Valentines Day.

[Karoshi]

To most people February 14th is a special day. In 1945 it was the second day of Operation Thunderclap. On the 13th Feb 1945 244 Lancasters dropped more than 800 tons of bombs on Dresden, a second wave of 529 Lancasters followed just three hours later with a further delivery. In total over 1800 tons of bombs dropped that first night. The resulting firestorm asphyxiated thousands and turned every organic object in its path to cinders. Those who dived into rivers, pools and lakes in the city parks, were boiled alive.

 

Estimates of the dead range from 40,000 to 135,000. The RAF too paid its price, with nine aircraft lost.

 

On the evening of the 14th feb and again on the 15th 311 American B-17's dropped a further 771 tons of bombs on the already devastated city.

 

It was no ordinary Valentines Day.