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

Neetu Jain

Neetu Jain

Neetu Jain was born on 23 May 1967 in New Delhi, India. Her parents, according to Find a Grave, were Ramsh and Vijay Jain. The family came to the United Kingdom the following year. Her obituary ca...

Person, Tragedy, India

3 memorials
Made Sujana

Made Sujana

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Annie Short

Annie Short

Drowned in the 1898 HMS Albion disaster, aged 33. Buried in grave 5 at the memorial in East London Cemetery.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Bdsm. George James Mesure

Bdsm. George James Mesure

Born Redruth, Cornwall. He died aged 19 years, killed by the IRA Regent's Park bomb.

Person, Armed Forces, Tragedy

1 memorial
Archway V2 attack, 1944

Archway V2 attack, 1944

The bomb landed at the junction of Boothby, Giesbach and Grovedale Roads, with residents from the adjacent St John’s Way also suffering in the attack. 35 adults and children died, and 219 were inju...

Event, Tragedy

1 memorial

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Dr. William Hunter

Dr. William Hunter

William Hunter was born on 23 May 1718 at Long Calderwood, East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, the seventh child of John Hunter (1673-1741) and Agnes Hunter née Paul (1691-1751). William H...

Person, Medicine, Scotland

2 memorials
Emma Trotter

Emma Trotter

Married to Robert Trotter and widowed in 1877.  See Robert's page for more information.

Person, Benefactor, Friend / family

1 memorial
Dickens Fellowship

Dickens Fellowship

A worldwide association of people who share an interest in the life and works of Charles Dickens, based at the Charles Dickens Museum since 1925.

Group, Community / Clubs, Literature

3 memorials
George Green School

George Green School

Founded by shipbuilder George Green as an infants' school, at the corner of Chrisp Street and East India Dock Road. Further premises were used in Prestons Road. The school outgrew those premises (n...

Building, Education

3 memorials