impact of bombing

• Air raids against Germany began 1940 and by 1942, frequent and intense
• attack on Hamburg in 1943 killed 30,000 and emergency services unable to cope.
• in 1945 up to 150,000 killed in raids on Dresden, 70% of properties destroyed
• nearly as many people killed in fighting were killed by bombing
• the blankety bombing prevented Germany from reaching economic potential and causing industrial destruction and breakdown in communications. Germany forced to make underground sites= further limited production ]
• awareness of defeat became more likely after 1943 however morale still good and people continued fighting despite defeat in may 1945
• continued morale due to: many people shared Hitler's idea he would create a 1000 year Reich, Gestapo forced people to keep fighting, many people thought Germany would develop super-weapon to keep fighting, bombing united people
• accounts of Soviet soldiers raping women were circulating and showed fear of the brutality of the Soviets; driving people to keep fighting