Posted on 03/18/2010 6:08:22 AM PDT by decimon
Up to 25,000 people died in the Allied bombing of Dresden during World War II - fewer than often estimated, an official German report has concluded.
The Dresden Historians' Commission published its report after five years of research into the 13-15 February 1945 air raid by Britain and the US.
The study was aimed at ending an ongoing debate on the number of casualties in the German city.
Germany's far-right groups claim that up to 500,000 people died.
They say the bombing - which unleashed a firestorm in the historic city when Nazi Germany was already close to defeat - constituted a war crime.
Critics say there was no military reason for it, but others argue that Dresden was an important logistical point close behind German lines, as the Soviet Army approached from the east.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
Back in the ‘70s I usually saw figures from 60,000 to 140,000. This new report is the lowest number I’ve seen.
As an old friend on mine used to say:
“If you don’t start no s___, there won’t be no s___.”
It is really easy to spew such a dumb thing 65ish years after the fact, almost as if the end of the World War 2 in Europe was supposed to happen "on schedule."
Yep.
Often, towards the end, the losing side will beging to think it has something to bargain with - the END of the war.
As such, they begin to delay in an attempts to negotiate a more favorable peace. During that time, many more may die.
Sometimes, the end is the time where you want to pour on the firepower the most.
What was the “EXIT Strategy”?/sarc
I couldn’t care less.
If you start a war, there will be collateral damage. Moral of the story: Don’t start wars.
The true number will probably never be known. Dresden was considered “Safe” by people fleeing from the Russians because it had rarely been bombed, and it was packed with refugees.
Dresden was a key rail nexus in front of the Red Army. Churchill had been pressing the head of Bomber Command “Bomber Harris” to aid the Red Army and Dresden was the next on the list. The same argument could be used about the Fire bombing of Tokyo where the casualties were much larger.
Oh, so if it had been done at the beginning of the war like the Nazi Blitz against civilians then it would have all been ok. The Germans received what they deserved for supporting, as a nation, der Fuerhrer just as the Japanese got what they deserved for supporting the Emperor and his genocidal generals.
How many died at Coventry?
Moral of the story: Don’t start wars.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Or condone or harbor those that do.
Boo Hoo. I guess there aren't too many people left alive from that period that endured Hitler's romantic frolics over London? Liberal idiots and fascists need to be punched in the nose once every 30 minutes just because it's fun to watch them scream, and because they have no connection to reality.
Our enemies have become experts in prevailing against us by hiding behind civilians and playing the leftist media harpstrings against our “brutality” while they videotape hacking off prisoners heads for entertainment.
Our military should be free to use my philosophy. Don't mess with me, I'm old, tired, and have had a long day. I'm going to kill you as quickly as possible so I can wash up, eat dinner and take my nap.
The bombing was at the request of Stalin. (Geeez, we had to placate our greatest ally.) Dresden was packed with refugees from the east, including eastern Europeans fleeing the Russians. Yes, there was a rail head there but by the time the city was bombed most of the train traffic was at a standstill. It was more like continually kicking someone who was laying down on the ground. The war was at its end, it would have ended even if they ignored Dresden and left it as a pocket.
Was your friend the Rap Producer “Lil’ Jon”?
LOL, I'm making that my quote of the day... :)
Oh, and it should be recognized that the cities that got A-bombed in Japan were little-bombed before that. This was done purposefully by the US so that the A-bomb damage would be shocking. Who's to say that Dresden might not have been preserved up to that point for similar reasons? The Bomb was being developed to be used primarily against Germany after all.
But at least it wasn't racist. The victims were caucasian.{/tomhanks}
The Bomb was being developed to be used primarily against Germany after all. .......................... It came kinda late, Trinity wasn’t until July 45. Besides, as of Feb 1945 (Yalta Conference)it was pretty much of a mater of rounding up the surrendering German units in our area of the European theater. Unlike Japan, who had their army spread all over Asia, and was still prepared to defend its mainland from an invasion.
It is a tragedy that so many people died, but to call Dresden a war crime is wrong.
If the excuse is that “the war was almost over”, then the true war crime is Germany’s refusal to surrender. By refusing to surrender, thus forcing the Allies to fight all the way to Berlin, Germany put its civilians at risk.
If the excuse is that “the city had no strategic value” is BS. Dresden is about 70 miles south of Berlin. Were the allies supposed to leave it untouched? The Soviets were only 50 miles from Berlin at the time. Were the allies supposed to let the Nazis have a backup headquarters?
Tragedy? Yes.
Part of the horror of all-out war? Yes.
War crime? Not even close.
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