Looking Back - The Bombing Of Dresden

During the evening of 13th/14th February 1945, British bombers carried out one of the most senseless and merciless attacks of World War 11. During a mission lasting 12 hours planes from RAF Bomber Command, authorised by British Air Chief Marshal, Sir Arthur Harris, launched a massive onslaught on the east German city of Dresden, resulting in its total destruction. 800 planes let loose 650,000 incendiaries, 8,000lbs of high explosives and hundreds of 4,000lb bombs in two waves of attacks. Dresden, a city nearly the size of Manchester was reduced to rubble as fierce fires spread throughout the entire city. As the whole of Dresden burned the fire could be seen 500 miles away from the air. RAF crews reported smoke rising to 15,000ft. The following day another daylight attack involving 311 American heavy bombers was carried out. As soviet forces approached from the east they drove before them thousands of fleeing refugees, swelling the population of Dresden. It was impossible to ascertain the final death toll, estimates ranged from 25,000 to 100,000 people, who died from fire and suffocation. It was reported that Dresden was a vital command centre for the German defences against the advancing Soviet forces. The fact that the invading bombers faced very little anti-aircraft fire surely throws doubt on that report. What is for certain, the raid was an exercise in spreading terror on an unprecedented scale on urban areas of the city, to destroy the morale of the German people. Undoubtedly, Dresden was an important rail network link, which the allies targeted to cut off supplies to the eastern front, in support of the approaching Soviet forces. But the question remains, did a whole city have to be destroyed and thousands of German citizens have to be burned to death, to achieve this aim. Even Winston Churchill, who had urged Bomber Command to attack east German cities, tried to dissociate himself from it. In a memo to British Chiefs of Staff dated 28th March 1945, he described the attack as "mere acts of terror and wanton destruction".