mariomike said:
I only watched Death by Moonlight: Bomber Command.
"The producers claimed that the directives remained top secret throughout the war. The films also claimed that bomber crews, flying at night, were, for the most part, kept in the dark about their true mission."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Valour_and_the_Horror#Controversy
I believe the Allied public, German civilians and our bomber crews were made well aware prior to The Battle of Berlin (18/19 November 1943 to 31 March 1944 ). 16 major raids on Berlin, and 16 more on other large German cities in that period.
Whether anyone agrees, or disagrees, there was nothing secret about the Aiming Points in Germany. Quite the opposite in fact.
Over a decade ago posted a thread on a few war forums website deriving from a controversial study-paper I complied styled: Allied War Crimes During WWII/SWW, noted all outraged by my suggestions, and hastily deleted. See Axis Forums Allied War Crimes the thread was started over 10 years ago and merged owing too the amount of Threads posted, with all the documents, etc., on BC’s main objectives on Germany Cities.
Mr. M&M you’re certainly aware of the two main camps on BC “deliberate” fire bombing of German cities saga, however the records, in which you posted a few examples, not counting all the other stuff, fully support your comments; nothing secret and civilians were purposely targeted and made aware. BC’s, Bomber Harris main goal; inflict chaos, mayhem, horror and demoralise the civilian population, with the destruction of infrastructure, factories, etc. Although Harris’ himself stated and revealed in a TV mini series: “I never engaged in these idiotic pamphlet-dropping exercises. They only served two purposes really - they gave the German defences’ endless practice in getting ready for it, and apart from that they supplied a considerable quantity of toilet paper to the Germans”.
The evidence suggests pamphlets were dropped in large quantities, considering a good portion of high explosive bombs missing designated targets by a mile or more. At times pamphlet propaganda bombs were drooped from high altitude many missing the intended cities and rural areas throughout Germany and France in 1942-43.
Bombing pilots, navigators, were informed of their sortie in the briefing room, it was no secret Britannia wanted retribution for London’s bombing, once German cities were bombed it’s my understanding appeared in the British/German press.
Even a gunner would surly know the plane loaded with high explosive incendiary Bombs dropping them in the center of large German cities and crews are completely ignorant that innocent women, elderly, children, babies will be killed…That’s incomprehensible.
Precision aerial bombing during the second great war, more like the roots of carpet bombing.
If I remember correctly; bombing civilians although both British and German wrangled over it, took proper measures, however the agreement was never signed & sealed; bombing civilians was not off the table or considered a war crime. I believe it certainly was…In the past twenty + years of wars civilians are still being slaughtered, by land, air or sea…soon from space. You’re off the hook if you claim; “we don’t purposely target civilians,” their classified as collateral damage, unfortunately, the reality s happens in war, and innocent individuals will be killed.
The Valour and the Horror a 3 part mini documentary series was filled with controversy, a portion of Cdn/Historians, etc., were up in arms, critical of the mini series misleading narratives: True some Cdn/Hist’s, etc., gave it a big thumbs up.
When BC’s “strategic” bombings started it was all over German press, propaganda, many cities well aware they could be next after the first bombardments finally surfaced.
Bomber Harris Quotes:
‘I would have destroyed Dresden again’.
‘In spite of all that happened at Hamburg, bombing proved a relatively humane method’.
‘I do not personally regard the whole of the remaining cities of Germany as worth the bones of one British Grenadier. It therefore seems to me that there is one and only one valid argument on which a case for giving up strategic bombing could be based, namely that it has already completed its task and that nothing now remains for the Armies to do except to occupy Germany against unorganized resistance’.
‘Dresden? There is not such a place any longer. I want to point out, that besides Essen, we never actually considered any particular industrial sites as targets. The destruction of industrial sites always was some sort of bonus for us. Our real targets always were the inner cities’.
I never engaged in these idiotic pamphlet-dropping exercises. They only served two purposes really - they gave the German defences endless practice in getting ready for it, and apart from that they supplied a considerable quantity of toilet paper to the Germans.
• The World at War: the Landmark Oral History from the Classic TV Series (2007) by Richard Holmes, p. 298
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Arthur_Travers_Harris
British Bombing Strategy in World War Two By Detlef Siebert Last updated 2011-02-17
A few weeks before the end of World War Two, Winston Churchill drafted a memorandum to the British Chiefs of Staff: 'It seems to me that the moment has come when the question of bombing of German cities simply for the sake of increasing the terror, though under other pretexts, should be reviewed ... The destruction of Dresden remains a serious query against the conduct of Allied bombing.'
Consequently, in February 1942, Bomber Command was instructed to shift the focus onto the 'morale of the enemy civil population'. This new policy came to be called 'area bombing'.
The aiming points thereafter, for bombing raids, were no longer military or industrial installations, but a church or other significant spot in the centre of industrial towns. And since fire was found to be the most effective means of destroying a town, the bombers now carried mainly incendiary bombs.
The failure of the British bombing offensive in the winter of 1943/44 was all the more disappointing for Bomber Command, because by this time their American allies were beginning to make an impact.
The US Army Air Force had joined the strategic bombing campaign in the summer of 1942. They had come committed to 'precision' bombing in daylight. However, their bombers proved easy prey for the German day fighters. Heavy losses convinced the Americans that they needed long-range escort fighters to protect their bombers. These fighters lured the Luftwaffe into dogfights, and by the spring of 1944 they were gaining air superiority. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/area_bombing_01.shtml
Fresh evidence: Footage of Air Arthur Harris being interviewed by Air Vice Marshal Tony Mason has emerged 36 years after it was filmed…Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2276944/I-destroyed-Dresden-Bomber-Harris-unrepentant-German-city-raids-30-years-end-World-War-Two.html#ixzz4T1TZoqhx
Bomber Command maps reveal extent of German destruction By Lauren Turner BBC News: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-34467543
Did Lancaster bombers that killed 600,000 in German cities deliberately target civilians? A new book says YES... Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1216788/Did-Lancaster-bombers-killed-600-000-German-cities-deliberately-target-civilians-A-new-book-says-YES-.html#ixzz4T1Ut3MgU
Timeline.
Summer 1941: A British study shows that RAF bombing is typically inaccurate, with only 20% of aircrews navigating to within five miles of their assigned targets. This report leads to a major shift in Britain’s bombing strategy, shifting away from military targets and towards the main residential and industrial centers in Germany.
January 28, 1942: The Mighty 8th Air Force: Allied forces activate the VIII Bomber Command, the first operational element of the 8th Air Force, to coordinate and lead the air attack on Germany. General “Hap” Arnold, commanding general of the AAF, appoints Ira Eaker to lead this bombardment force. “The Mighty 8th” will dominate the American strategic air war against Germany, though it will become a part of the larger U.S. Strategic Air forces in a reorganization early in 1944.
February 1942: British Prime Minister Winston Churchill appoints Air Marshal Arthur Harris to Commander in Chief of the Bomber Command in order to carry out the new strategy of the RAF.
April 8, 1942: 272 British bombers of the RAF attack Hamburg at night, signifying the largest raid yet on a single target.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/timeline/bombing/
C.U.