Hamburg and Dresden

Definition

These are two German cities that were heavily bombed by the Allies during World War II as part of strategic bombing campaigns.

Analogy

Think of it like a football game where one team is losing badly and decides to use all their remaining energy in an aggressive push against the other team. This was the Allies' strategy - they wanted to cripple Germany's infrastructure and morale.

Related terms

Strategic Bombing: A military strategy used in total war with the goal of destroying the enemy's ability to fight. It involves bombing areas deemed vital to the enemy's war effort.

World War II: A global conflict that took place from 1939-1945 between two military alliances: the Allies and the Axis powers. It was the most widespread war in history.

Allies: During World War II, this term referred to countries opposed to the Axis powers. Major allies included United States, Soviet Union, China, and United Kingdom.