SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - View Single Post - German irritation over British bomber memorial

Skybird · 06-27-12, 05:44 AM

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...-a-840858.html

They want that memorial? Let them, I have no objections. But it is a good idea that the diplomatic discussion led to a small recognition of the victims of such attacks, too. Most people killed in the bombing of cities were neither military, nor Nazis, but civilians that happened to live their lives right in the line of fire. To call these raids criminal imo is misleadsing, since in that time and with that technology and that tactical understanding all combating sides tried and did what they thpught was militarily necessary to win final victory. Now, occupation of cities and then committing attrocities against the occupied population - that is criminal, Nanking for example. The bomber raids against cities were not. They were what was tried to win the war. Criminal you call them from that moment on when the commanders kinew that they were militarily ineffective, becasue then you accept the killing for zero effect gained. That's when fighting turns into senseless murder for no purpose.

So the only debate legitimate here is not whether bombing raids against cities in WWII, in that setting, were criminal per se or not - the only debate is about since when commanders should have known about the real or lacking effect that one originally hoped for. This can only be assessed from the perspective of that past tiemframe. Judging the thing from today's modern standards and information, makes no sense.

06-27-12, 05:44 AM	#1
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,604 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	German irritation over British bomber memorial http://www.spiegel.de/international/...-a-840858.html They want that memorial? Let them, I have no objections. But it is a good idea that the diplomatic discussion led to a small recognition of the victims of such attacks, too. Most people killed in the bombing of cities were neither military, nor Nazis, but civilians that happened to live their lives right in the line of fire. To call these raids criminal imo is misleadsing, since in that time and with that technology and that tactical understanding all combating sides tried and did what they thpught was militarily necessary to win final victory. Now, occupation of cities and then committing attrocities against the occupied population - that is criminal, Nanking for example. The bomber raids against cities were not. They were what was tried to win the war. Criminal you call them from that moment on when the commanders kinew that they were militarily ineffective, becasue then you accept the killing for zero effect gained. That's when fighting turns into senseless murder for no purpose. So the only debate legitimate here is not whether bombing raids against cities in WWII, in that setting, were criminal per se or not - the only debate is about since when commanders should have known about the real or lacking effect that one originally hoped for. This can only be assessed from the perspective of that past tiemframe. Judging the thing from today's modern standards and information, makes no sense. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.