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

Donald Robert Prevost

Donald Robert Prevost

Donald Robert Prevost was born on 27 May 1922 the eldest of the three children of Robert Henry William Prevost (1894-1972) and Daisy Alice Prevost née Poole (1896-1976). His birth was registered in...

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Boylett Herbert Jupe

Boylett Herbert Jupe

Electrician on the RMS Titanic. A full résumé of his life can be found on the Encyclopedia Titanica website. He is also commemorated on the Engineers Memorial, Andrews East Park, Above Bar Street,...

Person, Engineering, Tragedy

1 memorial
Bradley Charles Ridley

Bradley Charles Ridley

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Atique Sharifi

Atique Sharifi

Although commemorated on plaques as Atiq Sharifi, he was born as Atique Sharifi on 1 January 1981 in Afghanistan and entered the UK as a refugee in 2002. Living in Hounslow, he was a student at Wes...

Person, Tragedy, Afghanistan

3 memorials
Graham Gore

Graham Gore

Role on the lost expedition: Officer on SS Erebus. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial

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Elsie Naisbett MBE

Elsie Naisbett MBE

Tenant activist.  Lived on the Studley Estate in Stockwell for 47 years, and helped a number of estates to transfer to being run by housing associations, along with investment from the Labour gover...

Person, Social Welfare

1 memorial
City of London Coal Exchange

City of London Coal Exchange

Designed by J. B. Bunning and opened in 1849 in Lower Thames Street, demolished in 1963. Our Picture source examines all the interesting buildings on this section of Lower Thames Street.

Building, Commerce

1 memorial
Victoria & Albert Museum

Victoria & Albert Museum

The South Kensington Museum opened on this site in 1857. It expanded and was renamed the Victoria & Albert Museum in 1899. A further expansion by Aston Webb opened in 1909. Also see Francis Fow...

Building, Museums / Libraries

4 memorials
Lee Rigby

Lee Rigby

Soldier. Born as Lee James McClure (he later took his stepfather's surname) in Crumpsall, Manchester. He joined the army in 2006, and was selected to be a member of the Corps of Drums, serving in C...

Person, Armed Forces, Tragedy

3 memorials
World War 1

World War 1

We'd always assumed that this war was known as the Great War until WW2 came along at which point it was renamed as World War One or the First World War. But the term was first used in print in 1920...

Event, Armed Forces, Tragedy

403 memorials