The following has been gathered from secondary websites, news and presentations.
Some of the terminology contained in the headings and body of these links is misleading. These have been taken from press articles, websites and videos. The use of the word stampede and panic is not what you will find to be the causes of the incidents shown. The information provided is reflecting the articles written and it is being left to you to interoperate what you see and read and come to your own conclusions. Please also
1947
Karlslust dance hall fire 08/02/1947
The Karlslust dance hall fire, also referred to as the Loebel’s Restaurant fire, occurred on 8 February 1947 in Hakenfelde, a district of Spandau within what was then the British sector of Berlin. The incident resulted in a reported death toll ranging between 80 and 88 individuals and is widely regarded as one of the most severe fire disasters in Germany in the period following the Second World War. Contemporary historical consensus now places the number of fatalities at 81, comprising 80 patrons and the restaurant owner, Julius Loebel, who was killed while attempting to rescue a cashbox from the premises.
1946
Burnden Park disaster 09/03/1946
The Burnden Park disaster was a human crush that occurred on 9 March 1946 at Burnden Park football stadium, the home of Bolton Wanderers. The crush resulted in the deaths of 33 people and injuries to hundreds of Bolton fans
1943
London, Bethnal Green Air raid 03/03/1943
The Tube station had regularly been used by up to 7,000 Londoners at a time to shelter from German bombing raids.
When the sirens began at 20:17 GMT on 3 March, 1,500 locals hurried to the shelter but, although the raids were anticipated, no-one was on duty and only one door was open.
Roars from new anti-aircraft guns in nearby Victoria Park were mistakenly thought to be enemy bombs and the crowd surged forward in panic.
One woman, clutching her young child, lost her footing and fell, pulling an elderly man down with her.
Bodies quickly piled up at base of the steps, whilst those at the top, unaware of what had happened continued to try and force their way down.
A seething mass of women and children, all wearing thick clothes and gasping for air quickly developed. Though some escaped, 173 people, overwhelmingly women and children were asphyxiated.
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1942
Cocoanut Grove fire 28/11/1942
The Cocoanut Grove fire occurred at a nightclub in Boston, Massachusetts, on 28 November 1942 and resulted in the deaths of 492 individuals. It is recognised as the deadliest nightclub fire in recorded history and the third most fatal single-building fire in the United States, exceeded only by the September 11 attacks and the Iroquois Theatre fire. At the time, the Cocoanut Grove was regarded as one of Boston’s most fashionable and well-attended entertainment venues and was frequented by prominent public figures. Ownership of the establishment was held by Barnet “Barney” Welansky, whose associations extended to organised crime and senior municipal officials. Numerous fire safety regulations had been disregarded, including the locking of exit doors to control access and the installation of highly combustible decorative materials, such as artificial palm trees. Additionally, the air-conditioning system contained a flammable gas, a consequence of wartime shortages of non-flammable refrigerants, which significantly contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.
1940
Rhythm Club fire 23/01/1940
The Rhythm Club Fire occurred on April 23, 1940 in Natchez, Mississippi; around 209 people were killed and over 200 were injured. All of the victims were African Americans. The club was a long, narrow building with corrugated iron walls and roof. All the windows had been boarded up to prevent people outside the club from entering or watching a performance through the windows. There were only two doors, both near the front of the building; one was locked. Walter Barnes and his Royal Creolians were performing to a crowd of over 700 people when the fire broke out near the entrance around 11 p.m. The club’s decorations included Spanish moss hung from the ceiling, which had been sprayed with Flit, a petroleum-based insecticide. The moss quickly ignited, and the building’s metal construction prevented the heat from leaving the building. Many people were able to escape through the front door, while others pushed toward the back of the building, where they were unable to escape because there was no exit.
