Outrage


Dresden, 1945

by Reg Green

While Ukrainians suffer unimaginably and we rightly shudder at the ruthlessness of targeting helpless, largely unarmed mass urban populations, let’s remember that American and British bombing raids in World War II killed 300,000 German civilians and injured another 800,000, give or take a few tens of thousands.

image_pdfimage_print

6 Responses

  1. Umm… This reasoning is valid only if the phenomenon of war is to be seen in the abstract — something that happens on its own. But of course that isn’t the case at all; fighting is underpinned by justifications. Everyone knows why Germany was bombed — because it was bombing others. Is Ukraine being bombed for the same reason? Not really. In fact, the reasons keep changing by the day — first because Ukraine is really an integral part of Russia; as the war dragged on, it was justified by the bio weapons labs and potential nuclear work, being presented as preventative — If Russia did not attack Ukraine, than fascist Ukraine would have attacked Russia, ripping it to pieces — justifications much more provisional and flimsy than the actual killing of millions by the Nazis. So no — the bombing of Dresden is not the same as the bombing of Mariupol…

  2. The Germans bombed cities first: The Blitz.
    The Japs bombed cities first in Asia.
    The Allies did not have Death Camps murderering millions and did not do the rape of Nanking murdering millions in China.

    So, with your logic, if you stab me with a knife, I can’t shoot you in the head?

    Fuzzy thinking, Reg, my boy.

  3. Who’s written the book, “Warts and All” ?
    The intent was the same for fire-bombing Dresden, Tokyo, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and other Axis cities: horrify and terrorize and depress civilian and government persons with hopelessness. Hitting above, below, and at the belt line served to minimize casualties of a longer term war. Lessons needed to be taught and learned, turned into social-political DNA twists for all time. Regrettably, every few degenerations the lesson must be retaught and ever again, inadequately learned.
    Teach all children well, after you learn how.

  4. As usual, when a man says “everyone knows,” he means he is so convinced of it that he assumes everyone else must think the same way. Let me teach Lev some of the facts of life. By the time Dresden and other German cities were being levelled, Germany had completely lost its earlier ability to terrorise civilian populations from the air. In the east it was being ground to pieces and in the west the Allies were totally dominant in the air. To John, who doesn’t even seem to have read what I wrote, I should point out that I made absolutely no comment on the rights and wrongs. I was merely pointing out the horror of total war whoever wages it. That’s something everyone should know. 

    1. Oh, I see you already responded while I was typing out my own reply (I’m typing slow cause I’ve only got one hand, and a pretty terrible voice dictation program, to work with at the moment). Sounds to me like you took a few people to school.

      Also I imagine you’ve heard most of em before, but you brought one of these (Macarthur’s “the guns are silent” speech) to mind, Reg, so I thought I’d share. I hope you enjoy.

      Neville Chamberlain – Peace In Our Time https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AhBtivjRjE

      Neville Chamberlain – Declaration Of War https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xhQiP4tqSI

      Winston Churchill – We Shall Fight On The Beaches https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQkj8G5bgCw

      Franklin Roosevelt – The Great Arsenal of Democracy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JH0cdd2lDo

      Franklin Roosevelt – A Date Which Will Live In Infamy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFWaN39c7IU

      Douglas MacArthur – I Have Returned https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RQL2QnbFwo
      (uploaded incorrectly, but it’s the best version available)

      Douglas MacArthur – Today The Guns Are Silent https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=At9x7MMjtDw

      Bonus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPG60BQ9_nU

  5. I think the point Mr. Green is making is that war is a terrible thing, even just wars, as the Second World War obviously was. It’s always good to remember that fact.

Leave a Reply to Reg Green Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

New English Review Press is a priceless cultural institution.
                              — Bruce Bawer

The perfect gift for the history lover in your life. Order on Amazon US, Amazon UK or wherever books are sold.

Order on Amazon, Amazon UK, or wherever books are sold.

Order on Amazon, Amazon UK or wherever books are sold.

Order on Amazon or Amazon UK or wherever books are sold


Order at Amazon, Amazon UK, or wherever books are sold. 

Order at Amazon US, Amazon UK or wherever books are sold.

Available at Amazon US, Amazon UK or wherever books are sold.

Send this to a friend