Revision - Specific - Bombing of Germany Flashcards
Sir Arthur Harris quote from the beginning of his bombing campaign
“The German people entered this war under the rather childish delusion they were going to bomb everyone else, and nobody was going to bomb them.”
“They sowed the wind, and now, they are going to reap the whirlwind.”
Who was in charge of the RAF in the Battle of Britain?
Fighter Command
Who was in charge of the RAF after the Battle of Britain?
Bomber Command. Led by Sir Arthur Harris
What was Hitler’s views on civilian bombing?
He didn’t agree with it.
The first civilian bombing of London was done without his orders. Committed by Luftwaffe.
First civilian bombing: date
24th August 1940
How do we know that Churchill was keen to retaliate against the first civilian bombing?
“enthusiastic [about] the capability of long-range bombers… it was predictable that… he would unconditionally back Bomber Command to take the war to Germany, especially after the Luftwaffe had begun so empathetically to bring it to England.”
What sort of civilian bombing did Churchill not agree with?
The likes seen in the Spanish Civil War
What was civilian bombing similar too?
Naval blockade of WW1
Positives of civilian bombing:
- Let the occupied peoples know that they were not forgotten
- Show Stalin that Britain was helping to weaken Germany
First 12 months of civilian bombing:
Air Ministry claimed it was hitting targets.
What did Lord Cherwell argue and when?
1941
That bombings (at night) were so inaccurate that they had no effect.
When did Sir Arthur Harris take charge of the Bomber Command?
February 1942
What were Harris’ changes in strategy?
- Instead of dropping bombs on small targets that were missed, drop them on larger targets.
- Industrial areas: factories, railway yards, homes of people who worked there.
How did Lord Cherwell view Harris’ strategy?
“dehoused and demoralised”
Historian Richard Overy’s view on Harris’ strategy?
The bombing “prevented the increase [of weapons] from being very considerably greater than it was.”
While industrial production in Germany increased in 1943, “it did not do so at anything like the rate it would have otherwise.”
Churchill’s reaction to watching an Air Military film:
“Are we beasts? Have we taken this too far?”
Who was Sir Charles Portal?
Chief of Air Staff
What did Sir Charles Portal do in April 1942?
He updated Defence Committee on 4 consecutive days of German bombing.
Churchill said: “Don’t make too much of this in the press - we’re hitting them about three times as hard.”
Dresden: date?
February 1945
How many lives are believed to have been lost at Dresden?
25,000
What created a firestorm at Dresden?
2nd wave of bombers dropping explosives and incendiaries
Situation surrounding knowledge of Harris’ opinion on Dresden?
Dinner at Chequers.
Jock Colville asked Harris about the effect of the Dresden raid.
“Dresden? There’s no such place as Dresden.”
Churchill’s view on civilian bombing after Dresden?
Churchill’s minute to Chiefs of Staff in March 1945
“bombing of German cities simply for the sake of increasing terror […] should be reviewed.”
“utterly ruined land”
“destruction of Dresden remains a serious query against the conduct of Allied bombing.”
Interpretations of minute to Chiefs of Staff 1945?
Roy Jenkins:
Churchill gave Harris “a largely free hand to unleash terror on Berlin and eastern German cities”
How many British and US aircrafts involved in bombing of Dresden?
1,200
Harris’ 1977 interview with BBC?
He said he would have ‘destroyed Dresden again’.
How did the Official History of the War describe Harris and Churchill’s relationship?
“such an important Commander-in-Chief been so continuously close to the centre of Government”
How was Harris known by his men?
‘Butch’ Harris
Harris’ reputation after the war?
- Only senior commander not to receive a peerage.
- Churchill’s victory speech made no reference to bomber command
- 1992 statue of him
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Unveiling of Harris’ statue?
- There were riots against it in England and Germany
- The Queen mother, who unveiled it, was jeered by protestors. They said: “Harris was a war criminal”
- 24-hour surveillance due to vandalism
How did Churchill protect Harris?
Charles Portal asked Harris to move away from bombing and towards oil and transportation targets. He refused. Portal wanted to sack him but didn’t. Churchill didn’t intervene.
Why does Best argue that it makes sense Churchill supported the bombing?
- “He believed the British public demanded it.”
- “He was sure Starlin appreciated it.”
