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

Herman Wallace

Herman Wallace

In 1972 a prison guard was murdered in Angola Prison, Louisiana, USA, where Herman Wallace, Robert King, and Albert Woodfox were prisoners.  Wallace and Woodfox were convicted of the murder; King w...

Person, Law, Race Issues, Tragedy, USA

4 memorials
V1 and V2 rockets

V1 and V2 rockets

The V1 and V2 rockets were developed as a reaction to the heavy allied bombing of German cities towards the end of WW2. (V stands for Vergeltungswaffe - retribution weapon'). In total, over 3,000 V...

Event, Tragedy

28 memorials
Julian Kent Tremain

Julian Kent Tremain

Julian Kent Tremain was born on 30 September 1960 in Pittsburgh, County Allegheny, Pennsylvania, USA, the son of Gordon Hoyland Tremain (1942-2006) and Monica Anne Tremain née Sones (1940-2011). H...

Person, Tragedy, USA

1 memorial
Stn. O. Jack Fourt-Wells

Stn. O. Jack Fourt-Wells

Jack Fourt-Wells was born on 4 May 1911. He married Winifred Elsie Seward (1916-1993) and their marriage is recorded in the 2nd quarter of 1939 in the Pancras registration district. The 1939 Englan...

Person, Emergency Services, Tragedy

2 memorials
Alexander Williamson Fallon

Alexander Williamson Fallon

Alexander Williamson Fallon was born in 1914 in Falkirk, Scotland. He was married with four daughters. His wife, Janet, died about 1974 and he drifted into homelessness in London in the 1980's. He...

Person, Tragedy, Scotland

1 memorial

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Rodney's Head

Rodney's Head

EC1, Old Street, 12

1876 is incised into the stone work of the building.

2 subjects commemorated
Southwark Council

Southwark Council

The London Borough of Southwark was created as an amalgamation of the Metropolitan Boroughs of Southwark, Camberwell and Bermondsey. Southwark council annually invites proposals for new plaques fro...

Group, Politics & Administration

91 memorials
Daily Express

Daily Express

The first edition of the Daily Express was published in Fleet Street. It was one of the first papers in Britain to carry gossip, sports, women's features and a crossword. Their magnificent 1932 bu...

Media, Journalism / Publishing

2 memorials
Wandsworth Council

Wandsworth Council

London borough. Formed from the former Metropolitan Borough of Battersea and much of the former area of the Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth.

Group, Politics & Administration

21 memorials