<P> During World War II , it was believed by many military strategists of air power that major victories could be won by attacking industrial and political infrastructure , rather than purely military targets . Strategic bombing often involved bombing areas inhabited by civilians and some campaigns were deliberately designed to target civilian populations in order to terrorize and disrupt their usual activities . International law at the outset of World War II did not specifically forbid aerial bombardment of cities despite the prior occurrence of such bombing during World War I , the Spanish Civil War , and the Second Sino - Japanese War . </P>
<P> During World War II , it was believed by many military strategists of air power that major victories could be won by attacking industrial and political infrastructure , rather than purely military targets . Strategic bombing often involved bombing areas inhabited by civilians and some campaigns were deliberately designed to target civilian populations in order to terrorize and disrupt their usual activities . International law at the outset of World War II did not specifically forbid aerial bombardment of cities despite the prior occurrence of such bombing during World War I , the Spanish Civil War , and the Second Sino - Japanese War . </P>
why did civilians become targets in world war 2
why did civilians become targets in world war 2
in order to terrorize and disrupt their usual activities
in order to terrorize and disrupt their usual activities