The allied Bombing of Dresden
Gabriel Gullion
The bombings of Dresden remain some of the most controversial military actions to this day. They were strategic actions carried out by the Royal Air Force (RAF) of the United Kingdom that targeted militants but would inevitably cause civilian casualties.
In the early 1945, the Allies were beginning to think of ways in which they could assist the Soviets via a strategic bomber force. They devised a plan to target Berlin and multiple other eastern cities. The chief of the air staff, Sir Charles Portal said that "a severe blitz will not only cause confusion in the evacuation from the East, but will also hamper the movement of troops from the West.” At that time, the Allies were focused on destroying oil production facilities, submarines, and jet production factories. The deputy chief of the air staff, Sir Norman Bottomley ordered that Sir Arthur Harris to carry out attacks against Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig, and Chemnitz. The Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) speculated that the Germans had the possibility of reinforcing their eastern front with up to 42 divisions or around half of a million militants. This speculation was also backed up by intercepted Ultra Enigma-code. The Allies decided to target Dresden, the easternmost city. The RAF’s intentions were to hinder communications and prevent reinforcement of troops to the eastern front.
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Sir Arthur Harris, 1st Baronet Marshal of the Royal Air Force
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Previously, attacks were carried out by the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) in 1944. These preliminary attacks targeted the rail yards where they dropped over 250 tons of high explosives on two different occasions. But on February 13th, 1945 the USAAF was unable to participate in the first day bombing due to weather conditions. The RAF Bomber Command continued with the first attack on their own.
It had been decided that there would be two attacks carried out, 3 hours apart to stop rescuers who would be putting out fires. The first group of attackers served as pathfinders and dropped magnesium parachute flares over Dresden to illuminate the target for the bombers. The next set of aircrafts dropped 1000 lb target indicator flares which were positioned over crowded and highly combustible timber buildings. After the pathfinders, a grouping of 254 Lancasters were sent to drop 500 tons of high explosives and 375 tons of incendiaries. The high explosives were used first in order to open building and allow for better air flow when the incendiaries were dropped. Three hours later, the Lancasters dropped the remaining 1,800 tons of explosives. This time focusing on areas that were not affected in the previous attack.
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Areas heavily targeted by the Royal Air Force
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In the inner city of Dresden, 24,866 of 28,410 houses were destroyed as a result of the attack. The damage spread 15 square kilometers. Estimates of death tolls are difficult to accurately assess due to the 200,00 refugees and wounded soldiers that were temporarily staying in Dresden. Most believe that 25,000 people died in Dresden from the attacks. Many consider the bombing of Dresden to be excessive, something that used the deaths of civilians as a weapon to create fear.
Quick Facts
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CIVILIAN AND MILITANTS DEATHS OF DRESDEN
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TONS OF HIGH EXPLOSIVES DROPPED
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TONS OF INCENDIARY BOMBS DROPPED
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Video
SOURCES
“Bombing of Dresden in World War II.” Bombing of Dresden in World War II - New World Encyclopedia, www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Bombing_of_Dresden_in_World_War_II.
Selwood, Dominic. “Dresden Was a Civilian Town with No Military Significance. Why Did We Burn Its People?” The Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group, 13 Feb. 2015, www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-two/11410633/Dresden-was-a-civilian-town-with-no-military-significance.-Why-did-we-burn-its-people.html.
Selwood, Dominic. “Dresden Was a Civilian Town with No Military Significance. Why Did We Burn Its People?” The Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group, 13 Feb. 2015, www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-two/11410633/Dresden-was-a-civilian-town-with-no-military-significance.-Why-did-we-burn-its-people.html.