7. The Area Bombing Directive specifically called for targeting civilian residential areas
The Area Bombing Directive was issued by the British Air Ministry in February 1942. It was amended several times over the remainder of the war, mostly changing priority targets. Cities and infrastructure in France, Germany, and Czechoslovakia were identified as targets, and changed as they were damaged or destroyed. Italian targets were identified as well. The use of incendiaries was specified for some targets. The Area Bombing Directive dictated a change of RAF tactics which remained in effect for the rest of the war. Raids against, for example, a tank factory were directed at the city in which the factory was located, rather than the factory itself.
Bombing the area around a shipyard was deemed more effective than bombing the shipyard’s docks, warehouses, and shops. By May, 1942, cities in all occupied countries were included as targets for wide-area bombing. There was little debate in Parliament or the press regarding the RAF’s clear shift to concentrating on bombing civilian areas as official policy. The intent was clearly spelled out, wide-area bombing was to “focus attacks on the morale of the enemy civil population and in particular the industrial workers”. Air Marshal Harris welcomed the directive as freeing his hands.
