On April 1, 1941, during World War II, the German Luftwaffe conducted an aerial bombing raid on the Dutch city of Rotterdam. The attack, part of a broader campaign of terror, caused widespread destruction in the city, killing at least 900 civilians and injuring thousands more. The bombing was particularly devastating due to the use of high-explosive bombs that leveled much of the citys center, leaving it in ruins. Rotterdams historic architecture, including its medieval buildings, was largely destroyed in the raid. The tragedy significantly weakened Dutch resistance and contributed to the eventual occupation of the Netherlands by Nazi Germany.