Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
Saying Bomber Command absorbed 7-9% of the British war effort is a clear overestimation of the military industry and economic power of the UK.
According to Max Hastings (Bomber Command: The Myths and Reality of the Strategic Bombing Offensive 1939-45):
"It has been estimated that one-third of Britain's industrial capacity was committed to Bomber Command, along with the best of their high technology. Because of the vast resources consumed by Bomber Command, the British had to import vast quantities of war material (such as tanks, trucks, landing craft, etc.} from the United States."
The systematic and planned extermination of an entire national group seems to be an accurate description of Arthur Harris' bombing campaign: to liquidate as many German civilians as possible, city by city, focusing on those targets which would result in the most civilian deaths, regardless of military value.
Max Hastings again:
"On 14 February 1942, the Air Ministry issued a directive authorizing unrestricted area bombing. Churchill's repulsive scientific adviser, Lord Cherwell, provided the final rationalization for the campaign, by claiming that the "dehousing" of the German workers and their families would doubtlessly "break the spirit of the people." The Chief of Air Staff, Sir Charles Portal, reminded his Deputy on 15 February, "Ref. the new bombing directive: I suppose it is clear that the aiming-points are to be built-up areas, not, for instance, the dockyards or aircraft factories ... This must be made quite clear if it is not already understood." Sir Arthur Harris, a fanatical proponent of area bombing, was appointed the new head of Bomber Command.
The first target of the new phase was the old North German town of Lübeck. It was not a place of any military or industrial importance to the Germans and so was lightly defended. But Harris had been "searching for an area target that they could find, strike, and utterly destroy." Lübeck was thus chosen because "above all it was an old, closely-packed medieval town that would burn far better than the spacious avenues of any modern metropolis ...
Lübeck, then, did not attract attention because it was important, but became important because it could be burned."
DRAGERWERK
This works, which is reported to be making oxygen apparatus for submarines and aircraft,
and service pattern repirators, has been very seriously damaged.
A large number of sheds and small factory buildings have been gutted by
fire and one or two damaged by H.E.
Part of the main building has been damaged proabably by blast.
There is a direct hit in the roadway running through the centre of the favtory.
/ EWERS MINESNER
EWERS MIESNER HARTGUSSWERK.
Tke greater part of this foundry has been destroyed by fire.
JAGER LUBECKER APPARATE MOTORENBAU
Factory making engines and ancilliary equipment.
One building, possibly offices, has been gutted.
BLUNK GLUTMANN.
This factory is engaged in tho production of tar products
and roof materials.
1 shed type building is gutted.
FR. EWRES CO.
Canning and preserving factory.
The whole factory is gutted.
ERNST HOHMANN
Factory engaged in iron construction work, machinery and
repairs.
The greate part of the factory is destroyed or damaged
by fire.
CARL THIELE SOHNE.
Enamel f'actory.
A number of factory buildings have been destroyed by fire
and blast.
OTHER FACTORIES
The slaughter house, the HANSA brewery, a sawmill, and several unidentified factories
have been damaged or destroyed.
3. PUBLIC UTILITY SERVICES
CENTRAL ELECTRIC STATION.
This has been destroyed by fire.
GASWORKS II.
A square building in the gasworks has been gutted.
TRAM DEPOT.
The tram depot in St. LORENZ SUD has been damaged.
4. COMMUNICATIONS
MAIN RAILWAY STATION
Part of the main railway station, proabably containing the administrative buildings, left
luggage ect. has been gutted, and the footbridge over the railway tracks damaged by fire.
It is likely that debris blocked the line temporarily.
GOODS YARD (ST. LORENZ).
Part of a goods shed is gutted.
/RAILWAY REPAIR SHOPS
RAILWAY REPAIR SHOPS (ST. JURGEN).
Two sheds are burnt out.
OTHER DAMAGE.
South of the slaughterhouse (st. Lorenz, Nord), a direct hit has caused part of the raailway
embankment to collapse over the line.
One or two near misses to railway tracks are noted, but it is unlikely that these will have
caused damage.
5, PORT FACILITIES.
The northern part of the port is not covered.
A large warehouse on the BEHN QUAY has been destroyed by fire over a length of 360
feet.
One warehouse on the KULENKAMP QUAY has been destroyed by fire and thwo thirds
of a second destroyed or damagws.
A number of small sheds and buildings fronting the basins
have been destroyed or damaged by fire.
jj said:the lancaster kicks (civilian) ass:
the lancaster kicks ass said:jj said:the lancaster kicks (civilian) ass:
also, jj, if you do come back, comments like that are un-nessisairy and uncalled for, that is in effect my name and so i find that extremely rude and insulting..........
cheddar cheese said:You need to read JJ's post to get the whole picture.
CC said:You need to read JJ's post to get the whole picture
plan_D said:I don't know why but JJs comments directed at calling the bomber offensive a war crime and, basically, calling the Western Allied leaders war criminals made me picture him wearing a striped shirt, a beret and sitting in Starbucks at 10am reading poetry.
Yeah, what he said. And welcome to the madhouse.FLYBOYJ said:Well said Dac and welcome!