MEANINGLESS OF THE BOMBARDMENT IN HISTORY

Dr. Predrag Markovic
Institute for Contemporary History

History of the Belgrade and Serbian people is permeated with war and bloodshed. Ironically, Belgrade is the first capital city in Europe that has been bombed in the 20th century (and hopefully the last one). On July 28, 1914 bombs fired on Belgrade from Austro-Hungarian river boats marked the beginning of the First World War, almost a week before the start of the operations elsewhere. Belgrade was bombed throughout 1914 and 1915.

However, the 20th century introduced a new conception of the bombing campaigns. Since introduction of the canons in the army arsenals, bombardment of the cities was purposed either to make breach in the city walls, (as in Constantinople), or to be demonstration of power (like in numerous colonial wars). In the 20th century, bombardment of the cities was designed to terrorize and demoralize civilian population.

The development of the aviation made possible air raids. Mass air raids were tested in Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) by Luftwaffe. Public opinion reacted strongly against it , especially in artistic and intellectual circles (Gernica), but democratic governments, did not.

In the Second World War, Belgrade did not avoid the fate of many cities in occupied Europe. In April 1941, Luftwaffe grounded this city. Furthermore, Allies heavily bombed Belgrade, on Passion Sunday 1944. Very few German soldiers died, unlikely hundreds of civilians. Such “collateral damage” was rather common in those days. Some French ports were completely destroyed, but German garrisons in this towns were unharmed. Even in Germany itself, when military capacity is concerned, bombing campaigns were spectacularly ineffective until the last year of the war. The most terrible bombing, that of Dresden in Spring 1945, is characteristic case of the absurdity: whole city has been burned, in spite of the fact that there was no German army, only civilians and refugees. Hiroshima and Nagasaki were also victims of the first Cold War tensions. Namely, according to recent studies, real purpose of their annihilation was to impress Soviets, and to probe the most expensive weapon in previous history (over $2 billions was spent, which was fore example, more than complete Japanese military production in 1941).

Bombing campaigns did not prevent final victory of Vietcong. They did not overthrow Saddam Hussein either. They are by no means beneficial for the Kosovo refugees , let alone entire Yugoslav population, that suffers regardless political and national belonging.

Therefore, stories about “collateral damage” and “collateral victims” is supreme cynicism. Indeed, civilans ARE real target of each bombing campaign.