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

London Bridge head spikes

London Bridge head spikes

Traitors’ heads used to be displayed on spikes on London Bridge, at the Stone Gateway on the south bank.  This merry London ritual began in about 1300 and continued until about 1660.  The lofty hea...

Place, Tragedy

1 memorial
Sir Louis Stanley Johnson

Sir Louis Stanley Johnson

Solicitor and Conservative Party politician. Member of Hackney Council. Mayor of Hackney 1914-19. MP for  Walthamstow East 1918-24. Knighted 1920. Died by suicide with a gun to his head, at his hom...

Person, Politics & Administration, Tragedy

1 memorial
Gian Andrea Rupp

Gian Andrea Rupp

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Mugianto

Mugianto

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Thomas Evans

Thomas Evans

Role on the lost expedition: Boy on SS Terror. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial

Previously viewed

'Father' Henry Willis

'Father' Henry Willis

Organ builder. Born north-west London. His first London workshop was in Foundling Terrace, Gray's Inn Road. Then when he got the commission to build the large organ for the Great Exhibition he move...

Person, Craft / Design, Music / songs

1 memorial
Simon Wolff

Simon Wolff

N6, Archway Road

This object is known as an armillary sphere, or astrolab - a skeletal celestial sphere showing the rotation of the heavenly bodies, aroun...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Tower Hamlets Community Housing Ltd

Tower Hamlets Community Housing Ltd

THCH is a charitable housing provider managing over 3,000 homes exclusively in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Established in 2000 as part of a Government programme to transfer housing from lo...

Group, Social Welfare

19 memorials
Aneurin Bevan

Aneurin Bevan

Politician. Born at 32 Charles Street, Tredegar, Wales. Known as Nye. He began work in the coal mines at the age of 13, becoming Chairman of the Miners' Lodge, leading them in the general strike of...

Person, Politics & Administration, Wales

2 memorials
George Alfred Altass
War dead, WW2
1 memorial