Ignition Over-ride
I can give you the full details if you PM me, however in summary the reason for the attack on Dresden was as follows:-
Churchill needed to demonstrate to the Russians that the Allied Forces were contributing to the War in the East.
On 4th February 1945 the Chiefs of Staff of the USA, Russia, and Britain discussed the co-ordination of Allied Offensive operations.
At this session, General Antonov, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Red Army, submitted a note on the present Soviet offensive which included several suggestions as to how the Western Allies might contribute to its success.
A number of targets were identified, including Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig, and Chemnitz as priority targets.
This had the full support of the combined Chiefs of Staff of the USA, Russia, and Britain fully supported by Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin.
Direction as to these targets was sent to Bomber Command on 6th February 1945.
Sir Arthur Harris, the Commander- In-Chief of Bomber Command telephoned Air-Vice Marshall Bottomley to confirm that Dresden should be attacked and was ordered to proceed.
Dresden was attacked on the night of 13/14 February 1945.
Everyone conveniently forgets that Bomber Command only made one raid against Dresden.
The USAAF made THREE raids - on the morning of the 14th, again on the 15th, and yet again on the morning of 2nd March.
What is absolutely disgraceful about the whole matter is the way in which the American press treated the story, and the subsequent public reaction of the USA in seeking to distance themselves from something that they had been actively involved in.
Anyone wishing to read more is recommended to read 'Bomber' Harris by Dudley Saward pub CassellISBN 0 907675 33 6. Chapter 23 is the relevant one)