Area Bombing Directive

The Area Bombing Directive was a code issued by the Allied leadership during World War II, primarily in 1942, guiding strategic bombing campaigns against Germany. It authorized the deliberate targeting of entire urban areas, including civilian populations and infrastructure, to weaken morale and disrupt war efforts. The goal was to accelerate the defeat of Germany by inflicting widespread damage rather than precision strikes on specific military targets. This approach raised ethical questions about the impact on civilians and is considered a significant shift in aerial warfare strategy, emphasizing broad, area-wide bombing rather than targeted attacks.