Attempt to blow up the island of Helgoland

© dsz A vast cloud of smoke over Helgoland after the „Operation Big Bang“ - but the island withstands

Since 1945, following a devastating air raid by the Royal Air Force, the German North Sea island of Helgoland has remained uninhabitable. On 18 April 1947, with what was then the largest conventional explosion in human history, the English undertake an attempt to erase the island from all sea maps so that it can never again be used as a military staging point.

Helgoland withstands the gigantic explosion and must serve for years to come as a practice target for British bombers. Not until March of 1952 will the island’s evacuated population be allowed to return.