The intention was clearly to inflict massive casualties among the German civil populace, although this was masked by the RAF's contention that the area-bombing raids were "de-housing" German industrial workers and as such residential suburbs of German cities were legitimate targets.
The intention was clearly to inflict massive casualties among the German civil populace in an attempt to demoralize the German home population. This attempt to bomb German civilians into surrender was masked by the RAF's contention that the area-bombing raids were "de-housing" German industrial workers and as such residential suburbs of German cities were legitimate targets.