The Effect on Canal Traffic Click to go to www.Bomberhistory.co.uk

The figures speak for themselves. The tables show the number of barges passing through the locks in Münster. The left hand table is traffic heading north to the sea and the right hand table is traffic heading towards the Ruhr valley from the sea. Click on the image to see a larger version. Although still a little "fuzzy" you should be able to read the figures which dramatically show the effect of the bombing.
It should also be remembered how many troops were tied up manning the flak batteries that guarded the canal.

The traffic statistics (Click to enalarge)
After the war, Albert Speer (in his book Inside the Third Reich) wrote that of all the strategic attacks made on Germany, the raids on the canals had by far the greatest effect on the German war effort.

Albert Speer 
Bomber Harris, in his speech at the RAF Bomber Command Reunion Dinner held in London and April 30th 1977 also spoke about the effect of the bombing on Germany's ability to deliver prefabricated U-Boat sections using the canals.

 Bomber Harris