Wide variety in the effects of bombing Germany.

[tcolvin]

The following table is interesting.
It quantifies the very wide variety that bombing had between countries, but also within Germany using Dresden and Wilhelmshaven as examples.

Target country Bomb tonnage dropped Deaths Bombs per Death
Germany 1,250,000 500,000 2.5 tons
of which
Dresden (14/2/45) 3,441 25,000 138 kg
Wilhelmshaven (1939-45) 19,048 452 42.1 tons
France 600,000 60,000 10.0 tons
Italy 300,000 60,000 5.0 tons
UK 50,000 60,000 830 kg


The differences between Dresden and Wilhelmshaven were due to these factors;

• very few bomb-proof shelters compared with a place for everyone (including slave labour?) in a bomb-proof hoch-bunker
• flammable mediaeval town centre compared with brick Victorian buildings
• no expectation of being bombed compared with certainty of being bombed, resulting in no preparation compared with a high state of readiness
• little practise in firefighting and little available firefighting manpower compared with expertise and plenty of service personnel

Tony

[tcolvin]

I don't know how to layout the table for easy reading; sorry.

Tony

[edwest]

In one example I'm familiar with, forced laborers were allowed access to an underground shelter with electric lighting. No candles were allowed to be used inside. It is my understanding that many shelters were also gas-proofed.



Ed