Video: 'The World At War Ep21 Nemesis' (Feb. 14, 1945, at 12:17 p.m. CET, at 1:17)

(Wednesday, February 14, 1945, 12:17 p.m. CET; during the Bombing of Dresden, part of strategic bombing during World War II) — American planes began bombing Dresden, Germany, this afternoon, following up on the previous night’s massive bombardment by Royal Air Force bombers.

In four raids between Feb. 13-15, 1945, 722 heavy bombers of the British Royal Air Force (RAF) and 527 of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) dropped more than 3,900 tons of high-explosive bombs and incendiary devices on the city.

The bombing and the resulting firestorm destroyed over 1,600 acres of the city center. An estimated 22,700 to 25,000 people were killed.