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

Christine Granville

Christine Granville

Wartime special agent. Britain’s first and longest-serving female WW2 secret agent. Born Maria Krystyna Janina Skarbek in Warsaw. When Germany invaded Poland her family moved to London and she joi...

Person, Espionage, Tragedy, Egypt, France, Hungary, Poland, Turkey

War served, WW2
1 memorial
Charles Melville Hays

Charles Melville Hays

Railway president. Born in Rock Island, Illinois. He started working on the railroads at the age of 17, and progressed through the business, eventually becoming the General Manager of the Grand Tru...

Person, Tragedy, Transport, Canada, USA

1 memorial
Alexander Paterson

Alexander Paterson

Role on the lost expedition: Royal marine on SS Erebus. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial
Mala Ashok Trivedi

Mala Ashok Trivedi

Mala Ashok Amin was born on 17 August 1953 in Narobi, Kenya. She married Ashok Trivedi in 1975 and the Civil Registration Marriage Index shows that in the 3rd quarter of 1975 a Malaben R. V. Amin w...

Person, Tragedy, Kenya

3 memorials
Deborah Lea Snodgrass

Deborah Lea Snodgrass

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Fan Makers' Company Hall

Fan Makers' Company Hall

The earliest record for the Fan Makers Company is in 1670 when they raised a petition to Parliament complaining about the threat to their industry from foreign imports. The Fan Makers' Hall in Red ...

Group, Craft / Design, Liveries & Guilds

2 memorials
Les Stone

Les Stone

First chairman of the Creekmouth Preservation Society.

Person, History

1 memorial
Edward W. Godwin

Edward W. Godwin

Architect-designer. Born Edward William Godwin in Bristol and moved to London about 1862. Widowed in 1865 he had an affair 1868-74 with Ellen Terry, married to, but separated from, G. F. Watts at t...

Person, Architecture

1 memorial
American Society of Civil Engineers

American Society of Civil Engineers

Founded to represent members of the civil engineering profession worldwide. Based in Reston, Virginia, it is probably the oldest national engineering society in the United States.

Group, Engineering

1 memorial
Thomas Faryner and his shop

Thomas Faryner and his shop

Born 1615-6, Thomas Faryner (or Farriner) joined the Baker's Company in 1637, and by 1649 had his own bakery/shop/home on Pudding Lane. It seems that someone failed properly to extinguish a fire in...

Building, Food & Drink, Tragedy

3 memorials