Dresden And Cologne: Cities Engulfed In Flames

The Allied bombing of Dresden in February 1945 was part of a broader campaign of strategic bombing against Germany during World War II. The attack on Dresden, a major industrial and transportation hub, was intended to disrupt the Nazi war effort and force a German surrender. However, the scale of destruction and loss of life was immense, with tens of thousands of civilians killed and the city centre left in ruins.

The bombing of Dresden has become one of the most controversial Allied actions of the war. Critics argue that the military value of the bombing did not justify the near-destruction of the city, and that the high number of civilian casualties and relatively few strategic targets constituted a war crime. In contrast, others defend the bombing as a necessary part of the total war against Nazi Germany.

The fires caused by the bombing of Dresden were so intense that they created a firestorm, with temperatures hot enough to cause the stone dome of the Church of Our Lady to collapse. The resulting inferno was described by one survivor as a furious white and yellow fire that reminded [me] of the biblical catastrophes and by another as one big flame [that] ate everything organic.

The firestorm

The bombing of Dresden in February 1945 was a joint British and American aerial bombing attack on the Saxon city of Dresden, Germany. The city was targeted for several reasons, including its status as a major industrial and transportation hub, its role as a rail centre important to the Third Reich's war effort, and the presence of factories engaged in arms production.

The bombing of Dresden created a firestorm that destroyed the centre of the city. The combination of high-explosive bombs and incendiary devices started numerous small fires, which, combined with the right atmospheric conditions, created a firestorm—one of the most dreadful outcomes of high-tech warfare. The resulting inferno was too much for the city's firefighters to handle, even with relief from neighbouring cities. The firestorm generated ferocious winds, melting shoes into the asphalt, causing trees to explode, and sucking the oxygen from the air, suffocating those trying to escape. The German author, Jörg Friedrich, titled his controversial book on the Allied bombing of Dresden and other cities simply Der Brand (The Fire).

The exact number of casualties from the bombing of Dresden is unknown, but it is estimated that between 22,700 and 35,000 people were killed, with some estimates placing the figure as high as 250,000. The high number of civilian casualties and the relatively few strategic targets led some to call the bombing of Dresden a war crime. However, both the British and American militaries defended the bombing as a necessary part of the total war to defeat Nazi Germany.

The impact on the ground

The impact of the Dresden and Cologne bombings on the ground was extensive and devastating. The bombing of Dresden, in particular, has become one of the most controversial Allied actions of World War II.

On the night of February 13, 1945, around 10 p.m., the first wave of British four-engined heavy bombers, Lancasters, appeared over Dresden. The city, known as "Florence on the Elbe," was a cultural hub, famed for its art and architecture. The bombers encountered little to no resistance and proceeded to drop a combination of high-explosive bombs and incendiary devices. The high-explosive bombs destroyed buildings and infrastructure, while the incendiary devices started fires, leading to a massive firestorm.

The fires created by the incendiary devices were so intense that they generated their own weather system, with powerful winds that spread the flames and sucked oxygen from the air, suffocating those trying to escape. The heat was so extreme that it caused the stone dome of the Church of Our Lady to collapse. The fires also melted iron and steel, turned stone to powder, and caused trees to explode. The inferno was described as apocalyptic, with the city's beautiful sandstone and brick structures engulfed in raging flames.

The second wave of bombers arrived just two and a half hours after the first, consisting of more than 500 heavy bombers. This wave further intensified the firestorm, leading to unimaginable devastation. The fires spread rapidly, and people ran for their lives, many falling dead as they tried to escape. The intense heat melted shoes into the asphalt, and some victims were reduced to atoms. The majority of those who perished—up to 70% according to one source—suffocated from carbon monoxide inhalation.

The bombing of Dresden continued over the next two days, with the U.S. Eighth Air Force joining the assault. In total, nearly 4,000 tons of bombs were dropped on the city. The raids left Dresden in ruins, with tens of thousands dead and the city centre ravaged. The exact death toll is uncertain, with estimates ranging from 25,000 to 250,000. The high number of civilian casualties and the relatively few strategic targets led some to call the bombing of Dresden a war crime.

The impact of the Cologne bombing was similarly devastating. On the night of May 30, 1942, more than 1,000 bombers attacked the city, dropping explosive and incendiary devices. The resulting firestorm destroyed large parts of the city and caused the death of thousands of people. The intense heat melted glass and stone, and the city's famous medieval churches were left in ruins. The exact death toll is unknown, but it is estimated that more than 4,000 people perished.

The fires of Dresden and Cologne resulted in widespread destruction and loss of life, leaving an indelible mark on the cities and those who experienced the horrors of that night.

The death toll

The city authorities at the time estimated 25,000 victims, a figure supported by subsequent investigations, including a 2010 study commissioned by the Dresden city council. This is a widely accepted estimate, though rival claims go far higher. The German government proposes 25,000 as a defensible guess, but since so many victims were immolated after the attacks, we will likely never know the precise number.

The Dresden bombing was intended to terrorize the civilian population and it certainly had that effect. Tens of thousands died, many suffocated in the firestorm. Most of the victims were women, children, and the elderly.

The military value of the bombing

> It seems to me that the moment has come when the question of bombing German cities simply for the sake of increasing the terror, though under other pretexts, should be reviewed.

However, there were several military justifications for the attacks. Dresden was a major industrial and transportation hub, with factories producing munitions, aircraft parts, and other supplies for the Nazi war effort. The city was also a key location for troop, tank, and artillery movements. The attack aimed to stop Nazi troop movements and disrupt German evacuations from the east.

The bombing of Dresden and Cologne was part of a larger Allied strategy to target German cities. The US and UK military planners insisted that the attack was strategically justified, in the same way as attacks on other cities, by disrupting industry, destroying workers' homes, and crippling transport in Germany.

The US Air Force Historical Division (USAFHD) analysed the circumstances of the raid on Dresden and concluded that it was militarily necessary and justified. They argued that the raid had legitimate military ends and was carried out through the normal chain of command. The raid also achieved its military objective without excessive loss of civilian life.

The bombing of Dresden and Cologne created firestorms that destroyed large parts of the cities and killed tens of thousands of people. While the military value of the attacks has been questioned, there were strategic justifications for the bombings as part of the Allied strategy to target German cities and disrupt their war efforts.

The ethical implications

The bombing of Dresden and Cologne during World War II raises several ethical implications that are worth considering.

Firstly, the deliberate targeting of civilian populations and cultural landmarks is a highly controversial aspect of the attacks. While the Allies argued that the raids were aimed at disrupting industry and transportation, critics contend that the extensive destruction of civilian areas and the high number of civilian casualties indicate a disregard for human life. The question of proportionality arises, as some argue that the military gains did not justify the level of destruction and loss of life inflicted on Dresden and Cologne.

Secondly, the use of incendiary devices and the creation of firestorms resulted in immense suffering and loss of life. The fires generated intense heat, melting shoes into asphalt and causing people to suffocate from carbon monoxide inhalation. The resulting firestorms created powerful winds that further fuelled the flames, making escape extremely difficult. The use of such destructive weapons against civilian populations raises ethical concerns about the acceptable means of warfare.

Thirdly, the issue of responsibility and accountability comes into play. While the Allies defended the attacks as strategically justified, some have argued that the bombings constituted war crimes due to the deliberate targeting of civilians and the disproportionate level of destruction. The high number of civilian casualties and the impact on cultural landmarks have led to debates about the ethical responsibility of those who planned and executed the attacks.

Fourthly, the manipulation of casualty figures by both the Allies and Nazi propaganda machines adds an ethical dimension to the events. The Nazis initially claimed that 200,000 civilians were killed in Dresden, while local officials and historians later placed the figure at around 25,000. The Allies also used inflated casualty figures to justify their actions, contributing to a lack of transparency and accuracy in assessing the human cost of the bombings.

Finally, the long-term impact on the survivors and the affected areas cannot be overlooked. The trauma and suffering endured by those who lived through the bombings extended beyond the immediate aftermath, with physical and psychological scars lasting for decades. The destruction of cultural landmarks and entire neighbourhoods also raises questions about the ethical implications of depriving future generations of their cultural heritage and sense of place.

Frequently asked questions