German ruling says Dresden was a holocaust

Telegraph ^ | 4-12-5 | Hannah Cleaver in Berlin

[FreedomCalls]

If "Slaughterhouse 5" is an accurate depiction of the bombing of Dresden, then "Operation Petticoat" is an accurate depiction of life aboad a submarine in WWII.

From the introduction on Amazon:

Kurt Vonnegut's absurdist classic Slaughterhouse-Five introduces us to Billy Pilgrim, a man who becomes unstuck in time after he is abducted by aliens from the planet Tralfamadore.

[FreedomCalls]

So, Dresden was just one of a number of places. So, why Dresden and not one of the others?

That's answered at the link. Why don't you go read it?

18. It was the specific Russian request for bombing communications, coupled with the emphasis on forcing troops to shift from west to east through communications centers, that led to the Allied bombings of Dresden. The structure of the Berlin-Leipzig-Dresden railway complex, as outlined in paragraph 8 above, required that Dresden, as well as Berlin and Leipzig, be bombed. Therefore Allied air authorities concluded that the bombing of Dresden would have to be undertaken (1) in order to implement strategic objectives, of mutual importance to the Allies and the Russians, and now agreed upon at the highest levels of governmental authority, and (2) to respond to the specific Russian request presented to the Allies by General Antonov to “paralyze the junctions of Berlin and Leipzig.”

They generated a firestorm in this town. I am aware of others in the vicinity that were simply bombed and not burned.

Weather conditions as much as anything else, such as having a lot of buildings constructed of wood, contributed to the creation of a firestorm which is why there was a firestorm in Dresden and Hamburg, but not Berlin or Leipzig.

Anyway, what advantage was there in making it easier on the Russians?

Again, that is thoroughly discussed at the link. It's like, you know, they were our allies and all.

[muawiyah]

The victims are Japanese, and to the degree they continue to suffer from radiation induced disease (and we are not talking about latency periods in this), they are continuing to die as a consequence.

The Japanese do have the greatest standard longevity, even if only by a day!

There are no other populations in the Far East with their same background.

[muawiyah]

Obviously you've never read any of Vonnegut's interviews where he discusses his reasons for presenting his experience in that way.

I think I mentioned his interviews in my first posting. So, go find one on the net and read it.

[muawiyah]

Look, the Russians were supposed to be doing the heavy lifting ~ that's why we supplied them at such great expense and trouble.

Anyway, I did read your link and what I saw was a report prepared by military bureaucrats who had an interest in justifying whatever it was they might have been involved in.

If we'd lost the war, I doubt that any of it would have stood up in court.

[Lurker 50001]

Many thanks to all your family for serving is such a great cause. I and the world owes them plenty, and I will always keep them in my thoughts.

I have no such bragging rights, our family was more involved in the South Pacific, Luzon particulary... then that's a whole other story.

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