June 30th, 2012
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Originally Posted by VDKMS International law forbids the direct killing of civilians. But if a civilian works in a factory that makes guns used to kill the enemy can that make the civilian a legitimate target? | As long as he is at work yes, at home no.
To me that one falls under the **** happens rule, if you put yourself in danger you pay the price. Quote: |
Hitler came to power because he had enough support of the people. In fact he was very popular in the beginning of his political power, even abroad. He still got a lot of support when he started the war. So one could say that the German population was at least complicit at waging war. On the other hand they were not able to reverse their decision. Another problem is, not everyone voted for Hitler.
| If we want to play these silly games, the British elected Churchill who appointed Harris who's stated aim was to kill civilians in breach of international law therefore both Harris and Churchill are complicit along with the population another words it is no different. Quote: |
My opinion is that the bombing of Dresden is not a war crime but it comes very close and that monument should have been build soon after the war not now.
| What do you mean it comes very close?
Dresden at that stage in the war was nothing more than a giant refugee camp and the British knew it, they also knew that the war was over there was no coming back even had Dresden been left standing so if anything Dresden is closer to a war crime than say the bombing of London or Berlin because they were being bombed to achieve something.
I think the biggest indication of just how wrong the bombing of Dresden was is that not even Churchill (a man who supported the shooting down of Luftwaffe rescue aircraft painted with the red cross) could support it afterwards.
Two Weeks after Dresden Churchill drafted the following memo to the British Chiefs of Staff :It seems to me that the moment has come when the question of bombing of German cities simply for the sake of increasing the terror, though under other pretexts, should be reviewed. Otherwise we shall come into control of an utterly ruined land . . . The destruction of Dresden remains a serious query against the conduct of Allied bombing . . . I feel the need for more precise concentration upon military objectives, such as oil and communications behind the immediate battle-zone, rather than on mere acts of terror and wanton destruction, however impressive.
— Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister, memo to Charles Portal, Chief of the Air Staff and the Chiefs of Staff Committee, 28 March 1945. Under pressure from Air Chief Marshal Arthur Harris, Portal and others, Churchill withdrew his memo and issued a new one on 1 April 1945 omitting the words "acts of terror. As for the monument yes it should have been built sooner but it should never be too late to recognise the bravery and sacrifice of those who served with the command or any other for that matter.
We are more often treacherous through weakness than through calculation. ~Francois De La Rochefoucauld
Last edited by MontyB; July 1st, 2012 at 07:13..
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