the firebombing of Dresden

The firebombing of Dresden occurred in February 1945 during World War II when Allied forces, primarily Britain and the United States, launched a series of bombing raids on the German city. The goal was to weaken Germany’s war efforts by destroying industrial targets and infrastructure. The bombs caused massive fires, resulting in a firestorm that devastated much of the city and killed an estimated 25,000 civilians. The event remains controversial due to the high civilian casualties and the scale of destruction, raising questions about the ethics and military necessity of the bombing.