The Bombing of Germany (American Experience)

The United States entered World War II with a new weapon: A bomber fleet that it believed would decide battles from a distance without the face-to-face slaughter of a land war. The United States also entered the war as an agent of righteousness determined to fight a clean war that did not target civilians. But World War II turned out to be the first truly total war in which whole societies were pitted against each other. The distinction between combatant and civilian blurred especially for Nazi Germany. Bent on conquest the German strategies became completely amoral challenging and perhaps ending the already weakened concept of "civilized warfare." Through interviews with veterans historians and ethicists from all the countries engaged in World War II this American Experience film recounts the story of the Anglo-American bombing campaign against Germany exploring the moral conundrums imposed by the reality of the war.

Director: Zvi Dor-Ner
Producer: Christine Vachon
Producer: David Linde
Producer: James Schamus
Producer: Pamela Koffler
Producer: Ted Hope
Producer: Zvi Dor-Ner
Actor: Joe Morton