Posted on Feb 13, 2017
Footage Of The Allied Bombing Of Dresden, Germany + Aftermath (1945)
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From February 13 to February 15, 1945, during the final months of World War II (1939-45), Allied forces bombed the historic city of Dresden, located in eastern Germany. The bombing was controversial because Dresden was neither important to German wartime production nor a major industrial center, and before the massive air raid of February 1945 it had not suffered a major Allied attack. By February 15, the city was a smoldering ruin and an unknown number of civilians—estimated at somewhere between 35,000 and 135,000–were dead.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-dresden
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-dresden
WWII World War Two
Warfare
Death
Military History
Germany
Posted 8 y ago
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"Importance" is moot really. Germany was indeed very proper and correct about ensuring that civilians were unharmed, military targets noted, etc. But then for some reason, the injection of terror yielded unholy results in a very fast time. The bombing of civilian refugee ships, the strafing of refugee's on the highway and the high civilian casualties from the bombings of Warsaw and Rotterdam were the icing on the cake. It also became obvious - quite quickly - that Germany had some ideas on what constituted an ideal human being and what didn't. And if you fell on the wrong side of the spreadsheet, concentration camps are not going to be a total shock. With that in mind, London braced for a bombing mission which came shortly thereafter with emphasis on attacking fire stations, burning hospitals, etc, all geared to make the suffering more magnified.
At that point in time, you go from being an "adversary" to a "worthless bastard" and you are therefore, no longer open to any of the niceties and friendliness of civilized warfare. Remember, Europeans had been fighting each for thousands of years. "War" as such was not new. What WAS new, was the invention of total war. The elimination of a foe which meant killing all of it's people. Once Germany embarked on that course, which to be fair, was all it could do based on resource shortages, they signed their own death warrant. Resource-starved Germany was hoping for a quick war. Scaring the shit out of everyone brought them quick victories. Once they adopted the terror method, they advanced to another category. They became more than an enemy, they became evil. And when that happens, "killing you" becomes priority number one.
Bomber Command then starts assembling targets who's sole purpose is to kill the heart of your nation. The British would burn thousands of Germans to death before America joined the war. America would soon join in. And while sad and heartless, it is nevertheless a case of "reaping what you sow."
At that point in time, you go from being an "adversary" to a "worthless bastard" and you are therefore, no longer open to any of the niceties and friendliness of civilized warfare. Remember, Europeans had been fighting each for thousands of years. "War" as such was not new. What WAS new, was the invention of total war. The elimination of a foe which meant killing all of it's people. Once Germany embarked on that course, which to be fair, was all it could do based on resource shortages, they signed their own death warrant. Resource-starved Germany was hoping for a quick war. Scaring the shit out of everyone brought them quick victories. Once they adopted the terror method, they advanced to another category. They became more than an enemy, they became evil. And when that happens, "killing you" becomes priority number one.
Bomber Command then starts assembling targets who's sole purpose is to kill the heart of your nation. The British would burn thousands of Germans to death before America joined the war. America would soon join in. And while sad and heartless, it is nevertheless a case of "reaping what you sow."
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