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

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Thames Tunnel Flood - 1828

Thames Tunnel Flood - 1828

During construction, the tunnel was flooded on six separate occasions the worst being the second flooding, on 12 January 1828, in which six workmen died. "Near shift change. Isambard was in the sh...

Event, Engineering, Tragedy

1 memorial
Rosa Luxemburg

Rosa Luxemburg

Revolutionary socialist. Born Rozalia Luksenburg, she was a Polish and naturalised-German orthodox Marxist, and anti-War activist during WW1. She became a key figure of the revolutionary socialist ...

Person, Execution, Politics & Administration, Tragedy, Germany, Poland, Russia

1 memorial
RMS Titanic Engineers

RMS Titanic Engineers

The team led by Chief Engineer Joseph Bell comprised 24 engineers, 6 electrical engineers, two boilermakers, a plumber and a clerk. When the ship foundered, they all (including those off-duty) stru...

Group, Tragedy, Transport

1 memorial
Asım Bezirci

Asım Bezirci

66 years old, researcher and writer

Person, Tragedy, Turkey

1 memorial

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University Boat Race

University Boat Race

A race on the River Thames, now run annually between Oxford and Cambridge universities. It was started by Charles Merivale, a student at Cambridge and Charles Wordsworth from Oxford. The gruelling ...

Event, Sport / Games

2 memorials
Matilda Young

Matilda Young

Drowned in the 1898 HMS Albion disaster, aged 23. Buried in grave 1 at the memorial in East London Cemetery.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial