Comments on: What If the Allies Had Bombed Auschwitz? http://www.historynet.com/what-if-the-allies-had-bombed-auschwitz.htm From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Wed, 22 May 2013 17:59:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Tom Holzel http://www.historynet.com/what-if-the-allies-had-bombed-auschwitz.htm#comment-792077 Tom Holzel Sun, 11 Mar 2012 15:47:11 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13682230#comment-792077 Instead of using Mosquitos to beat back German troops? Instead of using Mosquitos to beat back German troops?

]]> By: Tom Holzel http://www.historynet.com/what-if-the-allies-had-bombed-auschwitz.htm#comment-792076 Tom Holzel Sun, 11 Mar 2012 15:46:27 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13682230#comment-792076 From a strictly cold cost-benefits ratio, the effort the Nazi's put in to filling up the camps was a huge drain on their war effort. The Totenkopf SS commandeered trains that should have been used to transport troops and ammunition, and they generally interfered with supply requirements in ways that show how corrosive ideology run amuck can be. The other really stupid thing the Nazi's did was starve the workers at the Nordhausen rocket works, thus greatly reducing the output of V-1, V-2s and Me-262s. Their thinking must have been--these are slaves, so that can't be fed well when civilians are starving--instead of thinking--these are skilled workers essential to the war effort. Ideology strikes again. From a strictly cold cost-benefits ratio, the effort the Nazi's put in to filling up the camps was a huge drain on their war effort. The Totenkopf SS commandeered trains that should have been used to transport troops and ammunition, and they generally interfered with supply requirements in ways that show how corrosive ideology run amuck can be.

The other really stupid thing the Nazi's did was starve the workers at the Nordhausen rocket works, thus greatly reducing the output of V-1, V-2s and Me-262s. Their thinking must have been–these are slaves, so that can't be fed well when civilians are starving–instead of thinking–these are skilled workers essential to the war effort. Ideology strikes again.

]]> By: M Loh http://www.historynet.com/what-if-the-allies-had-bombed-auschwitz.htm#comment-710816 M Loh Thu, 25 Aug 2011 04:18:35 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13682230#comment-710816 Well, what if the RAF had used their Mosquitos to launch precision strikes against Auschwitz-Birkenau, just like with the Amiens and Copenhagen prison raids ? They could've proven more effective than the 15th AF's lumbering B-17s or B-24s. Well, what if the RAF had used their Mosquitos to launch precision strikes against Auschwitz-Birkenau, just like with the Amiens and Copenhagen prison raids ? They could've proven more effective than the 15th AF's lumbering B-17s or B-24s.

]]> By: fleadh http://www.historynet.com/what-if-the-allies-had-bombed-auschwitz.htm#comment-564412 fleadh Wed, 18 May 2011 13:41:36 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13682230#comment-564412 I don't think it's debatable at all to claim how much the Allied leaders knew of the extermination. It can be argued the common soldier knew nothing of the true extent of the atrocities but that's common place in all walks of life. The lowest grade are always the last to find out. As early as 1942 the Allies had extensive knowledge of the plan to exterminate the Jews. The US even had detailed information on the layout of Auschwitz and as was mentioned in the article, aerial photographs clearly showed the crematoria and gas chambers. I don't think it's debatable at all to claim how much the Allied leaders knew of the extermination. It can be argued the common soldier knew nothing of the true extent of the atrocities but that's common place in all walks of life. The lowest grade are always the last to find out.

As early as 1942 the Allies had extensive knowledge of the plan to exterminate the Jews. The US even had detailed information on the layout of Auschwitz and as was mentioned in the article, aerial photographs clearly showed the crematoria and gas chambers.

]]> By: Peter http://www.historynet.com/what-if-the-allies-had-bombed-auschwitz.htm#comment-271254 Peter Wed, 05 May 2010 12:05:01 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13682230#comment-271254 Its an interesting idea but it ignores the limited accuracy of WW2 bombers. If those 75 B17's had dropped short by a few hundred metres (which based on tactical bombing in Italy or Normandy by both RAF and USAAF is a more likely outcome than actually hitting the ovens) rather than destroy the gas chambers they'd have done the nazi's work for them. My grandfather liberated Belsen and had no idea of what the nazi's were doing in these camps. From reading 'Band of Brothers' it would appear that few americans did either. The claim that our leaders knew the scale of the slaughter is debatable. Its an interesting idea but it ignores the limited accuracy of WW2 bombers. If those 75 B17's had dropped short by a few hundred metres (which based on tactical bombing in Italy or Normandy by both RAF and USAAF is a more likely outcome than actually hitting the ovens) rather than destroy the gas chambers they'd have done the nazi's work for them.

My grandfather liberated Belsen and had no idea of what the nazi's were doing in these camps. From reading 'Band of Brothers' it would appear that few americans did either. The claim that our leaders knew the scale of the slaughter is debatable.

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