THE FIRE BOMBING OF HAMBURG IN

DRESEN

The Proposition:

Soldiers or Infantrymen Aircraft and Bombs

If we accept that wars are fought by soldiers, why did the Allies fire bomb the cities of Hamburg and Dresden?

OR

Focus Questions

1. What strategic purpose did the fire bombing of Hamburg and Dresden have for the Allies?

2. Who were the key figures in the planning and initiation of the fire bombing of civilian targets?

3. To what extent did the fire bombing of Hamburg and Dresden impact the war(for the Allies and Germans)?

4. How did the Allies justify their use of fire bombings on civilian targets?

Historical Overview

What Strategic Purpose did Firebombing Hamburg have for Allies?

• Germany’s international port

• Position at the mouth of Elbe River

• Trading port• Port for large cruise

liners• 2nd largest city after

Berlin

Port of Hamburg

Strategic Purpose of Firebombing Hamburg(contd)

• Key industrial city• Naval port for North Sea

fleet• Important port for U-

Boats• Many oil refineries and

synthetic oil plants

German U-boat

What Strategic Purpose did Firebombing Dresden have for the Allies?

• The city was in Nazi Germany• Cultural centre• Germany’s 7th largest city• It was claimed that it was a key

communications point for Germany’s Eastern front

• As the Russians approached Germany, Dresden was bombed by the RAF and USAAF to show their power and dominance

Map showing Dresden’s Location • “Dresden, the seventh largest city

in Germany and not much smaller than Manchester, is also far the largest unbombed built-up the enemy has got. In the midst of winter with refugees pouring westwards and troops to be rested, roofs are at a premium. The intentions of the attack are to hit the enemy where he will feel it most, behind an already partially collapsed front, to prevent the use of the city in the way of further advance, and incidentally to show the Russians when they arrive what Bomber Command can do.”

• RAF January 1945

Who were Key Figures in the Planning and Initiation of the Firebombing of Hamburg and Dresden?

Hamburg, 1943• Operation Gomorrah• Brainchild of Brit PM

Winston Churchill• With help from Air Chief

Marshal Arthur “Bomber” Harris

Operation Gomorrah, Hamburg,1943• The Operation was

carried out by RAF Bomber Command

• Along with the USAAF 8th Air Force

• The objective of this combined bombing campaign-to destroy Hamburg

A Lancaster bomber over Hamburg

Dresden, 1945

• Germany by now was retreating from its Western and Eastern Fronts

• The Soviet Army continued to advance forward from the East

• A plan was created to aid the Soviet advance, German cities in the East would be bombed

• Dresden was one of the cities earmarked for bombing

Dresdon, 1945

• The end of the war seemed insight

• Churchill wanted his top brass to end the war soon

• Harris was asked as to his opinion over Dresden-he proposed firebombing the city

“Bomber” Harris and a Lancaster Bomber

To What Extent did the Fire Bombing of Hamburg and Dresdon impact the War?

Port of Hamburg before fire bombing in 1943

Impact on the Allies

Dresden before it was firebombed in 1945

Impact on the Allies

Hamburg after the firebombing Dresden after the firebombing

Impact on the Allies

“It seems to me that the moment has come when the question of bombing German cities simply for the sake of increasing the terror, should be reviewed. Otherwise, we shall come into control of an utterly ruined land.”

Winston Churchill to “Bomber” Harris, 1945

Impact on Germans

Bodies of dead civilians piled up for disposal after fire bombing, Dresden

Impact on Germans

• Hamburg lost 60% of its oil production

• Infrastructure and the civilian population severely affected

• Port was littered with shells of destroyed ships

• Loss of life-50,000

The charred remains of a family after the fire bombing of Dresden

How did the Allies Justify their use of Fire Bombing on Civilian Targets?

The Allies justified their use of fire bombs on civilian targets stating:

• These cities were major weapons producers• They harbored a significant number of military

staff e.g. soldiers, etc• Factories in these cities were manufacturing

weapons• Most importantly the increasing demand to end

the war and restore peace

Allies Justification for the use of Fire Bombs on Civilian Targets

• "In spite of all that happened at Hamburg, bombing proved a comparatively humane method. For one thing, it saved the youth of this country and of our allies from being mown down by the military as it was in the war of 1914-1918."

'Bomber' Harris writing in his memoirs in 1947.

In Conclusion

• Hamburg and Dresden forever marked as dark points in the war fought by the Allies

• Fire bombing is a horrible method used in warfare

So yes, wars are fought by soldiers but there are times when war encroaches on the lives of ordinary people at the end of the day all war is the same.