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Old 12-07-2010, 08:32 AM   #175
MarchHare
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The Germans were pretty upset about Bomber Harris after WWII . . . . on the other hand, they bombed London first.
That's only partially true.

IIRC, a single German bomber got lost and mistook a civilian airfield near London for its intended military target. Churchill, crafty strategist that he was, used this as an excuse to bomb Berlin in retaliation, hoping the move would goad Hitler into ordering the Luftwaffe to expend its resources bombing British cities rather than RAF airfields. Hitler, as we all know, took the bait. This gave the RAF some much-needed "breathing room" and is seen as the turning point of the Battle of Britain.

From wikipedia (consider the source):

Quote:
The Luftwaffe offensive against Britain had included numerous raids on major ports since August, but Hitler had issued a directive London was not to be bombed save on his sole instruction.[170] However, on the afternoon of 15 August, Hauptmann Walter Rubensdörffer leading Erprobungsgruppe 210 mistakenly bombed the Croydon airfield (on the outskirts of London) instead of the intended target, RAF Kenley;[171] this was followed on the night of 23/24 August[142] by the accidental bombing of Harrow, also on the outskirts of London, as well as raids on Aberdeen, Bristol, and South Wales. The focus on attacking airfields had also been accompanied by a sustained bombing campaign which begun on 24 August with the largest raid so far, killing 100 in Portsmouth, and that evening the first night raid on London as described above.[154] On 25 August 1940, 81 bombers of Bomber Command were sent out to raid industrial and commercial targets in Berlin. Cloud prevented accurate identification and the bombs fell across the city, causing some casualties amongst the civilian population as well as damage to residential areas.[172] Continuing RAF raids on Berlin in retaliation led to Hitler withdrawing his directive,[173] and on 3 September Göring planned to bomb London daily, with Kesselring's enthusiastic support, having received reports the average strength of RAF squadrons was down to five or seven fighters out of 12 and their airfields in the area were out of action. Hitler issued a directive on 5 September to attack cities including London.[174][175] In his speech delivered on the 4 September 1940, Hitler threatened to obliterate (ausradieren) British cities if British bombing runs against Germany did not stop.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_...British_cities
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