[lit-ideas] Re: The warlike and atomic weapons
- From: david ritchie <profdritchie@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2020 11:44:40 -0800
On Jan 23, 2020, at 11:35 AM, Lawrence Helm <lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
If the U.S. is to be criticized for dropping the atom bombs on Nagasaki and
Hiroshimi, then the use of aerial bombing to weaken the will of a people to
continue fighting needs to be traced back to the Germans who I believe
started it all. They used aerial bombing on Britain when it refused to
capitulate and then Britain (Bomber Harris) retaliated with a fury many times
the effect of the bombs dropped on England. The effect of bombing was never
as effective as those using it thought it would be; although the dive-bombing
that destroyed Japanese carriers was very effective.
One small detail. All of the accounts I have read agree that German bombing of
London was not begun as a matter of policy. It began with crews jettisoning
bombs without caring where they landed. The British read the act as deliberate
and retaliated in kind. It’s also clear, with hindsight, that diverting
bombers to coastal command’s anti-submarine efforts would have been a better
use of resources.
I’m currently reading Beevor’s account of Arnhem. Monty does not come out
well. I note that drug use by troops and casual killing of those who were
surrendering are now acknowledged. History changes.
David Ritchie,
happy to see signs of life in the old dog (lit-ideas) yet,
Portland, Oregon
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