Event    From 7/9/1940  To /5/1941

The Blitz

Categories: Tragedy

During WW2 Britain came under heavy bombing from Germany for 8 months, 1940-1941. This was called 'the Blitz' from the German word Blitzkrieg meaning 'lightning war'. London was particularly badly hit, especially at the start, being attacked every day/night of the first 57 days, except one. The objectives were the destruction of industrial targets, and to break the morale of the civilian population. But the Blitz failed, on both fronts, leaving London with extensive physical damage but a new psychological weapon, the Blitz spirit.

This interactive map shows all of the bombs dropped on London during the Blitz.

2019: Spitalfields Life posted a number of central London buildings that bear the scars of war.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
The Blitz

Commemorated ati

Abbey Road Depot - WW2 ARP members lost

Bill Wallis is described on the plaque as 'ARP Stretcher Bearer'. Which we ta...

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Balham Station bombing - 1

In memory of the 64 people killed at this station by a wartime bomb 14th Octo...

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Balham Station bombing - 2

{Beneath the London Transport logo:} In remembrance of the civilians and Lond...

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Balham Station bombing - 3

In remembrance of the civilians and London Transport staff who were killed at...

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Bank Station WW2 bomb

{Above the London Underground roundel:} In remembrance of the fifty six peopl...

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Show all 48

Other Subjects

Lieutenant Colonel David Waring Eustace, MBE.

Lieutenant Colonel David Waring Eustace, MBE.

David Waring Eustace was born on 2 July 1944 in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, a son of Colonel Frank Albert Eustace, OBE, Royal Marines, (1908-1976) and Rosemary Anne Eustace née King (1917-1978). His ...

Person, Armed Forces, Tragedy

1 memorial
Smithfield Market Fire, 1958

Smithfield Market Fire, 1958

On 23 January 1958, a fire broke out in the basement of Union Cold Storage Co at the Smithfield Poultry Market. The fire spread throughout the maze of basements under the market and burned for thre...

Event, Tragedy

1 memorial
1874 flood

1874 flood

From Environment Agency:  “In 1874, the tide in the Thames rose 4 feet 3½ inches above Trinity mark, and inundated the south bank of the river along Lambeth, Bankside, and Rotherhithe, and even as ...

Event, Tragedy

1 memorial
Emily Wilding Davison

Emily Wilding Davison

Militant suffragette. Born Roxburgh House, Vanbrugh Park Road, Greenwich (see Running Past for info about the house). Brought up in Hertfordshire until aged 11 when the family returned to London. H...

Person, Gender Issues, Politics & Administration, Tragedy

4 memorials