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.

The Library Time Machine has a lovely post about the Home front volunteers in Chelsea, 1940s.

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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 53

Other Subjects

Sereina Liesch

Sereina Liesch

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
John Christopher Moran

John Christopher Moran

United Kingdom citizen who died in the terrorist attacks in America on 11 September 2001. Christopher John Moran was born on 25 May 1963 in Maidstone, Kent. He was the son of Michael J. Moran and ...

Person, Tragedy, USA

1 memorial
Dorothy 'Cherry' Groce

Dorothy 'Cherry' Groce

Shooting victim. She was shot by the Metropolitan Police, on 28 September 1985, while they were searching for her son who was suspected of firearm offences. This led to the 1985 Brixton riot. She w...

Person, Race Issues, Tragedy, Caribbean Islands

1 memorial
Paul Isaac Garrett

Paul Isaac Garrett

Paul Isaac Garrett was born on 16 November 1947 in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, USA, the son of Ernest E Garrett (1926-2015) and Nadine Garrett. Our Picture Source informs that he started ...

Person, Aviation, Tragedy, Scotland, USA

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Archery practice

Archery practice

From the Norman period, at least, until the introduction of firearms in the 16th century, some version of the longbow was the long-distance weapon of choice.  The last recorded use in England seems...

Event, Armed Forces

4 memorials
Charles de Gaulle

Charles de Gaulle

Born Lille, France. Height 6 ft, 5 inches, nicknamed Le Grande Asperge. President of France 1958-69. Just like Queen Wilhelmina, while in London he used the BBC to send popular messages of resistan...

Person, Armed Forces, Politics & Administration, Seriously Famous, France

5 memorials
Lady Margaret Macdonald Casson

Lady Margaret Macdonald Casson

Born as Margaret Macdonald Troup on 26 September 1913 in Pretoria, South Africa, she was the second of the three daughters of Dr James Macdonald Troup (1867-1945) and Alberta Beatrice Caroline Trou...

Person, Craft / Design, Education, Friend / family, South Africa

1 memorial
King Henry VIII

King Henry VIII

Son of Henry VII. Born Born Greenwich Palace, as the spare, not the heir but his brother Arthur predeceased him and their father, aged 15, but not before marrying Catherine of Aragon, who later in ...

Person, Royalty, Seriously Famous

23 memorials
British Film Institute

British Film Institute

In 1996 the BFI erected 126 plaques across Britain to commemorate the centenary of cinema. See the pdf.

Group, Cinema, Museums / Libraries

16 memorials