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

Rachel Elizabeth Rackow

Rachel Elizabeth Rackow

Rachel Elizabeth Rackow was born on 5 July 1964, the youngest of the five children of Dr Francis Isidore Rackow (1922-2003) and Daphne Jean Rackow née Spittle (1928-2019). Her birth was registered ...

Person, Photography, Tragedy

1 memorial
George Lee

George Lee

For more information about this hero click on the picture of his plaque.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Herbert Peter Cazaly

Herbert Peter Cazaly

For more information about this hero click on the picture of his plaque.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Burns' Day Storm

Burns' Day Storm

Because this storm hit during the day-time it caused more human casualties than the Great Storm of 1987. Then the death toll was 22, compared with 47 on Burns' Day. Under other names (e.g. Daria) t...

Event, Tragedy

2 memorials
Sarah Anne Redheffer

Sarah Anne Redheffer

United Kingdom citizen who died in the terrorist attacks in America on 11 September 2001. She was born as Sarah Anne Prothero on 26 July 1966 in Oxford, Oxfordshire, a daughter of the Reverend Dav...

Person, Tragedy, USA

1 memorial

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Dr Alfred Salter

Dr Alfred Salter

Doctor and politician. Born at 23 South Street, Greenwich. Following his Quaker principles, he gave up a potentially brilliant medical career in order to tend the sick and needy in Bermondsey. He a...

Person, Medicine, Politics & Administration

7 memorials
Empire Windrush

Empire Windrush

Liner, built in Hamburg with the name 'Monte Rosa' as a luxury cruise ship. Many of the passengers in the early days were privileged members of the Nazi Party. She saw active service in WW2 and was...

Vehicle, Race Issues, Transport, Germany, Jamaica

8 memorials
King George IV

King George IV

Regent: 1811 - 1820. Reigned: 1820 - 1830. After secretly marrying Mrs Fitzherbert, he then officially married Princess Caroline of Brunswick. Built the Royal Pavilion at Brighton. A statue of him ...

Person, Race Issues, Royalty, Seriously Famous

17 memorials
Lord Grade

Lord Grade

Born Louis Winogradsky (anglicised as Lew Grade) in Tokmak, near Odessa, Ukraine. In 1912 his family emigrated to London to escape antisemitism. He started his career as a dancer and arranged enter...

Person, Cinema, TV & Radio, Ukraine

1 memorial