Dresden BombingBy: Ashley and Nick

Dresden, Germany

• Dresden is in Germany.• It is the 7th largest city in

the country.• Cultural Center of

nothern germany• Many refugees were

there during war time.

Firestorms

• Tactic used by Royal Air Force and U.S. Air Force. • Dropping bombs filled with chemicals that are highly

combustible.• Chemicals such as magnesium, phosphorous and

petroleum jelly.• Type of bombing in Dresden.

The Bombing

• February 13-14,1945• Attacks started at 10:10 p.m.• Royal Air Force and U.S. Air force bombed.• Arthur Harris thought of and decided attack.• Casualties were between 35,000 and 135,000• Impossible to tell exact number of casualties.

The Bombing

<-Avro Lancaster

• 773 Avro Lancasters and 527 heavy bombers were used.

• 2,700 tons of bombs were dropped

• Used incendiary bombs

• City had barely any anti-aircraft defense

Incendiary bomb ->

The Bombing

• Bombers could fly low because of lack of defense• More than 3,000 high explosives and 165,000 incendiary

bombs dropped• Attack on center of city• 75% of bombs dropped were incendiary• Setting city on fire was main goal• Bombing was an epitome of true definition of Holocaust• Tree branches, ashes, clothing shreds, body parts and other

debris fell from sky in towns up to18 miles away for days.

Incendiary Bombs

• Also known as fire bombs

• Bombs used to start fires• More useful for killing

people than destroying buildings and other such things

• Greatly used in Dresden Bombing

Reasons for the bombing

• First time ever affected by bombing• Arthur Harris thought it was a good target because of this• Mostly undefended• It was in Germany• Factories producing weapons for Nazi's.• Thought to be used to "send message to Soviet Union"

Right or Wrong?

• Thought to be a war crime

• One who took part in bombing said it was uncalled for

•  Others say it was need to stop eastern advancement of Soviet Union

Witness Point of View

A witness said  -the streets were no longer recognizable  -smoke quickly filled cellars  -All lights were out  -Constant nonstop explosions  -They had to flee from shelter to shelter but each kept getting bombed  -Burned remains of bodies and other things were everywhere  -Many looters

Pictures

Sources

• "Bombing of Dresden." Spartacus Educational - Home Page. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WWdresden.htm.

• "The Bombing of Dresden." History Learning Site. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/bombing_of_dresden.htm.

• "The Bombing of Dresden: German City Devastated by Massive Air Raid." WW II History. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. http://ww2history.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_bombing_of_dresden

• "The Bombing of Dresden." Racial Nationalist Library. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. <http://library.flawlesslogic.com/dresden.htm>.

• ."The Bombing of Dresden." Time Witnesses : Memories of the Last Century. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. <http://timewitnesses.org/english/~lothar.html>.