Singleton - World War Two
World War Two, Second World War, W.W.II
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The Singleton Report, May 20, 1942 Mr. Justice Singleton was asked to offer independent advice to the British war cabinet on the prospects of the bombing offensive. I do not think it [the bombing offensive] ought to be regarded as of itself sufficient to win the war or to produce decisive results; the area is too vast for the effort we can put forth: on the other hand, if Germany does not achieve great success on land before the winter it may well turn out to have a decisive effect, and in the meantime, if carried out on the lines suggested, it must impede Germany and help Russia. If Germany succeeds in her attack on Russia there will be little apparent gain from our bombing policy in six months' time, but the drain on Germany will be present all the time: and if Russia stands it will remain a powerful weapon on our hands. It is impossible to say what its effect will be in twelve or eighteen months without considering the position of Russia. If Russia can hold Germany on land I doubt whether Germany will stand twelve or eighteen months' continuous, intensified and increased bombing, affecting, as it must, her war production, her power of resistance, her industries and her will to resist (by which I mean morale). |
