How Many Died in the Bombing of Dresden? - Aircraft of World War II

v2 · 10-02-2008, 04:31 PM

The question of many people died in the World War II Allied bombing of Dresden has been politically charged for decades. Now, a commission of historians has said the real total could be much lower than previously thought. But the debate likely won't go away...

more: Death Toll Debate: How Many Died in the Bombing of Dresden? - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International

ToughOmbre · 10-02-2008, 05:25 PM

Not controversial to me. 55 to 60 million people died in WW II, majority were civilians. Adjusting/revising the number of casualties of a single raid 60 years later is rather pointless.

War is hell.

TO

Erich · 10-02-2008, 05:42 PM

well it is more than 18,000 but not 150-250,000 in my estimation. my relatives in Germany still believe the highest total and truthfully there we so many refugees and large families retreating from the Soviets they were bottlenecked in the old town trying to get out at all hours of the day and night

I could easily grasp some 35,000 killed and the possibility of much more if neighbor towns like Meißen are included and other major cities that the RAF and US AF's attacked in February of 45 to the overall total.

timshatz · 10-02-2008, 06:04 PM

35k is the number I've heard that sounded accurate as well. Heard the propaganda types added the 100K number.

TenGunTerror · 06-25-2009, 11:21 PM

It's not too well known because the rich history of Dresden being destroyed is focused on much more

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 06-27-2009, 08:19 PM

When I was in Dresden a few months ago the widely accepted figure there is 35K to 45K. At least that was the number they were throwing around in the museums.

Vassili Zaitzev · 06-27-2009, 10:05 PM

I think it's around the 35K mark. I don't think it can be over 100k.

lesofprimus · 06-28-2009, 09:41 AM

To be honest, all the research and investigation into this is almost irrelevant... Theres no accurate way to figure the total number out... Even if they counted every single corpse they found or dug up 54 years ago, the number would still be far off the mark...

500lb bombs dont just kill with fragments, they also dismember....

The number of refugees, POW's, slave labor hands, civilians and German troops that were in and around Dresden is a wild guess, so figuring a proportion of those killed is a mathmatical equation with no solution....

Erich · 06-28-2009, 02:56 PM

remember also that the Soviets were also bombing this city agreed with Les no way of a truthful and accurate account

RabidAlien · 07-02-2009, 07:00 PM

I would place the number pretty high up, somewhere between 50k and 150k. Mainly due to the sheer volume of Displaced Persons. One city would get bombed, the survivors would march to the next town. Then the next. Then the next (you get the picture). One has to assume that it was a pretty frikkin large crowd that was huddled in basements and burned-out buildings. And regardless of what the census said before the war, the population would have changed so often and so drastically as the tides of war/destruction/labor shifted and surged during the course of the war, those numbers would have been meaningless. I don't think anyone will ever know how many people were lost in Dresden, and the best anyone can do will be a reasoned guess.

10-02-2008, 04:31 PM	#1
v2 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cracow Posts: 4,207	How Many Died in the Bombing of Dresden? The question of many people died in the World War II Allied bombing of Dresden has been politically charged for decades. Now, a commission of historians has said the real total could be much lower than previously thought. But the debate likely won't go away... more: Death Toll Debate: How Many Died in the Bombing of Dresden? - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International __________________ "A good fighter pilot, like a good boxer, should have a knockout punch..... You will find one attack you prefer to all others. Work on it till you can do it to perfection... then use it whenever possible." - Captain Reade Tilley, USAAF 7 Victories, WW-II -

10-02-2008, 05:25 PM	#2
ToughOmbre Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,230	Not controversial to me. 55 to 60 million people died in WW II, majority were civilians. Adjusting/revising the number of casualties of a single raid 60 years later is rather pointless. War is hell. TO __________________ *“Let's get Enterprise* and Hornet turned into the wind."**

06-25-2009, 11:21 PM	#5
TenGunTerror Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 42	It's not too well known because the rich history of Dresden being destroyed is focused on much more __________________ I need to lean to keep my mouth shut

06-27-2009, 08:19 PM	#6
DerAdlerIstGelandet Der Crewchief Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany Posts: 33,150	When I was in Dresden a few months ago the widely accepted figure there is 35K to 45K. At least that was the number they were throwing around in the museums. __________________ fly boy:"isnt that the first jet bomber becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles"[/I]

06-27-2009, 10:05 PM	#7
Vassili Zaitzev Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Stafford Springs, Connecticut Posts: 2,221	I think it's around the 35K mark. I don't think it can be over 100k. __________________ "Never was so much owed by so many to so few"- Winston Churchill.

10-02-2008, 05:42 PM	#3
Erich the old Sage Join Date: May 2004 Location: Platonic Sphere Posts: 10,770	well it is more than 18,000 but not 150-250,000 in my estimation. my relatives in Germany still believe the highest total and truthfully there we so many refugees and large families retreating from the Soviets they were bottlenecked in the old town trying to get out at all hours of the day and night I could easily grasp some 35,000 killed and the possibility of much more if neighbor towns like Meißen are included and other major cities that the RAF and US AF's attacked in February of 45 to the overall total.

10-02-2008, 06:04 PM	#4
timshatz Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Phila, Pa Posts: 3,446	35k is the number I've heard that sounded accurate as well. Heard the propaganda types added the 100K number.

06-28-2009, 09:41 AM	#8
lesofprimus Minister of Whoopass Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Long Island Native in Mississippi Posts: 17,490	To be honest, all the research and investigation into this is almost irrelevant... Theres no accurate way to figure the total number out... Even if they counted every single corpse they found or dug up 54 years ago, the number would still be far off the mark... 500lb bombs dont just kill with fragments, they also dismember.... The number of refugees, POW's, slave labor hands, civilians and German troops that were in and around Dresden is a wild guess, so figuring a proportion of those killed is a mathmatical equation with no solution.... __________________ My IL2 Video Tribute to My Grandfather: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtzN5RuNNJk

06-28-2009, 02:56 PM	#9
Erich the old Sage Join Date: May 2004 Location: Platonic Sphere Posts: 10,770	remember also that the Soviets were also bombing this city agreed with Les no way of a truthful and accurate account __________________ Rip it up !

07-02-2009, 07:00 PM	#10
RabidAlien Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hurst, Texas Posts: 2,823	I would place the number pretty high up, somewhere between 50k and 150k. Mainly due to the sheer volume of Displaced Persons. One city would get bombed, the survivors would march to the next town. Then the next. Then the next (you get the picture). One has to assume that it was a pretty frikkin large crowd that was huddled in basements and burned-out buildings. And regardless of what the census said before the war, the population would have changed so often and so drastically as the tides of war/destruction/labor shifted and surged during the course of the war, those numbers would have been meaningless. I don't think anyone will ever know how many people were lost in Dresden, and the best anyone can do will be a reasoned guess. __________________ Pillage, then burn. Argue not with dragons, for thou art crunchy and go well on toast.

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