Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!think.com!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!apple!veritas!amdcad!amdcad!military From: henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: WWII city bombings Message-ID: <1991May3.063454.5694@amd.com> Date: 2 May 91 17:22:02 GMT References: <1991May1.030243.19860@amd.com> <1991May2.040251.20351@amd.com> Sender: military@amd.com Organization: U of Toronto Zoology Lines: 21 Approved: military@amd.com From: henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) >From: sparap@comp.mscs.mu.edu (Rodney Sparapani) >... By the time support reached adequate levels, many >German industries went underground and were actually increasing production. Another issue which affected this was destruction of civilian life. One of the airpower enthusiasts' pet notions was destroying industrial effectiveness by destroying workers' housing and (so to speak) life support. It turned out that this backfired. One of a nation's biggest wartime problems is mobilizing the civilian workforce into military industry. Attempts to destroy the civilian infrastructure destroyed vast numbers of small stores and businesses, leaving their workforce unemployed and available for the war industries. The strategic bombing campaigns drove vast numbers of people out of (militarily) unproductive employment and into war support. -- And the bean-counter replied, | Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology "beans are more important". | henry@zoo.toronto.edu utzoo!henry