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The Allied bombing of German cities in World War II was unjustifiable. This debate took place on the 25th of October 2012, at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London. It's not just a historical debate; it could equally well be starting off a philosophy debate, which is why we have both philosophers and historians on our panel here tonight. And I think tonight is all going to be about the intersection of moral principle and historical fact. If it were the case that the bombing of civilians was crucial in stopping Hitler becoming victorious, would that change your mind?

No one doubts the bravery of the thousands of men who flew and died in Bomber Command. The death rate was an appalling 44%. And yet until the opening of a monument in Green Park this year they have received no official recognition, with many historians claiming that the offensive was immoral and unjustified. How can it be right, they argue, for the Allies to have deliberately targeted German cities causing the death of hundreds of thousands of civilians? Even on a strategic level the offensive failed to bring about the collapse of civilian morale that was its intention. Others, however, maintain that the attacks made a decisive contribution to the Allied victory. Vast numbers of German soldiers and planes were diverted from the eastern and western fronts, while Allied bombing attacks virtually destroyed the German air force, clearing the way for the invasion of the continent. In this debate from October 2012, philosopher and author A C Grayling and Professor of History at Exeter University Rochard Overy...

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