dresden bombing

16
One of the One of the most massive most massive bombings of bombings of all time all time

Upload: mrg

Post on 08-Dec-2014

3.938 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

DESCRIPTION

 

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: dresden bombing

One of the One of the most most

massive massive bombings of bombings of

all timeall time

Page 2: dresden bombing

The point of our The point of our presentation is to presentation is to inform you, as the inform you, as the reader, of the reader, of the horrible act that horrible act that took place, known took place, known as the Dresden as the Dresden BombingBombing

Page 3: dresden bombing

Dresden HistoricallyDresden Historically The city of Dresden is located in the The city of Dresden is located in the

Northern part of GermanyNorthern part of Germany Prior to the bombing, this city was a Prior to the bombing, this city was a

cultural center to Germany, containing cultural center to Germany, containing many historic buildings and museumsmany historic buildings and museums– Examples: Zwinger Museum and Palace, Examples: Zwinger Museum and Palace,

Frauenkirche CathedralFrauenkirche Cathedral Before the war, Dresden was the second Before the war, Dresden was the second

largest city in Germanylargest city in Germany– Pre-war Population=630,000Pre-war Population=630,000

Page 4: dresden bombing

There is a number of theories as to why the cityThere is a number of theories as to why the city

of Dresden was chosen as a subjectof Dresden was chosen as a subject The city was in Nazi Germany, and the allies were at The city was in Nazi Germany, and the allies were at war with Nazi Germanywar with Nazi Germany

The city had factories that were producing weapons The city had factories that were producing weapons and equipment for the Nazi war effortand equipment for the Nazi war effort

Dresden was bombed to prove to the Russians the Dresden was bombed to prove to the Russians the great power of the Allies, and to also remind them great power of the Allies, and to also remind them not to forget the agreements made at war not to forget the agreements made at war conferencesconferences

Page 5: dresden bombing

WWho? Allies on Germanyho? Allies on Germany

WWhat? Massive Bombinghat? Massive Bombing

WWhen? February 14hen? February 14thth and 15 and 15thth, 1945, 1945

WWhere? Dresden Germanyhere? Dresden Germany

Page 6: dresden bombing

In total, there were three In total, there were three waves of attacks. Around waves of attacks. Around 3,300 tons of bombs were 3,300 tons of bombs were dropped onto the city. dropped onto the city. The type of bomb that The type of bomb that was mostly used was was mostly used was incendiary bombs. The incendiary bombs. The RAF dropped their bombs RAF dropped their bombs using their famous using their famous Lancaster plane, and the Lancaster plane, and the USAAF used their B-17 USAAF used their B-17 flying fortresses.flying fortresses.

Page 7: dresden bombing

MEANWHILE ON THE MEANWHILE ON THE GROUND…GROUND…

The bombs created so The bombs created so much fire that an much fire that an enormous firestorm enormous firestorm grewgrewThe temperature is said The temperature is said to have reached 1,800 to have reached 1,800 degrees Fahrenheitdegrees FahrenheitThe feet of fleeing The feet of fleeing people were burning people were burning due to the melting due to the melting roadsroadsMany fleers drowned Many fleers drowned from jumping into from jumping into reservoirs to assist reservoirs to assist firefightersfirefighters

Page 8: dresden bombing
Page 9: dresden bombing
Page 10: dresden bombing

o An area of 15 square An area of 15 square kilometers was destroyedkilometers was destroyedo 14,000 homes14,000 homeso 72 schools72 schoolso 22 hospitals22 hospitalso 19 churches19 churcheso 5 theaters5 theaterso 50 bank insurance 50 bank insurance

companiescompanieso 31 department stores31 department storeso 31 large hotels31 large hotelso 62 administration 62 administration

buildingsbuildings

Page 11: dresden bombing

Air Marshall Arthur Harris believed that entire cities and towns should be bombed because he thought that it would end the civilian morale in Germany.

This lead to Arthur Harris introducing a policy called area bombing, or as it was known in Germany terror bombing.

Page 12: dresden bombing
Page 13: dresden bombing
Page 14: dresden bombing

During the second air attack on the city, many people During the second air attack on the city, many people in the city hiding in tunnels and cellars for safety. At in the city hiding in tunnels and cellars for safety. At 1:30 a large rumble was heard by the Commander of 1:30 a large rumble was heard by the Commander of a Labor Service convoy, that was sent into the city on a Labor Service convoy, that was sent into the city on a rescue mission. He was quoted as saying, a rescue mission. He was quoted as saying, “The “The detonation shook the cellar walls. The sound of the detonation shook the cellar walls. The sound of the explosions mingled with a new, stranger sound which explosions mingled with a new, stranger sound which seemed to come closer and closer, the sound of a seemed to come closer and closer, the sound of a thundering waterfall; it was the sound of the mighty thundering waterfall; it was the sound of the mighty tornado howling in the inner city."tornado howling in the inner city."

Page 15: dresden bombing

The allied military, The allied military, when bombing when bombing Dresden, ignored the Dresden, ignored the railroads, which could railroads, which could have stopped any have stopped any shipping of soldiers shipping of soldiers and supplies. Instead and supplies. Instead they focused on they focused on helpless old men, helpless old men, women, and children.women, and children.

Page 16: dresden bombing