Major Bombing Campaigns
London
-Known as The London Blitz – from the German word “blitzkrieg,” meaning “lightning war” – is, for British citizens, at least, the scene of some of the defining images of the
Second World War. The capitol of the United Kingdom was the main place that the Germans hit, killing around 20,000 people. It is estimated that more than one million homes were damaged or flattened during the bombing, with the more poor areas of the city (East End) suffering particularly badly during the tragedy. Despite all the devastation, Britain’s resolve and unwillingness to give up to the German's show of strength helped change the course of the war. This particular bombing raid lasted around 76 consecutive nights.
"10 Most Devastating Bombing Campaigns of WWII." Online Military
Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2014.
<http://www.onlinemilitaryeducation.org/posts/10-most-devastating-bombing-campaigns-of-wwii/>.
Second World War. The capitol of the United Kingdom was the main place that the Germans hit, killing around 20,000 people. It is estimated that more than one million homes were damaged or flattened during the bombing, with the more poor areas of the city (East End) suffering particularly badly during the tragedy. Despite all the devastation, Britain’s resolve and unwillingness to give up to the German's show of strength helped change the course of the war. This particular bombing raid lasted around 76 consecutive nights.
"10 Most Devastating Bombing Campaigns of WWII." Online Military
Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2014.
<http://www.onlinemilitaryeducation.org/posts/10-most-devastating-bombing-campaigns-of-wwii/>.
Dresden
-Dresden, Germany’s seventh biggest city at the time of WWII, and
an extremely important industrial center, experienced one of the most severe
bombing campaigns seen anywhere at that time. During the worst time (13 to 15 February 1945), 1,300 bombers from a combined RAF and USAAF force dropped more than 3,900 tons of high explosives and firebombs upon the surprised city. Fifteen square miles of the city center were utterly destroyed by the devastating firestorm that swept through the streets. The hot winds drove people back into the deathtraps that were their houses. The Nazi's estimated that 200,000 people were killed, but a study done in 2010 estimated that it was more realistically 25,000.
"10 Most Devastating Bombing Campaigns of WWII." Online Military
Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2014.
<http://www.onlinemilitaryeducation.org/posts/10-most-devastating-bombing-campaigns-of-wwii/>.
an extremely important industrial center, experienced one of the most severe
bombing campaigns seen anywhere at that time. During the worst time (13 to 15 February 1945), 1,300 bombers from a combined RAF and USAAF force dropped more than 3,900 tons of high explosives and firebombs upon the surprised city. Fifteen square miles of the city center were utterly destroyed by the devastating firestorm that swept through the streets. The hot winds drove people back into the deathtraps that were their houses. The Nazi's estimated that 200,000 people were killed, but a study done in 2010 estimated that it was more realistically 25,000.
"10 Most Devastating Bombing Campaigns of WWII." Online Military
Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2014.
<http://www.onlinemilitaryeducation.org/posts/10-most-devastating-bombing-campaigns-of-wwii/>.
Berlin
The German capital endured a prolonged period of strategic bombing that lasted
for almost the entire duration of the war. Berlin was the target of 363 air raids between 1940 and 1945, from the airplanes of the British, the Americans and the Soviets. While the death of civilians was never explicitly recognized as its aim, the results of area bombing were inevitable. Between 20,000 and 50,000 Berliners lost their lives in the sustained bombing of World War II, and many times more people were left homeless.
"10 Most Devastating Bombing Campaigns of WWII." Online Military
Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2014.
<http://www.onlinemilitaryeducation.org/posts/10-most-devastating-bombing-campaigns-of-wwii/>.
for almost the entire duration of the war. Berlin was the target of 363 air raids between 1940 and 1945, from the airplanes of the British, the Americans and the Soviets. While the death of civilians was never explicitly recognized as its aim, the results of area bombing were inevitable. Between 20,000 and 50,000 Berliners lost their lives in the sustained bombing of World War II, and many times more people were left homeless.
"10 Most Devastating Bombing Campaigns of WWII." Online Military
Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2014.
<http://www.onlinemilitaryeducation.org/posts/10-most-devastating-bombing-campaigns-of-wwii/>.
Tokyo
The strategic bombing of Japan by the USAAF began in November, 1944 and continued until Japan’s surrender (15 August 1945). The US had previously done a minor bombing raid on the Japanese capital in April 1942; this early effort gave America a victory in morale, but the bombing did not begin in totally until more than two years later. Nearly 90% of the bombs that fell on Japanese home soil were dropped by B-29s. The raid of March 9&10, 1945, codenamed Operation Meetinghouse, was the most significant, and is considered the single most destructive bombing ever. Around 1,700 tons of bombs fell on the city, destroying an estimated 286,358 buildings and killing an estimated 100,000 citizens or more in the resulting firestorms.
"10 Most Devastating Bombing Campaigns of WWII." Online Military
Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2014.
<http://www.onlinemilitaryeducation.org/posts/10-most-devastating-bombing-campaigns-of-wwii/>.
"10 Most Devastating Bombing Campaigns of WWII." Online Military
Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2014.
<http://www.onlinemilitaryeducation.org/posts/10-most-devastating-bombing-campaigns-of-wwii/>.