Bombing of Gorla

Taking place during a protracted campaign of strategic bombing of Milan, some 614 civilians were killed, most notably 184[1] children at the Francesco Crispi primary school in the quartiere.

[8][5] The daylight raid intended to hit the Alfa Romeo, Isotta Fraschini, and Breda works in the city, all of which were being used in the war effort.

[8] Realizing that it was not possible to correct course and hit the Breda works, the lead bomber dropped its bombs and ordered the unit to return to base.

[9] It was common practice for American bombers to discard un-dropped bombs in empty fields or into the Adriatic Sea while returning to base (landing an aircraft laden with armed bombs was a major hazard), but it was not uncommon for bomber units to engage targets of opportunity in enemy controlled cities, even if they were near civilian population centers.

In addition to disruptions to the cities' railyards and motor works, the destruction of the Gorla quartiere and high civilian death toll led to public mourning.

[2] Facing a deteriorating military situation, the fascist Italian Social Republic produced propaganda focused on the destruction caused during the bombing.

Italian fascist propaganda depicting the allies as "murderers" or "assassins" of children had begun earlier in the war,[b] and this trend was accelerated after the destruction of Gorla.

[11] Sources note this propaganda effort came too late in the war to have a meaningful effect on Italian civilian morale.

[2] The Monument to the Piccoli Martiri of Gorla was built as a memorial on the site of the school in 1952,[2] and the Italian Peace Museum of Milan was established in the area.