Arthur Harris (13 Apr. 1892 - 5 Apr. 1984)
When the war began, Harris was serving in the Middle East, but was soon brought back to England to command No. 5 Group. November 1940 saw him become Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, and was soon made Air Marshal (1941), then Commander in Chief of Bomber Command in 1942.
Harris saw that Bomber Command was in a dismal state because of the poor aircraft and training, and began to change operations, with training improved, as well as studying bombing tactics. Furthermore, he introduced new aircraft to Bomber Command, including the Handley Page Halifax and Avro Lancaster.
In 1942, Harris was instructed to carry out the Area bombing directive, the tactical offensive bombing of Germany’s industrial centres. Initially the bombings were limited, however as aircraft and experience increased, as well as electronic aids, larger-scale bombing raids were begun, which were much more successful. The first “thousand bomber” raid hit Cologne in late May 1942.
Although Churchill disliked the bombing of industrial centres, because they led to the deaths of German workers and civilians, the bombings continued in Hamburg, and in 1943, Berlin. When D-Day plans were drawn up, Harris was instructed to destroy key segments of the railway network in France. After D-Day, Harris became unhappy with target bombing, preferring to attack industrial centres. It has been argued that since Harris was not privy to all information, he was left in the dark and therefore could not make the same judgements as his superiors.
The controversial bombing of Dresden in February 1945, which killed up to 130,000 people, signalled change. It was no longer believed that Bomber Command was attacking military targets. As the Allied forces pushed their way through Europe, bombings reduced, the last raid being in Norway in April 1942. For his efforts, Harris was made Marshal of the RAF in 1946.
For more information on Arthur Harris:
Harris, Sir Arthur. Bomber Offensive (London: Greenhill Books), 2005.
Longmate, Norman. The Bombers: The RAF offensive against Germany 1939 – 1945 (London: Hutchinson), 1983.
Harris saw that Bomber Command was in a dismal state because of the poor aircraft and training, and began to change operations, with training improved, as well as studying bombing tactics. Furthermore, he introduced new aircraft to Bomber Command, including the Handley Page Halifax and Avro Lancaster.
In 1942, Harris was instructed to carry out the Area bombing directive, the tactical offensive bombing of Germany’s industrial centres. Initially the bombings were limited, however as aircraft and experience increased, as well as electronic aids, larger-scale bombing raids were begun, which were much more successful. The first “thousand bomber” raid hit Cologne in late May 1942.
Although Churchill disliked the bombing of industrial centres, because they led to the deaths of German workers and civilians, the bombings continued in Hamburg, and in 1943, Berlin. When D-Day plans were drawn up, Harris was instructed to destroy key segments of the railway network in France. After D-Day, Harris became unhappy with target bombing, preferring to attack industrial centres. It has been argued that since Harris was not privy to all information, he was left in the dark and therefore could not make the same judgements as his superiors.
The controversial bombing of Dresden in February 1945, which killed up to 130,000 people, signalled change. It was no longer believed that Bomber Command was attacking military targets. As the Allied forces pushed their way through Europe, bombings reduced, the last raid being in Norway in April 1942. For his efforts, Harris was made Marshal of the RAF in 1946.
For more information on Arthur Harris:
Harris, Sir Arthur. Bomber Offensive (London: Greenhill Books), 2005.
Longmate, Norman. The Bombers: The RAF offensive against Germany 1939 – 1945 (London: Hutchinson), 1983.