadron B flight posing at their base with the ‘cucumbers’.
Gardening the Danube
mining the Europe’s second
largest river in April 1944
INFO Eduard6
April 2024