"Dresden was a cultural landmark of little or no military significance, the attacks were indiscriminate and not proportional for the commensurate military gains." - An urban myth

Dresden bomber twice before in August 1944 by the USAAF target oil processing plant, again in October 1944 by the USAAF target railway yards.

Briefing Notes for the raids of night of the 13th carried out by RAF Bomber Command and the daylight raid of the 14th Feruary 1945 carried out by the 8th USAAF:

"Administrative staffs and refugees are fleeing from Berlin towards Central Germany which they consider is the only safe area left, and the object of the attack is to so disrupt organisation and transport as to create chaos and so bring about the collapse of the enemy's war machine"

The city of Dresden housed 127 factories all turning out material for the German war effort and it had been designated a strongpoint in the defensive line along the river Elbe to be defended at all costs.