Historian calls on Allies to show regret for air-raids

A BRITISH historian yesterday said it was time for the Allies to show regret for the bombing of German civilians during World War Two.

Author and lecturer Dr Mark Connelly said the British powers have always drawn a shroud over the bombing tactics of the 1939-45 conflict but should now show public sorrow.

His comments come after a German historian accused the British of deliberately and indiscriminately targeting civilians and were effectively guilty of war crimes.

But Jorg Friedrich’s book Der Brand has sparked mixed emotions from his British counterparts with other historians claiming Britain was fighting for its life. In Der Brand (The Fire: Germany Under Bombardment 1940-45), Mr Friedrich believes a total of 635,000 German civilians were killed during the constant air raids.

He reportedly claims British war leader Winston Churchill favoured a tactic of bombing the public long before the outbreak of World War Two and before the air raids by Adolf Hitler’s Luftwaffe.

Dr Connelly, whose new book Reaching for the Stars addresses the activities of British bomber command and its public perception, said the book was a sign Germans are beginning to speak out on their suffering.

He stressed it would be dangerous for the Allies to apologise for their activities but that there was scope for public regret.

The University of Kent lecturer added: “The British powers that be have always avoided talking about the bombings.

“We know the German people have already admitted their complicity and perhaps it is time for us to express regret.

“There is no doubt that the bombing of civilians was deliberate.”