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Dresden in Ruins: The Most Controversial Bombing of WWII

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On February 13 and 14 1945, Anglo-American forces bombed Dresden, reducing it to ruins. The destruction was catastrophic – 75% to 80% of the city was obliterated.
Operation "Thunderclap" was originally planned for Berlin or Leipzig, but early in 1945 the target shifted to Dresden.
Before the war, Dresden had a population of about 650,000, but by February 1945 it was overcrowded with 1.5 to 2.5 million refugees – making the bombing even deadlier.
Many historians argue that the attack was not meant to assist the Red Army – by clogging roads leading to the eastern front with refugees – but rather a political move: a display of military power intended to intimidate the Soviet leadership.
Check out Sputnik's infographic to learn the details.
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