Die Bombardierung von Dresden: Mythos und Wahrheit | Terra X

Summary

In February 1945, Allied bombers ravaged Dresden, leaving it in ruins and raising controversial debates over whether the attack was a tragic necessity or a war crime. The city, a cultural hub without significant military value, became a target of the British and American forces as part of 'Operation Thunderclap.' The bombing killed an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 civilians, though some claims suggested much higher numbers. The attack, aimed at disrupting the Nazi regime's morale, remains one of the most debated and devastating incidents of WWII, reflecting both the horrors of total war and the moral ambiguities of aerial bombing strategies.

Takeaways

• 😀 The bombing of Dresden in February 1945 by Allied forces turned the city into an inferno, leading to significant loss of life.
• 😀 The bombing remains controversial, with debates over whether it was a tragedy or a war crime, and the actual number of casualties being disputed.
• 😀 Dresden, largely untouched by bombing up until this point, was a significant cultural city in Nazi Germany, and its attack marked a shift in the war's tactics.
• 😀 The German military declared Dresden a fortress in January 1945, preparing the city for a final stand against the advancing Red Army, but the real threat came from Allied bombers.
• 😀 The bombing strategy was partly driven by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill's desire to support the Soviet Army by targeting Eastern German cities.
• 😀 The first phase of the attack, on February 13, involved marking the target area with flares, followed by the dropping of bombs, including incendiaries and explosives.
• 😀 Survivors of the bombing describe terrifying moments of fear, with residents trying to protect themselves from the blasts, including using their hands to cover their ears to prevent eardrum damage.
• 😀 After the first wave of bombers, a second wave hit the city around three hours later, dropping more bombs, with much higher casualties and destruction.
• 😀 The bombings caused not just destruction, but a firestorm that sucked oxygen out of the air, further escalating the horror for those trapped in the city.
• 😀 Some survivors reported attacks by low-flying aircraft that targeted civilians, though there is debate among historians about the extent of these attacks.
• 😀 Estimates of the number of casualties vary, with early reports suggesting as many as 100,000, but later studies and historical investigations suggest a more realistic count of around 25,000.

Q & A

What was the primary goal of the bombing of Dresden in February 1945?

The primary goal was to support the Soviet advance by bombing East German cities, including Dresden, which had previously been spared from heavy bombing. This was seen as a way to disrupt the German war effort and assist the Soviet Union.

How did the British plan the attack on Dresden?

The British began the attack by marking the target area with flares, followed by a first bombing wave that dropped high-explosive and incendiary bombs. The city was then bombed again by a second wave, with even more bombs, and the Americans launched a third bombing attack with daylight raids.

What is the significance of the term 'Operation Thunderclap'?

Operation Thunderclap referred to the planned massive bombing raids on Dresden and other East German cities, with the goal of causing chaos behind enemy lines and supporting the Soviet advance.

What was the immediate impact of the first bombing wave on the people of Dresden?

The first bombing wave caused mass panic among the population, as residents fled into their basements for shelter. Many of the bombings caused intense fires and created horrifying conditions for the civilians trapped in the city.

Why was Dresden considered a 'military target' despite its cultural significance?

Dresden, though a cultural hub, also had military value due to its administrative functions, the presence of some armament industries, and its location as a transportation hub, making it a valid target for military bombardment.

What role did Arthur Harris play in the bombing of Dresden?

Arthur Harris, the commander of the British Bomber Command, advocated for a strategy of bombing enemy cities to break civilian morale and weaken the enemy's capacity to fight, which influenced the bombing of Dresden.

How did the bombings lead to a 'firestorm' in Dresden?

The intense fires caused by the bombing generated high winds and an oxygen-deprived atmosphere, creating a 'firestorm' that consumed large parts of the city and resulted in further destruction and loss of life.

What was the range of casualty estimates after the bombings in Dresden?

Estimates varied widely, ranging from an initial official report of 25,000 deaths to later estimates that suggested up to 100,000 or even 250,000 deaths, though more recent historical research estimates around 25,000 casualties.

Was there any evidence of low-flying attacks on civilians by American aircraft?

While some survivors reported such attacks, historians and American pilots have disputed these claims, with no conclusive evidence found to support that low-flying American aircraft targeted civilians in Dresden.

What was the historical significance of the Dresden bombing in terms of war ethics?

The bombing of Dresden remains a controversial subject, as it raised moral and legal questions about targeting civilians during wartime. While not legally defined as a war crime at the time, it is now widely regarded as a breach of ethical warfare principles.