Slaughterhouse Five Lesson Plan

Why is it ironic that the American POWs were among the only survivors of the Dresden firebombing?

The American POWs were being held as prisoners in Dresden. Meanwhile, all the Germans, free and feeling safe in their homes, died in the firebombing. The Americans survived because of where they were located, in the meatpacker of Slaughterhouse Five. Perhaps even more ironic is the fact that the rest of the city, including mostly German civilians, were slaughtered, and those in the slaughterhouse were the only survivors.

Why do you think Billy’s reaction to the Febs singing at his anniversary party is so intense? How does this connect to the “great big secret somewhere...