Editing Wilhelmshaven (section)

===World War II===
{{See also|Bombing of Wilhelmshaven in World War II}}
During [[World War II]] (1939–1945), Wilhelmshaven served as the main base of the [[Kriegsmarine]]. [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] bombing destroyed two thirds of the town's buildings while the main target, the [[Kriegsmarinewerft|Naval Shipyard Wilhelmshaven]], remained operational despite serious damage.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.luftschutzbunker-wilhelmshaven.de/historie/statistik.html |title=Angriffe und Statistik |publisher=Homepage Luftschutzbunker Wilhelmshaven |access-date=2017-12-17 |archive-date=2018-04-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425183243/http://www.luftschutzbunker-wilhelmshaven.de/historie/statistik.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A major attack on residential areas of Wilhelmshaven was carried out on 15 October 1944. Various churches, hospitals, schools and many residential buildings were destroyed or severely damaged.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uwe-karwath.de/wilhelmshaven_abisz_M.html |title=Uwe Karwath &#124; Wilhelmshaven – Sehenswürdigkeiten von a bis Z – Teil 3 |access-date=2022-06-11 |archive-date=2022-03-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328071708/https://www.uwe-karwath.de/wilhelmshaven_abisz_M.html |url-status=live }}</ref> During the war, ''Alter Banter Weg'' (No. 1582 Wilhelmshaven), functioned as a subcamp of the [[Neuengamme concentration camp]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.kz-gedenkstaette-neuengamme.de/en/history/satellite-camps/satellite-camps/wilhelmshaven-alter-banter-weg/ | title= KZ-Gedenkstätte Neuengamme, WILHELMSHAVEN (ALTER BANTER WEG) | language = en | access-date=2023-12-27 }}</ref>
On 28 April 1945 the [[1st Armoured Division (Poland)|Polish First Armored Division]] captured Wilhelmshaven, and took the surrender of the entire garrison, including over 200 ships of the [[Kriegsmarine]].<ref>{{cite book | author= Evan McGilvray | title= The Black Devils' March--A Doomed Odyssey: The 1st Polish Armoured Division 1939-1945 | isbn = 9781874622420 | language = English}}</ref> The Poles remained as part of the Allied occupation forces until 1947.