02-26-2003, 05:40 AM
<Quotes from Occhi.>
Not so much for internal morale as a show of force to the Soviets.
Ahem, you kinda make it sounds like Dresden was the only city the Western allies terrorbombed in Europe. It just stands out because one raid made the city into an inferno, and because the reasons indeed were not aimed for the war, but rather for after the war. IIRC Berlin beats any other city more than two to one in (tonnage of) bombs received.
I am of the opinion, that if our modern morales condemn some action now, we should not try to defend same actions that have been done in the past. Also in many ways I feel slightly sick when westerners downplay these events. It's easy to talk when you haven't been burned. Compare British Empire + Commonwealth casualties in the war. 450k military, 60k civilians.
Over two million civilians were killed by allied air raids. That's a bit too much collateral damage even in a total war for the side that has tried to look "clean".
Why don't you just accept that noone got out clean from that war, except maybe the finns who fought both of the despots, neither by their own choice, and who were the only axis nation not to
give up their jews. (And they were the only nation dumb enough to pay their war reparations in full.)
Quote:Was Dresden necesssary? I repeat, as you missed my point, it was deemed politically necessary, for internal morale. It was a reprisal.
Not so much for internal morale as a show of force to the Soviets.
Quote:Quid Pro Quo. Dresden was payback for cities all over England.
Ahem, you kinda make it sounds like Dresden was the only city the Western allies terrorbombed in Europe. It just stands out because one raid made the city into an inferno, and because the reasons indeed were not aimed for the war, but rather for after the war. IIRC Berlin beats any other city more than two to one in (tonnage of) bombs received.
I am of the opinion, that if our modern morales condemn some action now, we should not try to defend same actions that have been done in the past. Also in many ways I feel slightly sick when westerners downplay these events. It's easy to talk when you haven't been burned. Compare British Empire + Commonwealth casualties in the war. 450k military, 60k civilians.
Over two million civilians were killed by allied air raids. That's a bit too much collateral damage even in a total war for the side that has tried to look "clean".
Why don't you just accept that noone got out clean from that war, except maybe the finns who fought both of the despots, neither by their own choice, and who were the only axis nation not to
give up their jews. (And they were the only nation dumb enough to pay their war reparations in full.)