BEags,
Dresden was the logical culmination of the campaign that Harris wanted to wage (and which he believed could bring victory all on its own). The idea that it was something pressed on him, or that he'd have wanted to resist, is silly.
Moreover, Dresden was a legitimate target - the capital of Saxony, and a major industrial centre and transport cross roads, Dresden was one of a number of eastern cities whose bombing was intended to hamper reinforcement from the west and to disrupt fleeing refugees and army units from the east.
Area bombing was the best means of ensuring success, as even by 1945, Bomber Command's Main Force accuracy was insufficient to take out pinpoint targets.
Wiping out Dresden ensured that its railways, bridges, and administrative centre would be destroyed. Specifically targeting these would not have ensured that.
Baron Rouge,
Witless and hysterical propaganda, dear boy!
"In South Africa, there can be no question that the infamous concentration camps were tragically mismanaged but the false notion that they were somehow a manifestation of a darker, cruel side of Kitchener's nature originated in the 1950s. In fact, both the British authorities and the Boers were quite unprepared for the spread of contagion within the camps and the Boers twice refused the offer to remove their families from British protection. Kitchener was horrified by the casualties that occurred and, contrary to report, did visit the camps to see what could be done."
Last edited by Jackonicko; 27th Oct 2008 at 21:37.