Beagle, the preoccupation in 1945 was to end the war ASAP. Every day that murderous Nazi clique was in power was a day in which many more of all nationalities and races (especially the Jews) were to face violent and ignominious ends. Also by then the city smashing machine that was Main Force was honed to maximum effectiveness. Throw into that maelstrom the almost perfect conditions in terms of a disorganised and disrupted Air Defence system and you end up with the terrible cost to Dresden and those within it that you describe. To be honest wringing ones hands over the destruction of a particular building, albeit a historical and sacred one, shows a lofty disregard for all who perished there and elsewhere on all sides and throughout the world in that appalling conflict. 100 million in round figures i believe, so we concentrate on the fate uf three cities, two in Japan and one in Germany? Hogwash!
Fight to win and win as soon as possible. oh and all the rules that Genstabler listed.