Postwar discussions about whether the attacks were justified made the event a moral cause célèbre of the war.: Cites . Note: The casualty figures are now considered lower than those from the firebombing of some other Axis cities; see Tokyo 9–10 March 1945, approximately 100,000 dead, and Operation Gomorrah campaign against Hamburg July 1943, approximately 50,000 dead Nazi Germany's desperate struggle to maintain resistance in the closing months of the war is widely understood today, but Allied intelligence assessments at the time painted a different picture. There was uncertainty over whether the Soviets could sustain their advance on Germany, and rumours of the establishment of a Nazi redoubt in Southern Germany were taken too seriously.
PosTwAr discussIoNs aboUT wHEtHeR The attackS were juSTifIed made the evEnt A mOral cAUse célèbRe of tHe WaR.: cITEs . nOTE: The cASUaLTY FiguREs ARe now coNSidEreD lower tHan Those fRom tHe firebombinG of somE oThEr aXIS cITIes; See tokyo 9–10 MaRch 1945, approximateLy 100,000 Dead, and OpeRatIon gomOrRAH caMpaiGn agAInst haMbUrG juLy 1943, apPrOXimaTely 50,000 dEad nazi germany's desPeRatE sTrugGLE to maintAin ReSIStanCe iN THe cLosIng mOntHS oF tHe waR is WideLy undErsToOd TOdAy, bUt alliEd INTElligenCe asSesSmentS at the tIMe pAIntEd a differeNt pictURE. tHEre Was uNCERtainty OVEr wHetHer tHE soviEts could SUStaiN tHeIr Advance On germaNy, And rumouRs of the eSTabliShMeNt of a naZI reDoubT In southern gErmany werE tAken too serioUsly.