
“A picture markedly different from conventional accounts.” --New York Times Book ReviewThe dramatic and controversial account that completely re-examines the Allied attack on DresdenFor decades it has been assumed that the Allied bombing of Dresden was militarily unjustifiable, an act of rage and retribution for Germany’s ceaseless bombing of London and other parts of England.In Dresden, Frederick Taylor’s groundbreaking research offers a completely new examination of the facts, and reveals that Dresden was a highly-militarized city actively involved in the production of military armaments and communications concealed beneath the cultural elegance for which the city was famous. Incorporating first-hand accounts, contemporaneous press material and memoirs, and never-before-seen government records, Taylor documents unequivocally the very real military threat Dresden posed, and thus altering forever our view of that attack.
This work investigates the strategic necessity and moral implications of the Allied bombing of Dresden during World War II. Frederick Taylor, a historian specializing in German history, utilizes a vast array of primary source materials, including government records, personal memoirs, and contemporaneous press reports, to challenge the long-standing narrative that the attack was merely an act of retribution. He argues that Dresden functioned as a critical military and industrial hub, thereby reframing the city's status from a purely cultural center to a legitimate military target.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Historians and reviewers frequently note the meticulous archival research and the balanced, objective tone Taylor maintains throughout the analysis. Experts highlight this as a significant contribution to the historiography of the Allied bombing campaigns, providing necessary nuance to a highly debated historical event.
Page Count:
518
Publication Date:
2005-01-18
Publisher:
Harper Perennial
ISBN-10:
0060006773
ISBN-13:
9780060006778
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