BOMBING OF DRESDEN, THE GERMAN CITY

 

Rubbles of the German City Dresden after bombing during World War II

Few Allied actions during World War II are as controversial or debated as the firebombing of Dresden, one of Germany's most beautiful cities, renowned for its rich artistic and architectural treasures. The bombardment began on February 13, 1945, lasting two more days. During that time more than 1,200 Allied aircraft dropped almost 4,000 tons of high explosive and incendiary devices on the German city, killing between 22,000 and 25,000 civilians and utterly destroying the city.

Allied planners justified the bombing by claiming Dresden was an important rail transport and communications hub for the German war effort, though not all of these sites were targeted for bombing. Given the high number of civilian casualties – estimates now ranging from 35,000 to 135,000 – and the relatively few strategic targets, some have called the bombing of Dresden a war crime. However, the British and the American militaries defended the bombing as necessary. Dresden had factories producing weapons and equipment for the war effort and its railway could send troops to the front for the fight against the Russians. Others claim Dresden was a cultural center with no real military significance and the bombing campaign was unnecessary given the impending invasion of Germany by Allied forces. The war was coming to an end with Hitler holed up in his Berlin bunker. The Russian Red Army was racing towards the German capital from the east. The British and the Americans were advancing from the west.

However many historians believe that one purpose of the devastating attack was to give a signal to Russia. The Russians were allies but Prime Minister Winston Churchill and U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt were uneasy about Josef Stalin's ambitions and post-war plans.

The reasoning went that the bombing of Dresden would show the Russians the awesome power of the Allies and act as a warning to Stalin not to stray from agreements he had made at war conferences.  

Winston Churchill was ultimately responsible for ordering the bombardment though he too attempted to distance himself from it later on. He referred to the campaign in Dresden as an "act of terror" which drew the ire of Arthur Harris, the man in charge of the Royal Air Force Bomber Command, and a proponent of area bombing.

Debate continues today over the military significance of Dresden and whether the act constituted a war crime.