Was the Strategic Bombing Campaign in Wwii Successful?
The Effectiveness of Strategic Bombing in World War II
United States Air Force Academy
April 24th, 2013
History 100 – T4B
Major Buchy
Kevin Mitchell
Words: 1,1911
On the first of September, 1939 the beginning of the deadliest war the world has ever seen was initiated. By the fall of 1939, Hitler had a nearly seven years as the Chancellor of Germany and was beginning to initiate his plans to bring mainland Europe under Nazi control. This World War was drastically different than the previous one only twenty-one years prior, mainly because of the revolutionary new developments from both the Allies and Axis in aerial power. With the new developments in the sky, many had strong faith in the role of aerial warfare and strategic bombing. Although many believed the new developments in aerial warfare would bring a quick and swift victory, less casualties, and an ability to devastate the enemy through heavy bombing on civilians, strategic bombing was an inefficient strategy to the Second World War and resulted in a longer war of attrition than anyone had imagined. Aerial warfare was originally used in the First World War in a tactical way. Planes began their journey in war by being unarmed and solely used for reconnaissance. Shortly after airplanes were introduced for reconnaissance, air-to-air combat was initiated as each country attempted to gain aerial supremacy. After ‘fighter planes’ were introduced to take control of the skies, new ideas emerged for the next role of aerial warfare: ground attack. These ideas of surprise attacking ground forces or enemy supplies were originally developed and were set to be tested in 1919, but due to the end of WWI on the 11th of November, 1918 the theories were never able to be tested. During post WWI development, strategic bombing became a highly sought after strategy of warfare. One of the key entrepreneurs of strategic aerial bombing was Italian Air Marshall Julio Douhet. Douhet insisted that the future wars
United States Air Force Academy
April 24th, 2013
History 100 – T4B
Major Buchy
Kevin Mitchell
Words: 1,1911
On the first of September, 1939 the beginning of the deadliest war the world has ever seen was initiated. By the fall of 1939, Hitler had a nearly seven years as the Chancellor of Germany and was beginning to initiate his plans to bring mainland Europe under Nazi control. This World War was drastically different than the previous one only twenty-one years prior, mainly because of the revolutionary new developments from both the Allies and Axis in aerial power. With the new developments in the sky, many had strong faith in the role of aerial warfare and strategic bombing. Although many believed the new developments in aerial warfare would bring a quick and swift victory, less casualties, and an ability to devastate the enemy through heavy bombing on civilians, strategic bombing was an inefficient strategy to the Second World War and resulted in a longer war of attrition than anyone had imagined. Aerial warfare was originally used in the First World War in a tactical way. Planes began their journey in war by being unarmed and solely used for reconnaissance. Shortly after airplanes were introduced for reconnaissance, air-to-air combat was initiated as each country attempted to gain aerial supremacy. After ‘fighter planes’ were introduced to take control of the skies, new ideas emerged for the next role of aerial warfare: ground attack. These ideas of surprise attacking ground forces or enemy supplies were originally developed and were set to be tested in 1919, but due to the end of WWI on the 11th of November, 1918 the theories were never able to be tested. During post WWI development, strategic bombing became a highly sought after strategy of warfare. One of the key entrepreneurs of strategic aerial bombing was Italian Air Marshall Julio Douhet. Douhet insisted that the future wars
Bibliography: Dear, I.C.B, and M.R.D Foot. "Butt Report,." Butt Report : The Oxford Companion to World War II Oxford Reference. Oxford Reference, 2012. Web. 24 Apr. 2013. Douhet, Giulio. The Command of the Air. Washington, D.C.: Office of Air Force History, 1983. Print. Miller, Donald L. Masters of the Air: America 's Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War against Nazi Germany. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2006. Print. Murray, Williamson. War in the Air, 1914-45. London: Cassell, 1999. Print. "Hugh Trenchard." Hugh Trenchard. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2013. Documentation: I received extra instruction from Major Buchy on how to format my argument on April 23rd, 2013.