Unfortunately, he kind of did, but in a totally accidental way. I think the message of the book (and Vonnegut's real experience) totally stands on its own regardless.
But the number of deaths in the book are now known to be inflated and inaccurate. Vonnegut based his research on a leading historian who was considered an expert on Dresden, David Irving. Decades later, Irving is infamous for being a Nazi apologist who uncritically accepts Goebbels's propaganda at face value and any numbers he comes up with should be thrown in the garbage can. But Vonnegut didn't know that at the time. I'm sure for Vonnegut, living through the bombing, the larger number felt more accurate.
A quick googling (don't cite me) puts the numbers at around ~25,000 dead vs. ~135,000 dead.
Unfortunately, he kind of did, but in a totally accidental way. I think the message of the book (and Vonnegut's real experience) totally stands on its own regardless.
But the number of deaths in the book are now known to be inflated and inaccurate. Vonnegut based his research on a leading historian who was considered an expert on Dresden, David Irving. Decades later, Irving is infamous for being a Nazi apologist who uncritically accepts Goebbels's propaganda at face value and any numbers he comes up with should be thrown in the garbage can. But Vonnegut didn't know that at the time. I'm sure for Vonnegut, living through the bombing, the larger number felt more accurate.
A quick googling (don't cite me) puts the numbers at around ~25,000 dead vs. ~135,000 dead.
Oof that's a rough one.