[shhrubbery!]

Have they ever apologized for murdering millions of Jews?

Yes they have, and they've paid out gazillions in reparations. NOT that that makes up for even a single murdered person --just answering your question.

History buffs, correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm going to stick my neck out and take an unpopular position here: I believe the RAF's utter destruction of Dresden was unnecessary and wrong.

Wasn't Germany --unlike Japan before the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings-- on its knees before the bombing of Dresden?

Most of us here accept the necessity of bombing defiant Japan into submission, and that the atomic bombing actually saved both American and Japanese lives (compared to the bloodshed that would've occurred if we'd had to invade the homeland).

But Germany was already invaded and, for all practical purposes, defeated. Bombing Dresden was not going to save the lives of Allies and did not contribute to ending the war. (Again, if anyone knows better, please correct my history.)

[Noachian]

Wasn't Germany --unlike Japan before the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings-- on its knees before the bombing of Dresden?

One thing I learned a long time ago is to never second guess decisions that were made a lifetime ago.

At the time, the military commanders had information we don't have today and it was their call.

[APFel]

From what I understand (and I am recalling this from something that I have read in the past, so I will sheepishly stand by it) is that the Dresden raids were conducted in order to maximize the Soviet's traveling rate in Germany. In other words, the Western allies obliterated a site that may have caused the Soviets casualties and lost time in their march to Berlin. Clearing a hurdle by burning the hurdle down to ash, so to speak.

If anyone can verify this. I would be obliged.

APf

[wideawake]

But Germany was already invaded and, for all practical purposes, defeated. Bombing Dresden was not going to save the lives of Allies and did not contribute to ending the war. (Again, if anyone knows better, please correct my history.)

Here's the time line.

From September 1944 to April 1945 the Nazis launched thousands of V@ rockets specifically to target civilians in the UK.

From December 1944 to January 1945 the Nazis fought the last great offensive of the war, the Ardennes Offensive which we call the Battle of the Bulge.

Dresden was bombed in February 1945.

From the Allied point of view, Nazi Germany was a weakened but not yet defanged beast. The Battle of the Bulge ended just a week or two before the firebombing of Dresden and the Allied command was not about to let up on the Nazis after they had almost been successful in retaking territory from the Allies. Especially since during that offensive the Nazis had just killed US and UK POWs wholesale, executions-style.

Additionally, dozens of German rockets were landing in the UK every day in February 1945.

Suffice it to say that in February 1945, with rocket bombs falling daily in London, US troops finding the slaughtered bodies of POWs and more and more reports of genocide from the East, the Allies were not too concerned about overdoing it when they bombed Dresden.

Nor should they have been.