How was Bombing Significant in
Determining the Outcome of the
Second World War
By Jacob
Significance of Bombs
• Allowed nations to bypass armies, navy and
tricky land formations.
• Deliver massive fire power to enemy’s
industry, resources or towns.
• Tactical air support for ground infantry in
battlefields.
Significance of Bombing
• Resulted in the significance of population
becoming less apparent.
• Meant countries with stronger industries were
able to prosper.
• Allowed for the price of War to be paid for
with more money and less blood.
Negative Aspect of Using Bombs
• Highly inaccurate.
• “Just one in five aircrafts lands a bomb within
a five mile distance of its target.”
• More civilians are affected rather than
soldiers.
• Unexploded bombs can hurt future
generations. For example, in Goettingen on
June 3rd 2010.
Types of British Bomber Planes
• Wellington – Long range carrying 2 tons.
• Lancaster – Night bomber carrying 10 tons.
• Halifax – Night bomber carrying 8 tons, first
plane with a radar.
• Mosquito – Carried 2 tons very quick and
agile, relied on speed rather than machine
guns.
Significant British Bombings
• 1942 RAF pounded Germany with 48,000 tons
of explosives mostly in air raids.
• 1943 RAF delivered 207,600 tons of explosives
mostly in air raids.
• The bombing of Dresden killed slightly over
50,000 people many of which were civilians.
• Dresden involved 1500 tons of explosives and
1,200 tons of incendiaries
German Bomber Planes
• Junkers 88 – Medium range carrying 3 tons
• Junkers 87 Stuka – Dive bomber, airborne
equivalent of the Blitzkrieg tactic.
• Heinkel He 111 – Most common German
bomber carrying 2 tons.
• Dornier 217 – 4 tons of bombs and 2 radars
• Arado 234 Blitz – The worlds first jet bomber,
came to late to impact the outcome of war.
Significant German Bombings
• Germany attacked nearly every city in Britain
excluding Oxford and Blackpool.
• Air raids on different cities were more
common than large scale attacks.
• First attack on London killed 430 injured 1600.
• Attacked during night for terror and to weaken
the British through sleep depletion.
• Like the allies they targeted areas of industry.
Pearl Harbour
• December 7th 1941 due to tensions
surrounding colonies in Asia, Japan attacked
Hawaii.
• Pearl Harbour was a massive attack without
any warning.
• 188 Aircrafts were destroyed, 2,400 people
were killed and 1,280 people were injured.
Significance of the Attack
• Although the attack on Pearl Harbour received
praise from Hitler, it was responsible for the
switch in power.
• It caused the U.S entry into the war which was
a key factor in the Allied victory.
• December 8th the U.S declared war on the
Japanese. December 11th Germany and Italy
declare war on U.S.A which is reciprocated.
Atomic Bombs
• On August 9th 2010 occurred the most
significant bombings in history.
• The United States launched two atomic
bombs, one on the city of Hiroshima the other
on Nagasaki.
• Hiroshima killed an estimated 200,000
• Nagasaki killed an estimated 80,000
Significance of the Atomic Bombs
• The bombs were effective in causing Japanese
surrender.
• Most of the people killed were Japanese
civilians, not soldiers.
• The ethical justification for the use of Atomic
Weapons is still a subject of debate among
scholars.
The Ethics of the Atomic Bombs
• The four main arguments made in terms of
using the bomb were.
– Preferable to an invasion
– The speedy end of war saved lives
– Part of Total War
– Japanese leaders simply refused to surrender
Opposition to use of Atomic Bombs
• Reasons that suggest it was immoral as well as
unnecessary to launch the bombs.
– Fundamentally immoral
– The bombings are war crimes
– Militarily unnecessary
– State terrorism – To intimidate Soviets
– Nagasaki bombing unnecessary
– Racism and Dehumanization
Conclusion
• Bombs were extremely significant in the outcome
of war but also responsible for war crimes.
– Bombs killed thousands of people and destroyed
thousands of Aircrafts and buildings.
– Bombs allow armies to bypass rough terrain, infantry
unit and even tanks.
– The atomic bomb marked the end of the war but
raised serious questions over humanity and ethics.
– Bombs are also responsible for causing thousands of
civilians deaths.
Works Cited
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