3 replies to this topic

[Mrs Faithorn]

AS/A2 students studying British Foreign Affairs between the Wars (1918-1939) and especially those focusing on Chamberlain and Appeasement may be interested to read the following article: The Bomber Theory.

Description:
Does the Bomber Theory help explain the British policy of Appeasement in the 1920s and 1930s?
A look at the evolution of air power, and the people behind the development of the Bomber Theory. Does the belief that 'the bomber wil always get through' help explain Chamberlain's actions? Does the RAF's need to justify its independence explain defence priorities in the 1920s and 1930s? A novel approach to the topic of Appeasement.

This is a free downloadable resource on a fairly new website, Burnt Cakes (shades of Alfred the Great!), which is the work of Alf Wilkinson and partners. Mr Wilkinson is a highly respected 'name' in the History Teaching world.

Edited by Mrs Faithorn, 15 May 2004 - 03:31 PM.

[manps]

A very good site, well worth visiting but it must also be noted that 'the bomber threat' didnt surface in the 30s but as early as 1920. This can be seen by the publication of Douhet's book, 'Command of the air' which talks about the threat of air bombing. - Very good book too!

[Mrs Faithorn]

.....but it must also be noted that 'the bomber threat' didnt surface in the 30s but as early as 1920.

I thought that was what this article was saying too ....... though I will concede that the factual examples given do tend to focus more on the '30s and that the examples from the '20s (eg Iraq) are less specific about dates.

[Mr. D. Bryant]

This is a free downloadable resource on a fairly new website, Burnt Cakes (shades of Alfred the Great!), which is the work of Alf Wilkinson and partners. Mr Wilkinson is a highly respected 'name' in the History Teaching world.

Unfortunately this website no longer exists. However, there is an article on Bomber Theory by Alf Wilkinson on the excellent Spartacus Schoolnet website. I don't know whether it's exactly the same one, but it does cover the same ground.