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

murder of 11 Israeli athletes at Munich Olympics

murder of 11 Israeli athletes at Munich Olympics

Early on the morning of 5th September 1972 eight members of Black September, a Palestinian terrorist organization, took hostage 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team.  By the end of the day all th...

Event, Terrorism, Tragedy

1 memorial
Dudgeon's Wharf explosion

Dudgeon's Wharf explosion

J. & W. Dudgeon were shipbuilders on the Thames. The company passed through several hands, eventually becoming a large complex of oil storage tanks, but retaining Dudgeon's name. Amazingly they...

Event, Tragedy

2 memorials
Thomas Griffin

Thomas Griffin

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

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Driver Pickering

Driver Pickering

Royal Engineer killed by an exploding bomb while assisting in the attempt to disarm it. Andrew Behan has kindly carried out some research on this man (and points out that our source for the list o...

Person, Armed Forces, Tragedy

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Anat Rosenberg

Anat Rosenberg

Anat Rosenberg was born on 22 July 1965 in Hadera, Israel and came to London in 1990. She was an administrator for the charity NCH Action for Children (now called Action for Children) and lived in ...

Person, Tragedy, Israel/Palestine

3 memorials

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Michelangelo

Michelangelo

Sculptor, painter, architect and poet.

Person, Architecture, Art, Engineering, Poetry, Sculpture, Seriously Famous, Italy

5 memorials
John Fox Burgoyne

John Fox Burgoyne

Born London, illegitimate son of General John Burgoyne. Served in Ireland as civil administrator, fought in the Crimean War. Died 5 Pembridge Square.

Person, Armed Forces, Politics & Administration, Crimea, Ireland

1 memorial
Lewis Cubitt

Lewis Cubitt

Architect.  Younger brother of Thomas.  Designed King's Cross station, the Great Northern Hotel and the granary building just to the north in the King’s Cross railway lands, all now restored.   The...

Person, Architecture

1 memorial
Sir Horace Jones

Sir Horace Jones

Architect. Born 15 Size Lane, Bucklersbury, EC4. Did a lot of work in the City, at Guildhall and Smithfield, Billingsgate, Leadenhall Markets, the Guildhall School of Music, Tower Bridge. President...

Person, Architecture

5 memorials