The Bombing of Germany Flashcards
Why did Britain bomb Germany?
- To destroy German morale and its limit its armed forces.
- Response to the Blitz
What were some problems with the bombing of Germany?
- a 1942 report indicated the bombing was not precise or accurate enough to substantially damage German industry.
- The Blitz did not destroy British morale therefore Germany may be the same.
- Ethical objections
Who voiced the ethical concerns about the Bombing in Germany?
Bishop Bell of Chichester
Who initiated the bombing raids in 1942?
Sir Arthur Harris
What was Arthur Harris’ strategy?
As much destruction in cities as possible using a large force of bombers.
To deliberately create fire storms.
Which cities had the highest death toll?
- Hamburg
- Ruhr
- Berlin
- Dresden
What was the death toll in Dresden?
40,000
What was the death toll in the Blitz? Why was this a problem?
- 60,595
- at least 340,000 less than Germany
- Germany bombing seen as a war crime.
What was the total death toll in all of German bombing?
400,000-600,000
Why was Dresden a controversial city for a bombing raid?
It was not an obvious military target. It was a city sheltering thousands of refugees, including women and children.
What was the code name for the Bombing of Hamburg?
‘Operation Gomorrah’
When was the Bombing of Hamburg?
July 24th, 1943 and lasted 8 days.
How many casualties were there in the bombing of Hamburg?
-42,600 killed
- 37,000 injured
- 1 million fled
When was the bombing of Dresden?
13th February - 15th February 1945
How many bombs were dropped on Dresden?
3,300 tonnes, creating a firestorm
What was the peak temperature in Dresden, due to the bombing raid?
1800 degrees Fahrenheit
What was the outcome at Dresden?
- Citizens feet were burned due to the heat of the roads.
- SS soldiers took 2 weeks to burn all of the casualties bodies.
- Churchill criticized as a warmonger.
