I think the 'aim' or 'intended purpose' to which Scorpion is referring is probably the 'demoralisation' of the population (although Bomber Command and Eighth Air Force referred to it officially as 'Dehousing'). It did, as you said, have the very opposite effect.
Instead of demoralising populations, these sorts of things tend to 'galvanise' a people to the enemies assaults. The same effect was seen during the Blitz etc.
I really don't see that there was much difference in the result in Hamburg, for instance, and that in Hiroshima. It's more the fact that it was done with a 'new and terrible' SINGLE weapon, dropped by ONE plane. That, and the fact that it all occurred in seconds.
Otherwise, the end result was exactly the same, save, the 'long term' effects of the radiation on the population and offspring etc. But they didn't have any idea about this sort of thing at that time anyway.
Just personally, if someone is given a choice of burning to death in a firestorm or being close to 'ground zero', I'm sure the 'quicker method' is always preferrable.
(What a terrible subject!!!)
by ATI_7500 » Sun Aug 15, 2004 4:42 am 
