"Oldness" in central Europe
Aug 1st, 2008, 01:37 PM
#21
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Aug 1st, 2008, 03:33 PM
#25
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logos, I am no "kid" and I don't think of myself as ignorant. Obviously you are much more brilliant than the rest of us.
My only point was that not all of the bombing was done by the United States.
Britain did a lot of bombing before we ever joined the war. And Germany participated in the destruction of Rotterdam, Warsaw and other cities in Europe prior to the US getting into the war.
Now if you think I'm stupid for saying that, I really don't give a crap.
My only point was that not all of the bombing was done by the United States.
Britain did a lot of bombing before we ever joined the war. And Germany participated in the destruction of Rotterdam, Warsaw and other cities in Europe prior to the US getting into the war.
Now if you think I'm stupid for saying that, I really don't give a crap.
Aug 1st, 2008, 03:44 PM
#26
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Jean is a kid but you seem to be stuck somewhere? I'm not brilliant, I'm just average... You claim, you are stupid, I would never have said that. Seems like you feel the need to defend yourself, you don't. But the facts are just not a thing to deny. Made in USA.
Aug 1st, 2008, 03:53 PM
#27
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Aug 2nd, 2008, 08:16 AM
#30
Thanks for calling me a kid. I haven't been called that for many years.
BTW, you didn't answer my question. Maybe I need to re-phrase it: Can you tell me anything about the Blitz and the Battle of Britain? Anything?
BTW, you didn't answer my question. Maybe I need to re-phrase it: Can you tell me anything about the Blitz and the Battle of Britain? Anything?
Aug 2nd, 2008, 12:42 PM
#33
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Just to throw a bit of balance into this pretty silly discussion; the bombing of Europe in the latter part of the war, was (in general) divided between the Brits and the Yanks by night and day. The U.S. bombers mainly did daylight precision bombing of militarily important targets, and the British did night time "carpet" bombing of German/Austrian cities.
Given the poor accuracy that high level bombing provided then, even daytime raids intended for military targets did yield destruction of unintended historically important buildings. The British rather indiscriminate plastering of whole city areas to "punish" the German people into giving up led to a much higher percentage of cultural obliteration, IMHO.
Given the poor accuracy that high level bombing provided then, even daytime raids intended for military targets did yield destruction of unintended historically important buildings. The British rather indiscriminate plastering of whole city areas to "punish" the German people into giving up led to a much higher percentage of cultural obliteration, IMHO.
Aug 2nd, 2008, 01:25 PM
#34
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Whereas the Germans actually deliberately targeted historic buildings/cities in the UK (in the "Baedeker raids"
.
However, 60 yars later, it seems a little pointless arguing over national responsibility on a tourism forum.
.However, 60 yars later, it seems a little pointless arguing over national responsibility on a tourism forum.
Aug 2nd, 2008, 01:34 PM
#35
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Arguing about how the evil austrians /(or was it the evil germans!!) deliberatly wanted to destroy their landmark church, while otoh the city was being leveled (residential areas and others) by "a third party" (the good ones) is not really insightfull.
Anyway, whatever, it doesn't help.
Anyway, whatever, it doesn't help.
Aug 2nd, 2008, 01:38 PM
#36
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I think Nukesafe is right.
Arthur "Bomber" Harris, head of the RAF's Bomber Command, was convinced that the Reich would collapse when enough of its cities lay in ruins. Thus the British bombed the cities by night and the Americans bombed transportation lines, oil installations and military installations by day. Later in the war, RAF planes were able to fly both day and night.
Thus cities like Regensburg and Schweinfurt were bombed because of a Messerschmidt factory and a ball bearing factory were located in these cities.
Still, I've always wondered what was the reason for bombing cities like Würzburg.
One book I read said that "Tooey" Spatz, Commander of the American Eighth Air Force, opposed carpet bombing because he knew there would be recriminations after the war. However, when bad weather prevented sighting of a target, the American bombadiers sprayed all over the area, leaving widespread destruction, with a result identical to "Bomber" Harris's plan.
I'm not claiming that Americans didn't purposely destroy cities and civilian populations, but I think there is not a simple explaination for the destructions of these cities and these people.
Arthur "Bomber" Harris, head of the RAF's Bomber Command, was convinced that the Reich would collapse when enough of its cities lay in ruins. Thus the British bombed the cities by night and the Americans bombed transportation lines, oil installations and military installations by day. Later in the war, RAF planes were able to fly both day and night.
Thus cities like Regensburg and Schweinfurt were bombed because of a Messerschmidt factory and a ball bearing factory were located in these cities.
Still, I've always wondered what was the reason for bombing cities like Würzburg.
One book I read said that "Tooey" Spatz, Commander of the American Eighth Air Force, opposed carpet bombing because he knew there would be recriminations after the war. However, when bad weather prevented sighting of a target, the American bombadiers sprayed all over the area, leaving widespread destruction, with a result identical to "Bomber" Harris's plan.
I'm not claiming that Americans didn't purposely destroy cities and civilian populations, but I think there is not a simple explaination for the destructions of these cities and these people.
Aug 2nd, 2008, 01:51 PM
#37
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I'm reminded of Hitler's question, "Brennt Paris?" ("Is Paris burning?" According to what I've read the German general in command of Paris didn't want to destroy Paris and disobeyed Hitler.
According to what I've read the German general in command of Paris didn't want to destroy Paris and disobeyed Hitler.
Aug 2nd, 2008, 02:10 PM
#38
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Today an estimated 200.000 unexploded bombs are hidden in German, Polish and Austrian territory. Of course most are under new or reconstructed buildings.
Now here, we've got the money and infrastructure to remove them (hopefully) safely whenever one is found.
But what about the poor countries with all the conflicts during the cold war...
Now here, we've got the money and infrastructure to remove them (hopefully) safely whenever one is found.
But what about the poor countries with all the conflicts during the cold war...
