Did Hitler plan to bomb consett iron company?

Answer 1

Hitler did indeed plan to bomb Consett Iron Company and tried on many occasions. In the end the Luftwaffe managed to kill one cow and make a bit of a mess of the cemetery at Blackhill.

Consett did have anti-aircraft protection from land based guns but it was very well served by fighter squadrons based within a few minutes flying time. The German bombers were usually intercepted at the coast or even out to sea and the RAF had a very good record of stopping them.

So the works, which should have been a massive and easy target, were relatively untroubled by bombers. The destruction of Consett would have been a major blow to Britain's war effort and a major boost to the Germans. However, even if the Luftwaffe had aircraft that could reach Consett from France or Germany, they would have faced impossible opposition on the way. So they had to come from Norway which was flying over the sea for all but the last few miles and therefore away from all opposition other than the local fighter squadrons and anti-aircraft batteries.

Their losses were significant and they stopped sending large formations early in the war. Their fighters did not have the range to escort them and defend them over the target. So Consett survived.