New ebook: The Dam Busters. 70th Anniversary. (May 2013).

[Roger Dyer]

Alex, your reference to the 1650 'German' civilians killed as a result of the Dambuster raid tends to misinform the reader somewhat. Perhaps, it is pertinent to mention that included in that number were 749 French, Belgian, Dutch and Ukrainians who were either P.O.W.'s or forced-labourers (most of the Ukranians were women). No doubt for them it was, indeed, a tragedy. The raid, brilliantly conceived and executed, created considerable damage and, initially, for the Germans, must have seemed catastrophic, however, history will record that approximately three months after the event German war production in the Ruhr Valley was back to normal. History might also record that 40% of the Allied airmen who were involved in the operation did not return from the raid, having been either killed or taken prisoner. It's value as a morale-booster to the Allied cause was/is incalculable. It is to be hoped that the raid and the brave souls who carried it out shall forever be held as an example of British and Allied courage and devotion to duty during one of the darkest periods in world history.

[cappy]

new a lvely german bird who lived in a village they found the village about 2 or 3 feet of waterafter the bombing but it soon disappeared but she said they were beaten then and they knew it my mothers brother was a 2nd mate at sea they were looking for navigators so he joined and went to Canada to fly he went thro the war a truly charmed life butmany unhappy and terrifying times later joined the river tyne police a truly big man in all ways regards cappy