I know it shouldn't matter, but not hearing the lovely voices of David McCullough or David Ogden Stiers narrating this episode was a bit of a disappointment for me. I won't reduce my score because of this--just a personal preference, as I am just used to hearing the two narrating most of "The American Experience" episodes.
This film re-examines the notion that strategic bombing led to the Allies winning WWII. Initially, it talks a bit about the morality of deliberately attacking cities heavily populated by civilians, but the main thrust of this film really is on the effectiveness of the bombings. First, it is a fact that German output actually INCREASED as the war progressed (at the same time bombing raids increased). Second, the losses of American bombers was appalling--and may have actually hurt us more than it hurt the Germans in the raids. For example, when German pilots were shot down, they were over home territory and very often were back in the air in hours or days. Whereas, Allied pilots and crews were almost always taken as prisoners of war. In the end, the film concludes that the bulk of the responsibility for the war ending was due to more conventional warfare.
This is NOT the first documentary that I've seen that calls into question the effectiveness of bombing during the war in Europe. While it's not a commonly talked about theme and 'common knowledge' is that the bombing WAS very effective, it is an idea that has some compelling arguments. Note, however, that the film was not anti-American and in the end those critical still acknowledged that winning the war was the most moral act--whatever way it was achieved. It's just the effectiveness and morality of targeting civilians was being discussed. Very interesting, though not among the better episodes of "The American Experience"--mostly because almost all the episodes they produce are exceptional!
This film re-examines the notion that strategic bombing led to the Allies winning WWII. Initially, it talks a bit about the morality of deliberately attacking cities heavily populated by civilians, but the main thrust of this film really is on the effectiveness of the bombings. First, it is a fact that German output actually INCREASED as the war progressed (at the same time bombing raids increased). Second, the losses of American bombers was appalling--and may have actually hurt us more than it hurt the Germans in the raids. For example, when German pilots were shot down, they were over home territory and very often were back in the air in hours or days. Whereas, Allied pilots and crews were almost always taken as prisoners of war. In the end, the film concludes that the bulk of the responsibility for the war ending was due to more conventional warfare.
This is NOT the first documentary that I've seen that calls into question the effectiveness of bombing during the war in Europe. While it's not a commonly talked about theme and 'common knowledge' is that the bombing WAS very effective, it is an idea that has some compelling arguments. Note, however, that the film was not anti-American and in the end those critical still acknowledged that winning the war was the most moral act--whatever way it was achieved. It's just the effectiveness and morality of targeting civilians was being discussed. Very interesting, though not among the better episodes of "The American Experience"--mostly because almost all the episodes they produce are exceptional!