The History of the Twentieth Century 431 Bombing Your Allies
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Jan 4, 2026 The podcast explores the complex moral dilemmas of bombing occupied European nations during WWII. It discusses the British RAF’s evolving bombing policies and the mounting civilian casualties, sparking French protests. The episode reveals how propaganda affected public opinion and details both the effectiveness and backlash of bombing raids, particularly in Paris and other French ports. There's also a deep dive into resistance sabotage efforts that proved more effective than aerial bombardments. A captivating look at the tension between military strategy and humanitarian concerns.
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Broadening The Definition Of Military Targets
- Bomber Command expanded 'military targets' to include industry and transport in occupied countries, accepting civilian risk as part of strategy.
- Night area bombing was reserved for German cities while occupied territories were attacked by daytime raids with limited precision.
Blackouts Became A Form Of Quiet Resistance
- German authorities controlled air-raid alarms and blackouts, forcing French compliance that was often half-hearted and used as quiet resistance.
- Free French broadcasts urged non-compliance and many French left lights and cars lit as symbolic defiance.
Renault Raid And Mixed French Reactions
- The RAF bombed the Renault plant in Paris on March 3, 1942, destroying much of the factory and killing nearly 400 French civilians.
- French public reaction was complex: official media condemned the Allies while many civilians quietly applauded the strike.