Switzerland World War II Schaffhausen, 1942 (b/w photo)

A painted Swiss cross on the rails near Schaffhausen, Switzerland, image taken during the war between 1939 and 1944. The Swiss cross as a large-format mark is to indicate the beginning of neutral territory to the combat aircraft of the warring parties. Half a year earlier, on April 1, 1944, the city of Schaffhausen and its surroundings were targeted by US-American combat aircraft due to misguided navigation. After bomber squadrons consisting of “Liberator” fighter jets dropped 371 incendiary and explosive bombs on the city near the German border, many large fires had broken out. 40 people died