9/11 Attack
On September 11, 2001, four American planes were hijacked by nineteen Al-Qaeda terrorists who carried out suicide attacks targeting the United States. Two passenger planes (American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175) crashed into the World Trade Center in New York, another (American Airlines Flight 77) into the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and the last plane (United Airlines Flight 93) in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Around 3,000 people died in the World Trade Center, 184 people in the Pentagon, and 45 people on Flight 93. "[When the towers collapse]), only six people in the World Trade Center towers...survived. Almost 10,000 others were treated for injuries, many severe…”(History Channel). It is thought that since the terrorists believed they could not attack the United States military, they chose to attack two symbols of America instead. “The twin towers, as the centerpieces of the World Trade Center, symbolized globalization and America’s economic power and prosperity…” (9/11 Memorial) and “The pentagon, as the headquarters for the U.S. Department of Defense, [serves] as a symbol of American military power…” (9/11 Memorial).
Timeline of September 11, 2001
8:46 - 1st plane(carrying 92 aboard) crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center
9:03 - 2nd plane(with 65 aboard) smashes into the South Tower
9:37 - 3rd plane crashes into the west side of the Pentagon military headquarters in Washington D.C.
9:59 - South tower collapses
10:20 - 4th plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after the passengers and flight attendants regain control of the plane - all 45 aboard killed instantly
10:28 - North Tower collapses
On May 2nd 2011 Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of these attacks, was finally tracked down and killed by Seal Team Six in Abbottabad, Pakistan. In September of 2011, a memorial was created in New York to honor those who died in the terrorist attack of 2001. The speaker at the event, Steve Maraboli, explained the impact of the 9/11 attack saying, “September 11...I will never forget feeling scared and vulnerable...I will never forget feeling the deep sad loss of so many lives… I will never forget the smell of the smoke that reached across the water and delivered a deep feeling of doom into my gut… I will never forget feeling the boosted sense of unity and pride… I will never forget seeing the courageous actions of so many men and women… I will never forget seeing people of all backgrounds working together in community… I will never forget seeing what hate can destroy… I will never forget seeing what love can heal…” (Steve Maraboli).
On September 11, 2001, four American planes were hijacked by nineteen Al-Qaeda terrorists who carried out suicide attacks targeting the United States. Two passenger planes (American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175) crashed into the World Trade Center in New York, another (American Airlines Flight 77) into the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and the last plane (United Airlines Flight 93) in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Around 3,000 people died in the World Trade Center, 184 people in the Pentagon, and 45 people on Flight 93. "[When the towers collapse]), only six people in the World Trade Center towers...survived. Almost 10,000 others were treated for injuries, many severe…”(History Channel). It is thought that since the terrorists believed they could not attack the United States military, they chose to attack two symbols of America instead. “The twin towers, as the centerpieces of the World Trade Center, symbolized globalization and America’s economic power and prosperity…” (9/11 Memorial) and “The pentagon, as the headquarters for the U.S. Department of Defense, [serves] as a symbol of American military power…” (9/11 Memorial).
Timeline of September 11, 2001
8:46 - 1st plane(carrying 92 aboard) crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center
9:03 - 2nd plane(with 65 aboard) smashes into the South Tower
9:37 - 3rd plane crashes into the west side of the Pentagon military headquarters in Washington D.C.
9:59 - South tower collapses
10:20 - 4th plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after the passengers and flight attendants regain control of the plane - all 45 aboard killed instantly
10:28 - North Tower collapses
On May 2nd 2011 Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of these attacks, was finally tracked down and killed by Seal Team Six in Abbottabad, Pakistan. In September of 2011, a memorial was created in New York to honor those who died in the terrorist attack of 2001. The speaker at the event, Steve Maraboli, explained the impact of the 9/11 attack saying, “September 11...I will never forget feeling scared and vulnerable...I will never forget feeling the deep sad loss of so many lives… I will never forget the smell of the smoke that reached across the water and delivered a deep feeling of doom into my gut… I will never forget feeling the boosted sense of unity and pride… I will never forget seeing the courageous actions of so many men and women… I will never forget seeing people of all backgrounds working together in community… I will never forget seeing what hate can destroy… I will never forget seeing what love can heal…” (Steve Maraboli).
Bombing of Dresden
On February 13, 1945, the Allied forced dropped a series of bombs on the German city of Dresden. More than 3,300 tons of bombs were dropped onto the city, creating a firestorm. Because it was so hot, the “surface of roads melted and fleeing people found that their feet burned as they ran” (History Learning Site). The number of deaths ranged between 35,000 to 135,000, but historians are not sure of an exact number because many unknown refugees hid in Dresden. Some historians say that this event can be seen as “the single most destructive bombing of the war- including Hiroshima and Nagasaki- and all the more horrendous because little, if anything, was accomplished strategically, since the Germans were already on the verge of surrender” (History.com).
A survivor, Rudolph Eichner said, “There were no warning sirens. We were completely surprised and rushed back down to the cellars of the hospital. But these quickly became hopelessly overcrowded with people who could no longer find shelter in their own burning buildings. The crush was unbearable, we were so tight you could not fall over. Apart from the fire risk, it was becoming increasingly impossible to breath in the cellar because the air was being pulled out by the increasing strength of the blaze. We could not stand up, we were on all fours, crawling. The wind was full of sparks and carrying bits of blazing furniture, debris and burning bits of bodies. There were charred bodies everywhere. The experience of the bombing was far worse than being on the Russian front, where I was a front-line machine gunner” (Rudolph Eichner).
On February 13, 1945, the Allied forced dropped a series of bombs on the German city of Dresden. More than 3,300 tons of bombs were dropped onto the city, creating a firestorm. Because it was so hot, the “surface of roads melted and fleeing people found that their feet burned as they ran” (History Learning Site). The number of deaths ranged between 35,000 to 135,000, but historians are not sure of an exact number because many unknown refugees hid in Dresden. Some historians say that this event can be seen as “the single most destructive bombing of the war- including Hiroshima and Nagasaki- and all the more horrendous because little, if anything, was accomplished strategically, since the Germans were already on the verge of surrender” (History.com).
A survivor, Rudolph Eichner said, “There were no warning sirens. We were completely surprised and rushed back down to the cellars of the hospital. But these quickly became hopelessly overcrowded with people who could no longer find shelter in their own burning buildings. The crush was unbearable, we were so tight you could not fall over. Apart from the fire risk, it was becoming increasingly impossible to breath in the cellar because the air was being pulled out by the increasing strength of the blaze. We could not stand up, we were on all fours, crawling. The wind was full of sparks and carrying bits of blazing furniture, debris and burning bits of bodies. There were charred bodies everywhere. The experience of the bombing was far worse than being on the Russian front, where I was a front-line machine gunner” (Rudolph Eichner).
Sources:
"9/11 Attacks Timeline in Pictures." National Politics. Chicago Tribune, n.d. Web. 2014. <http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/sns-9-11-timeline-pg%2C0%2C2868798.photogallery>.
"Firebombing of Dresden." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 27 May 2014.
McNeil, Elizabeth. "The Children of 9/11." : People.com. N.p., 12 Sept. 2011. Web. 27 May 2014.
Trueman, Chris. "The Bombing of Dresden." The Bombing of Dresden. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 May 2014.
"9/11 Attacks Timeline in Pictures." National Politics. Chicago Tribune, n.d. Web. 2014. <http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/sns-9-11-timeline-pg%2C0%2C2868798.photogallery>.
"Firebombing of Dresden." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 27 May 2014.
McNeil, Elizabeth. "The Children of 9/11." : People.com. N.p., 12 Sept. 2011. Web. 27 May 2014.
Trueman, Chris. "The Bombing of Dresden." The Bombing of Dresden. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 May 2014.