The Pros And Cons Of The Bombing Of Dresden

“One thing was clear: Absolutely everybody in the city was supposed to be dead, regardless of what they were, and that anybody that moved in it represented a flaw in the design” (Vonnegut). During World War II, the advancements in bombing led to an untapped potential for destruction, a force that would soon be pushed to its very limits. Many countries used extensive bombing in the hopes of destroying enemy military bases, ammunition factories, and supply lines, but also to crush their population’s morale. The concept of “area” bombing began to emerge within the Allied airstrikes, which was the tactic of targeting entire enemy cities, including the civilian portions (History, Bombing of Dresden). One of the most controversial bombings in World War II occurred in February, 1945, in Dresden, Germany. Among other airstrikes, the bombing of Dresden, in 1945, was unjustified and should be considered a war crime.

Before the bombing, Dresden was widely considered northern Germany’s cultural centre; filled with museums and world famous historic buildings (Trueman). During 1945, Dresden was overcrowded with refugees, as thousands of civilians fleeing the approaching Red Army took shelter there. This medieval city had minimal soldiers, most of Hitler’s surviving forces had taken up defense of Berlin (History, Bombing of Dresden). Dresden supplied only minor contributions to Hitler’s war effort, and seemed an unlikely target for an Allied raid. According to survivor Victor Gregg, the city had no defenses, anti-aircraft guns, or searchlights. Dresden was not a deserving recipient of the