In the winter of 1945, Dresden’s normal population of about 600,000 had been swelled by several hundred thousand refugees, fleeing from the advancing Soviet army.
In the winter of 1945, Dresden’s normal population of about 600,000 had been swelled by several hundred thousand refugees, fleeing from the advancing Soviet army. The seventh largest city in Germany, Dresden was an important industrial center and transportation hub. It was also renowned for its beautiful art and architecture, known throughout the world as “Florence on the Elbe.” In February 1945, Dresden was the largest remaining German city that had not been the target of a major Allied bombing raid. Although by then it was clear to the Allies that Germany was going to be defeated, how quickly and at what cost was still unknown. One of the high priority targets that had been identified by RAF Bomber Command was Dresden, in part to assist the Soviet offensive in east Germany. In late January RAF Bomber Command ordered that Dresden be bombed as soon as weather permitted. Allied plans called for the attack to begin with a daylight raid by U.S. bombers, but weather forced the c...