The industry in Coventry, especially the motor industry and its related manufacturing workshops were a major contributor to our war effort in WWII, it’s no surprise that the Germans bombed it. As for Dresden, I understood that it was a major railhead and they had ball bearing factories there, the loss of which would be a blow to their faltering war effort. I also believe that we bombed Dresden at least in part, due to pressure from the Soviets to soften the Germans up prior to them taking the city.