this post was submitted on 22 Aug 2025
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History Memes
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I’m wondering what is OP’s exact opinion. The meme paints a simple picture, while one of their comments above is more nuanced, agreeing with the legitimacy of debates around the bombing.
I think this is a hard topic due to the post-war propaganda numbers, even the wikipedia page is full of arguments and issues. Still, 25k civilians dead in just a few days of bombing, still horrible. I am not a historian, so I’m not going to cross-reference bombing locations with a 1945 map of the city, to argue wether or not the attack was sufficiently focused on industrial/military targeted, or was it just a pure terrorbombing of civilians.
We also have to of course consider the accuracy of the available weaponry, availability of intel, expectations on the Eastern front, etc. It’s easy to be smart in hindsight. I would say debatable, but also acceptable looking back, similar to the nuclear bombs against Japan, though I think those had a bigger effect on the war, and the World Order after.
And one thing that would open an even more divisive discussion: I wonder how many of those who agree with these attacks, are now critique Israel for the large civilian death toll of Palestenians.
this was deliberate attacks against built up cities, attempting to break german will and destroy the workforce. the US did the same thing firebombing tokyo. creating firestorms in densely populated areas is as effective as it is inhumane. it's up there with nuclear weapons imho.
there's something to be said about the advantages of precision guided weapons if their users are willing to focus their wrath on genuine military targets. unfortunately I think today we're seeing the worst of both worlds - advanced capabilities and (russia/israel) willingness to use them to target civilians.
war is always a moral shit sandwich.
The firebombing was more catastrophic than the nuclear weapons but less “immediate”
There is also a lot to be said about not sneak attacking other countries you’re negotiating peace with though.