2.  starter How and why are these two interpretations of the RAF different? British government poster to encourage support at home for the RAF German government poster. The slogan reads ‘Blackout your windows – the enemy sees your light’

3. Is there ever any justification for mass killing?

4. Changing ideas about bombing 1914, German airships (Zeppelins) bombed Scarborough & other coastal towns killing 498 1914, German airships (Zeppelins) bombed Scarborough & other coastal towns killing 498 1935, Italian aircraft, Abyssinia used gas bombs 1935, Italian aircraft, Abyssinia used gas bombs 1937, Spanish Civil War, Guernica 1937, Spanish Civil War, Guernica WWI German ZeppelinPablo Picasso, Guernica

5. Sir Arthur ‘Bomber’ Harris “The Germans have sown the wind. They are about to reap the whirlwind.” “There are those who say that a war cannot be won from the air by bombing. My reply is that no one has tried yet and we shall see.” “You destroy a factory and they will rebuild it. Kill the factory workers and it will take twenty years to replace them.”

6. The Allied bombing of Germany dwarfed any German attempts to inflict similar damage on the UK.

7. The Avro Lancaster The RAF’s heavy bomber enabled serious bombing raids on German targets to be carried out.

11. Bombing of Dresden 13-14 February 1945 805 RAF bombers dropped 2600 tons Firestorm, 1000°C 35,000 – 150,000 killed 70% Dresden destroyed

12. Impact of bombing Picture postcard of Dresden before WWII

13. Impact of bombing

18. Dresden

19. Which do you agree with? When people get caught up with that which is right and they are willing to sacrifice for it, there is no stopping point short of victory. Martin Luther King Jr Martin Luther King Jr Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you. Friedrich Nietzsche

20. Should Dresden have been bombed? Was ‘Bomber Harris’ responsible for war crimes?

21.  Your task Read the comments by historians on the bombing of Dresden and place them on either side of a scales chart: Read the comments by historians on the bombing of Dresden and place them on either side of a scales chart: Read p194-7 of ‘Peace & War’ and add any further evidence you find to your scales chart. Read p194-7 of ‘Peace & War’ and add any further evidence you find to your scales chart. Card sort Bombing was justified Bombing was not justified

22. Arguments for: Reprisals ( punishment ) for V1 and the Blitz Reprisals ( punishment ) for V1 and the Blitz To demoralize the civilians so that they don’t want to carry on fighting To demoralize the civilians so that they don’t want to carry on fighting Military target Military target

23. Arguments against: Pointless so near the end of the war Pointless so near the end of the war Dresden not an important military target Dresden not an important military target Loss of civilian life huge Loss of civilian life huge

24. Arguments Against:

25.  Your task Divide the class into two groups. Divide the class into two groups. Decide on which are the most important arguments either for or against the bombing of Dresden. Decide on which are the most important arguments either for or against the bombing of Dresden. Appoint a judge, 6 jurors and lawyers for the defence and prosecution. Put ‘Bomber Harris’ on trial and decide if he was guilty or not of committing a war crime by bombing Dresden during the war. Appoint a judge, 6 jurors and lawyers for the defence and prosecution. Put ‘Bomber Harris’ on trial and decide if he was guilty or not of committing a war crime by bombing Dresden during the war.