Definition

Proper noun A British military commander who served as Marshal of the Royal Air Force. He is historically significant for his role in World War II, where he oversaw and advocated for the strategic bombing campaign against German cities, a policy that led to substantial destruction and loss of civilian life.

Usage Examples

• Historical accounts often debate the strategic necessity and moral implications of Sir Arthur Travers Harris's bombing campaign.
• Sir Arthur Travers Harris, known as "Bomber Harris," was a controversial figure due to his unwavering commitment to area bombing.
• The statue of Sir Arthur Travers Harris in London has been both a site of commemoration and protest.

Advanced Usage

• "Harris's strategy": Often used to refer specifically to the doctrine of nighttime area bombing of urban centers, as opposed to precision bombing of military targets.
  • The effectiveness of Harris's strategy remains a major point of contention among military historians.
• "In the mold of Harris": Used to describe a military or strategic approach characterized by a belief in the decisive power of overwhelming aerial bombardment.
  • The general's advocacy for massive air power was very much in the mold of Harris.

Variants and Related Words

• Bomber Harris (noun): The common and widely recognized nickname for Sir Arthur Travers Harris.
  • "Bomber Harris" firmly believed that strategic bombing could win the war.
• Harrisian (adjective, rare): Pertaining to or characteristic of the strategies or beliefs of Arthur Harris.
  • A Harrisian approach to air power.

Synonyms

• 1st Baronet (title): Refers to his hereditary title, as he was made a baronet in 1953.
• Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Bomber Command: His official title during the key period of WWII (1942-1945).

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "The Harris doctrine": A phrase used in historical and military analysis to describe the philosophy of strategic area bombardment he championed.
  • The debate over the Harris doctrine touches on ethics, military efficacy, and the nature of total war.

Noun

1. British marshal of the Royal Air Force; during World War II he directed mass bombing raids against German cities that resulted in heavy civilian casualties (1892-1984)