Elektronbombe

[ManfredT]

It could not be said often enough and simple enough: the Germans have had in WW I a weapon of horrible destructiveness when attacking old cities, but they decided not to use this weapon for humanity reasons.

In 1944/45 the Allies used this weapon in a barbarian war crime, only to burn people and culture. If you like to form an opinion by your own: 'The Fire', by Jörg Friedrich and Allison Brown, Columbia University Press (2006), 552 pages. You will not put this book aside, it may hurt you by it's cool dispassion.

I know, some threads are always in danger to degenerate to a primitive chat, more than to an approach to look behind the fence, but let me repeat my question from the start of this thread: what was really known by the Entente about the Elektronbombe?

What was really found in Havay?

ManfredT

[bristol scout]

Originally Posted by ManfredT

On 7th of September 1918 the City of Paris was the target of 20.000 Elektronbomben, a systematic firestorm was planned. Before the Gothas, Friedrichshafener, AEGs and Riesenflugzeuge were airborne the raid was stopped, like that one against the City of London.

The Elektronbombe was no phantom. The Germans were able to keep it a as secret. In 1989 a German expert presented me a French drawing with the dedication:"Entdeckt bei einem Antiquar an der Seine am 28.9.1986 nach vierzigjährigem Suchen." It was a French postwar drawing.

Alex Imrie published a photograph in 'German Bombers of WWI' (1990) with the legend: "...Forty Elektron bombs are shown here in special racks under the nose of a Gotha G V, while others were visible in the vertical magazines exits."

In the meantime we have evidence by detailed German documents and photographs, but what was really known by the Entente about the Elektronbombe?

ManfredT

No one claimed it WAS a "phantom" though, Manfred.

I don't know how you can claim "a systematic firestorm was planned"---It is VERY difficult indeed to 'start' a firestorm. Atmospheric conditions play an inordinately large part, and when you first 'got into your stride' on this I asked you "How many Firestorms had there been--not including Japan"---as usual, you neglected to answer----I can think of half a dozen or so by the R.A.F. you are so contemptuous of---I don't think it's many more than that.

Could you possibly see your way clear to post details (after 61 posts) of the "French Drawing" you mention in post No.1? Why you have not shared this document (which seems to be very important to you) with us instead of just trotting out the same bile about British War Crimes I cannot begin to imagine!

Share it so that we all might learn from you!

Indeed Alex Imrie is a first rate Historian ---he has published this photograph---but you have not! He has published lot's of other photographs also.

As for the "meantime"--can you elaborate---after 61 posts it ought to be a reasonable question, on these "detailed German documents" and do you feel like showing us these "photographs"????

And droning on and on about German Towns and Cities being bombed is just plain boring now and is doing nothing to enhance your self styled status as a "Revisionist Historian"

Please Manfred---If you want to teach us we are waiting to be taught--truly,
But i, for one, have no feeling that I am seated at the feet of a master!

Dave.

[Steve Suddaby]

Marc, Bucky gave you the correct answer on Warrington Crescent -- the site of one of the 2 (3?) 1000-kg bombs dropped on London. It is very striking to visit there. Every building is what we in the US would call a townhouse or a rowhouse except for a section of about 4 smaller homes of very different design -- the place where the bomb fell.

One of the other fascinating aspects of visiting the site relates to the fact that the townhouses that comprise most of the neighborhood are made of brick. In every direction away from the site of the bomb blast, the brick corners on doorways and windows are chipped. This continues until you are out of the direct line of sight from the blast where the crescent-shaped street curves away from it.

--Steve

[Ginger.]

Originally Posted by ManfredT

It could not be said often enough and simple enough: the Germans have had in WW I a weapon of horrible destructiveness when attacking old cities, but they decided not to use this weapon for humanity reasons.

In 1944/45 the Allies used this weapon in a barbarian war crime, only to burn people and culture. If you like to form an opinion by your own: 'The Fire', by Jörg Friedrich and Allison Brown, Columbia University Press (2006), 552 pages. You will not put this book aside, it may hurt you by it's cool dispassion.

I know, some threads are always in danger to degenerate to a primitive chat, more than to an approach to look behind the fence, but let me repeat my question from the start of this thread: what was really known by the Entente about the Elektronbombe?

What was really found in Habay?

ManfredT

In the summer of 1940 if the Luftwaffe had got a thousand four engined heavy bombers each with a 22,000Ib payload, what would have happened to the towns and cities of Great Britain?

[Southside Bucky]

Originally Posted by Steve Suddaby

...the site of one of the 2 (3?) 1000-kg bombs dropped on London. It is very striking to visit there...

Hi Steve.

Did you check out the old soldiers home at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, while you were here?

The 1,000kg bomb dropped on Warrington Crescent was the 2nd time that bomb was used.

The very first one tonne bomb ever used, was dropped on the night of 16th February 1918 by Staaken R39 (again!). It landed on the North-East Wing of the Royal Hospital, in Chelsea.

Here's an old photo of it (pre WWI, I believe):

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/ima...gif&pubid=1050

And here's the aftermath:

http://cache1.asset-cache.net/xc/831...0A760B0D811297

It was rebuilt after the war, but incredibly, on 3rd January 1945, the same building was hit again, this time by a V2 Rocket.

It was rebuilt again in the mid '60's. The only externally visible difference from the original building are the slightly lighter coloured bricks.

Incidentally, I live less than a mile from there.

Regards.

Bucky

[crankcase]

Originally Posted by Steve Suddaby

Marc, Bucky gave you the correct answer on Warrington Crescent -- the site of one of the 2 (3?) 1000-kg bombs dropped on London. It is very striking to visit there. Every building is what we in the US would call a townhouse or a rowhouse except for a section of about 4 smaller homes of very different design -- the place where the bomb fell.

One of the other fascinating aspects of visiting the site relates to the fact that the townhouses that comprise most of the neighborhood are made of brick. In every direction away from the site of the bomb blast, the brick corners on doorways and windows are chipped. This continues until you are out of the direct line of sight from the blast where the crescent-shaped street curves away from it.

--Steve

Thanks. Impressive powers of observation (chipped corners)... Sounds like you speak with the experienced eye of a CSI pro!

I would like to visit that neighborhood sometime. I was thinking perhaps there is a memorial plaque at the site, but then again, how many plaques would one have to put up to mark all the bombs that fell on the city!
marc

[bristol scout]

Good point marc,---I still feel the ruins of Coventry Cathedral are very poignant---in a town that was 400 years more "ancient" than the one's Manfred can't forget------Dresden not being founded until around the 1200's by Slavic people who called it DREZD'ANY.

Dave.

[Southside Bucky]

Originally Posted by ManfredT

It could not be said often enough and simple enough: the Germans have had in WW I a weapon of horrible destructiveness when attacking old cities, but they decided not to use this weapon for humanity reasons.

Hi Manfred.

Ludendorff said it simply enough when he stated that von Hertling; "begged the Supreme Command not to use these new incendiaries because of the reprisals that the enemy would take against our own cities".

To which Ludendorff added: "The state of the war led me to concur with that decision".


Are you familiar with the old Anglo-American saying; 'straight from the horse's mouth'?

Regards.

Bucky

[bristol scout]

Well said indeed Bucky,

Dave.

[Ginger.]

I'm not the quickest on the uptake, so Have I got this right?
They didn't use zer vundervepon not because of moral type thingys, but that if they dared to sow the wind they were scared shitless of reaping the whirlwind?