Figure 1.--In an ironic turn of history, the same President who would appeal to World War II belligerents to refrain from bombing cities, would authorize a strategic bombing campaign that would reduce German cities to mounds of burning rubble. Assessments of this are commonly flawed because it is often not understood that bombing was a relatively minor cause of World War II moralities. s.

"As German Panzers rolled across the Polish border and the Luftwaffe began bombing Polish cities, the first pronouncement from Washington was an appeal for all belligerents to resist "bombardment from the air of civilian populations or of unfortified cities." This is ironic to historians given the fact that the same president was building strategic long range bombers and had given a priority to air power. And he would authorize the greatest strategic bombing campaign in the history of warfare.

-- President Franklin Roosevelt, September 1, 1939

During the Inter-War period, concern grew about a possible war and in particular aerial bombardment. This increased with the rise of the NAZIs (1933) and the NAZI announcement that they had a modern air force (1935). And then it all materialized with Guernica (1937). At the same time given the carnage of World War I, Britain and the United States built bombers. The United States which kept military spending. found the funds to build the first modern heavy bomber -- the B-17 Flying Fortress (1936). RAF Bomber Command would not have a comparable plane until years later -- the Avro Lancaster (1942). The United States did not at first build many of them, but they had built the first plane actually capable of long-range strategic bombing. In addition President Roosevelt in his budget decisions while a naval advocate made it clear that he was a strong proponent of air power as a way of avoiding the huge casualties that occured on the ground in World War I. The NAZIs on the other hand did not build long range heavy bombers. It is not clear why. One factor is Germany's limited industrial capability. There was also the decision to create a ground support air force. President Roosevelt appealed to belligerents not to bomb civilian populations or unfortified cities (September 1, 1939). The British and French quickly endorsed Roosevelt's appeal. Hitler replied days later. Hus rambling reply was what you might expect. He accused Polish civilians of committing 'fearful atrocities against German soldiers'. And he claimed the British of waging war against German women and children referring to the Royal Navy blockade. Nervelessness, Hitler insisted that Germany would conduct the war 'in a chivalrous and humane manner'. Actually, few countries in history have treated a defeated enemy in such a scabrous manner. The Germans murdered about a quarter of the Polish population, although bombing would be a small part of the killing. Given the massive American strategic bombing campaign, it may be surprising that the President was so adamant about opposing strategic bombing in 1939. America and Britain have been criticized for the strategic bombing campaign. Several factors need to be considered here. First, the NAZIs began terror bombing from he start of the War. Second, the NAZIs began a genocidal war beginning in Poland. Most prominently the initial target was the Jews. But occupied people were also targeted, beginning with the Poles. Third. while before the war aerial bombardment was seen as the greatest threat, as the War progressed, strategic bombing proved to be a relatively a minor cause of moralities, the real killer was the barbaric war and occupation policies of the Axis powers. Of course any bombing of civilian is a moral outrage. But moral assessments can not be made in isolation. Those who oppose strategic bombing have to answer two questions. First, How many more ground troops wold be killed if America did pursue the strategic bombing campaign. Second, How many civilians would be killed if the Axis powers were not defeated using strategic bombing. Given hat the primary killer in Wold War II was not bombing, but the brutality and genocidal policies of the Axis powers.

Created: 2:33 AM 6/24/2026
Last updated: 2:33 AM 6/24/2026