Dresden, A City Lost
Dresden was once called, "Florence on the Elbe," before the widespread destruction sustained during the war and was numbered among the most beautiful cities in the world, noted for its architecture and great art treasures. On the eve of February 13, 1945, phosphorus and high explosive bombs devastated the city. "Everyone was convinced, that there would be no attack here." (Owings, 191) Dresden was of no means a principal military point, furthermore, the majority of its inhabitants actually believed that they would endure the war unharmed.
Initially, the alleged reasoning for Dresden being bombed seemed to be related with the operation known as "Thunderclap." Dresden was only one of the ...
Want to read the rest of this paper?
Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay
and over 50,000 other term papers
|
estimated to have lost their lives. The report stated further, "�the total weight of the attack must be such as to produce an effect amounting to a national disaster�the target chosen should be one involving the maximum associations, both traditional and personal, for the whole population." ("Was the Bombing of Dresden Justifiable," 7) Furthermore, "The area selected should embrace the highest density of population." ("Was the Bombing of Dresden Justifiable," 7) Dresden was Germany's seventh largest city, in addition, by February 1945 refugees fleeing westward before the advancing Soviet military forces had doubled Dresden's population.
An additional supposed purpose of the utter devastation of this capital of Saxony on the Elbe River was that apparently German troops were going through Dresden to fight the Red army. Therefore, the USSR requested the British and Americans to commence a bombing assault on Dresden to hinder the German troops besides there is hardly any evidence to ...
Get instant access to over 50,000 essays.
Write better papers. Get better grades.
Already a member? Login
|
CITE THIS PAGE:
Dresden, A City Lost. (2006, October 6). Retrieved June 29, 2025, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Dresden-A-City-Lost/53478
"Dresden, A City Lost." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 6 Oct. 2006. Web. 29 Jun. 2025. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Dresden-A-City-Lost/53478>
"Dresden, A City Lost." Essayworld.com. October 6, 2006. Accessed June 29, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Dresden-A-City-Lost/53478.
"Dresden, A City Lost." Essayworld.com. October 6, 2006. Accessed June 29, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Dresden-A-City-Lost/53478.
|
Save
Report