Who Bombed Dresden

The bombing of Dresden took place at the end of the World War II, three months before the war ended, in Germany’s seventh largest city just seven miles behind the eastern Front (Vonnegut). The bombing began February 13, 1945 and lasted the duration of two months ending April 17th. Official narratives in comparison to other official narratives, critics differ in the legitimacy and purpose of the attack and the level of destruction.

Written accounts suggest that the allies bombed Dresden for three possible reasons. According to Air Marshall Arthur Harris, who ordered the bombing, one reason was because Dresden was said to be “the main center of communications for the defense of Germany on the southern half of the Eastern front.” He added that

The web site also states the following: “In 1994 the Dresden-based historian Friedrich Reichert, using a previously unused source in the city archives, published an authoritative account which convincingly reduced the figure to 25,000” (“Myths and Facts”). Referring to David Irving, Earl A. Beck said: "the constant increase in estimates of the number killed in the raids does not comport with the facts” (“Myths and Facts”). Based on these credible sources, it appears that David Irving has committed a hyperbolic fallacy otherwise know as inductive hyperbole which take places when something is stated much more strongly than the observations behind it support. Inductive hyperbole or a hyperbolic fallacy can be found in places such as scientific reporting often a writer might exaggerate claims to pique the interest of the readers which can entirely change a reader’s previous assumptions. Furthermore Frederick Taylor states that according to documents previously not consulted such as archival sources on burial records and scientific findings also including street to street archaeological investigations as well as hundreds of eye witness reports (Taylor). This source also states “Dresden Commission of Historians for the Ascertainment of the Number of Victims of the Air Raids on the City of Dresden on 13/14

The bombing of Dresden proved to be so devastating not only do to the sheer volume of bombing but the type of explosives utilized in the air raids. The bombs used did not produce the majority of the damage through the initial explosions but rather through the fire storms that engulfed the surrounding area. Incendiary bombs, filled with highly combustible chemicals such as magnesium, phosphorus or petroleum jelly (napalm) were utilized to destroy the city known for architectural beauty and historical culture (Simkin). According to Kurt Vonnegut, the bombing on the city of Dresden began the night of February 13, 1945 where in all, the Royal Air Force sent 800 aircraft to fly over the city, the source then goes on to say Dresden was assaulted by 400 bombers from the U.S. 8th Air Force the following afternoon followed by 200 more planes on February 15. Once the February bombings took place a short respite ensued trailed by the U.S. 8th Air Force bombing the city with another 400 more aircraft bombers on March 2. The final punching blow came from 572 bombers from the 8th Air Force on April 17 (Vonnegut). The bombing of Dresden what is it ethical and morally right . Was it absolutely important in ending World War 2. What was it actually about and how many lives were really lost.

The bombing of Dresden began in quote February 13,1945, lasted the duration of two months ending April