9th March 1945: USAF begin Operation Meetinghouse, the firebombing of Tokyo in the most destructive bombing raid in history

Approximately 300 B-52 bombers dropped thousands of tons of incendiaries over the eastern districts of Tokyo, causing firestorms that overwhelmed firefighting efforts and killed around 100,000 people, with many more injured.

13th February 1945: Allied bombing of Dresden begins during the final months of World War II

The destruction of Dresden was extensive, with vast areas of the city reduced to rubble. While some argue the attack was a necessary military operation to disrupt German supply lines and weaken morale, others contend that the scale of destruction and the civilian toll were disproportionate, particularly given the advanced stage of the war and Germany’s declining capacity to resist.