[Marxism] It's the 60th anniversary of the bombing of Dresden

[Brian Shannon <Brian_Shannon@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WWdresden.htm
(1) Internal Royal Air Force memo (January, 1945)
Dresden, the seventh largest city in Germany and not much smaller than
Manchester, is also far the largest unbombed built-up the enemy has
got. In the midst of winter with refugees pouring westwards and troops
to be rested, roofs are at a premium. The intentions of the attack are
to hit the enemy where he will feel it most, behind an already
partially collapsed front, to prevent the use of the city in the way of
further advance, and incidentally to show the Russians when they arrive
what Bomber Command can do.

http://www.sovereignty.org.uk/siteinfo/newsround/imperium/foretaste.html
I think there was also an additional hidden and cynical motive which
may be why full disclosure of the Dresden bombing has been suppressed.
The Allies knew full well that hundreds of thousands of refugees had
migrated to Dresden in the belief that this was a safe destination and
the Red Cross had been assured Dresden was not a target. The end of the
war was clearly in sight at that point in time and an enormous mass of
displaced humanity would have to be dealt with. What to do with all
these people once the war ended? What better solution than the final
solution? Why not kill three birds with one stone? By incinerating the
city, along with a large percentage of its residents and refugees, the
effectiveness of their new firebombs was successfully demonstrated. Awe
and terror was struck in the German people, thereby accelerating the
end of the war. And finally, the Dresden firebombing ensured the
substantial reduction of a massive sea of unwanted humanity, thereby
greatly lessening the looming burden and problem of postwar
resettlement and restructuring.
______________

Even the disgusting defenders of the attack on Dresden acknowledge that
the city was filled with refugees, that the bombs used were
"fire-bombs" filled with phosphorus and specifically designed to create
a massive firestorm and to kill civilians.

British claims are that 35,000 were killed. Other estimates go to over
200,000.





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