My History Project

[Skipper]

I can pick anything....but it has to be a controversial question....

But obviously being a bit of a World War II fan I'm thinking of either doing:

Battle of Britain-"Why did the Luftwaffe fail to destroy the RAF in the Summer of 1940?"

Dresden-"Was RAF Bomber Command right to bomb Dresden?"

The Dam Buster Raid-"Were the effects of the Dam Buster raid worth the high loss of life?"

But I can't decide which one...I know alot about both BoB and the Dam Buster raid but I think I could probably write more about BoB and there is probably more material available...

Obviosuly for BoB you can right about British strategy , Luftwaffe mistakes , plane differences etc etc...

For the Dam Busters the loss of life by pilots , civillians and the effects on moral of both sides and the physical effects....

For Dresden morality is clearly the key....was it in revenge for the Blitz etc etc

Let me know which one you guys think I should pick and why.

Cheers

Skipper

[:FI:Falcon]

... but I think I could probably write more about BoB and there is probably more material available ...

... just what I was thinking when I started reading your post.


Falcon

[:FI:Sneaky_Russian]

-"Why did the Luftwaffe fail to destroy the RAF in the Summer of 1940?"

Too busy whingeing about Spitfires ?

[:FI:Dr_Strangelove]

Well I voted for Dresden only because you could have more of a moral argument there. Also, you could still talk about BoB even if you choose Dresden.

Also, the British and US did bomb the shit out of Hamburg as well. I think it was something like 40,000 casualties in a very short time.

[:FI:TacticalS!]

As a writer I too agree that Dresden would be a much tougher and therefore more enjoyable paper to write. BOB, while it could explore the resolve of the British people, had a lot to do with just tactical issues, and would be more shallow of an exploration of the human condition as compared to Dresden. But hey maybe you want an easy grade?

Send us a copy of whatever you write. Anyone need a red pen?

Good luck mate!

TS!

[Skipper]

Send us a copy of whatever you write. Anyone need a red pen?

Good luck mate!

TS!

Heh heh heh!Thanks very much

The exam isn't until November so i'm just doing reserch until then and then I have 4 hours to type it up in exam conditions which should be more than enough.I'll definately post you guys interesting things I find on the topic I decide to do so you can give me tips hints etc and i'll try to send the final copy to you but I dunno if exam regulations will allow it

Thanks for the help so far guys

Skipper

[Sapper-FIN]

Too busy whingeing about Spitfires ?

Yeah, the patch with the new flightmodel and improved MG 151/20 cannons didn´t come up before the end of 1940

Good luck with the research, Skipper!

[Skipper]

I hope you have a track to prove these uber accusations!You're probably just a history fanboi!

Skipper

[:FI:Gurberly]

If it helps, I have a copy of "Dresden" by Frederick Taylor (first published 2004). ISBN 0-7475-7078-7

It does a fairly good job on the strategic reasoning behind the raid. Also some good stuff on mechanics going into area bombing at the time.

It is broadly in defence of the raid.

If you promise to send it back without notes in the margins, I'd be happy to post it to you.

G

[Finbar1]

My vote would go to the BOB
I would concentrate on the background more than the actual battle,you might include some of these

1.Dowding versus Goring.
2.University Air Squadrons.
3.Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
4.RAF Apprenticeships.
5.The "Group" system.
6.The Big Wing.
7.The Condor Legion.

I could send you Bishop's "Fighter Boys".

I am however an avowed BOB fan so I guess I'm biased.

"What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour."

Sorry couldnt resist.

[:FI:TacticalS!]

Or how the Canadians came to the aid of Britain and saved the day! Just kidding a bit, but Canada and Australia did contribute fair numbers of pilots. And Canada also provided facilities for pilot training.

Go Commonwealth!

TS!

[:FI:IceFrog]

Canadians came to the aid of Britain and saved the day

CANADIANS
gave me a beeer ahhhhhhhh

[:FI:Igor]

Yeah BOB, incinerating an open city, no real tactical reason there..

Igor

[:FI:Fenian]

This is a subject you know little about - this means that you'll learn something new.

It will also teach others something that they have probably not heard very much about (unfortunately).

It is an emotive topic - but one well worth investigating.

I think the Allies were very wrong to bomb Dresden - but peoples' opinions vary - depending upon who you talk to. Older Londoners, for example, might say they deserved it. But no civilians deserve to die in war, and the moral victory is lost once civilian blood is shed.

Let us know what you decide!

DunakFn

[:FI:Heloego]

...as a discourse on how not to conduct a war!

Shameful.