“I had read several historians take on this particular decision by Hitler”
Thanks for the information! Didn’t Churchill want to use poison gas but was overruled?
Yes, in Northern India years before, gas had been used against rebellious tribesmen. Churchill knew of their fanaticism and cruelty to prisoners. He had no compunction for any cruel agonizing suffering from gas attacks.
He then wanted the massive Royal Air Force bomber squadrons equipped with poison gas. His hatred of the Germans- with justification for their civilian targets in the UK, drove him to this. Top military advisers cautioned him against it.
Churchill is quoted as saying "Amongst the victors, there are NO war criminals". He was right, he conceded if the war was lost he would have faced legal retribution. Or worse.