Blanket Bombing Myth

The RAF Commander who ordered controversial firebombing of Dresden which killed an estimated 25,000 civilians during World War II said he would do it again if he had to. The attack was widely criticized because of “Blanket bombing” which hit civilian areas as well as military targets, killing thousands of innocents. In his interview he countered the myth that area bombing was his idea claiming it would steady a Government policy. It was initially claimed that up to 250,000 civilians lost their lives in Dresden bombings but an official report released after the war showed the casualty figure was in fact closer to 25,000. These quickly became hopelessly overcrowded with people who could no longer find shelter in their own burning buildings as