ALMOST 1,000 people, mainly civilians, died during four bombing raids by the German Lutfwaffe in April and May 1941 and devastated a city that had remained unscathed from the horrors of World War II.
Belfast became a target due to its shipyard and aircraft industries. However highly vulnerable and easily located the bombers delivered their hits over a city that was woefully unprepared for a bombing mission from the skies.
Belfast was first targeted by the Luftwaffe on 7/8 April, when 15 people were killed followed by major raids on the 15/16 April, which led to 744 deaths, including 31 people killed in Derry, Bangor and Newtownards airfield.
Another 225 people died during raids on 4/5 May and 5/6 May.
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The major raids, now known as the Easter Tuesday and fire raids, on the night of Tuesday April 15 1941 are remembered most vividly - a sustained bombing campaign by the Germans saw Belfast devastated as hundreds of tons of high explosive bombs and incendiaries rained down on the city.
The docks area, where hundreds of people lived in rows of terraced houses close to the factories and mills, was among the main targets for the bombers.
As the bombs fell, the people of Belfast did their best to protect themselves, but with only four public air raid shelters in the entire city - major tragedy unfolded.
Many devices fell on overcrowded housing in north, east and west Belfast with devastation spread over 500 streets as the Luftwaffe staged the biggest of its four raids on the city that night.
It was the biggest loss of life in any night raid outside of London and caused extensive damage across Belfast, leaving around 100,000 people homeless.
Many casualties are buried within cemeteries in the city, but due to the carnage and destruction, it was not always possible to identify the victims of the raids so there are two mass graves - in Milltown and the City Cemetery.
