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.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

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...

Read More

Balham Station bombing - 1

In memory of the 64 people killed at this station by a wartime bomb 14th Octo...

Read More

Balham Station bombing - 2

{Beneath the London Transport logo:} In remembrance of the civilians and Lond...

Read More

Balham Station bombing - 3

In remembrance of the civilians and London Transport staff who were killed at...

Read More

Bank Station WW2 bomb

{Above the London Underground roundel:} In remembrance of the fifty six peopl...

Read More

Show all 53

Other Subjects

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

402 memorials
Lear Nadel

Lear Nadel

Killed in the Camberwell Green air-raid, aged 58.

Person, Tragedy

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
Wayan Tamba

Wayan Tamba

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Godfrey Fitz

Godfrey Fitz

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial

Previously viewed

John Nash

John Nash

Born in London. Notable works: Regent Street, Royal Opera Arcade and the Royal Pavilion, Brighton. Much of his work was for the Prince Regent but we've heard that Mrs Nash gave birth to an illegiti...

Person, Architecture, Seriously Famous

7 memorials
Frank Matcham

Frank Matcham

Theatre architect. Born Newton Abbot, Devon. Never qualified as an architect but designed at least 80 theatres and did some work on about the same number again. About 24 of his theatres survive rea...

Person, Architecture, Theatre

10 memorials
William Pugh

William Pugh

Co-churchwarden of the Surrey Chapel parish in 1820.

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Queen Alexandra

Queen Alexandra

Wife of Edward VII, mother of George V. Born at the Amalienborg Palace, Copenhagen, Denmark. As an adult gradually became profoundly deaf.   It is said the Queen Victoria learnt the British Sign La...

Person, Royalty, Denmark

10 memorials
Boris Karloff

Boris Karloff

Actor. Born as William Henry Pratt at the house with the plaque. His acting career began in the theatre in Canada, where he adopted his stage name. Arriving in Hollywood he appeared in dozens of si...

Person, Cinema, Seriously Famous, Theatre, TV & Radio, Canada, USA

1 memorial