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

William Patrick Kelly

William Patrick Kelly

Assistant Electrician on the RMS Titanic. A full résumé of his life can be found on the Encyclopedia Titanica website. He is also commemorated on the Engineers Memorial, Andrews East Park, Above B...

Person, Engineering, Tragedy, Ireland, Scotland

1 memorial
Mark Slavin

Mark Slavin

Wrestler. Born in Minsk, Belarus SSR. Winner of the Soviet Greco-Roman wrestling middleweight junior championship in 1971. He moved to Israel to join their Olympic team. Murdered by Palestinian ter...

Person, Sport / Games, Tragedy, Germany, Israel/Palestine

1 memorial
Paul Isaac Garrett

Paul Isaac Garrett

Paul Isaac Garrett was born on 16 November 1947 in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, USA, the son of Ernest E Garrett (1926-2015) and Nadine Garrett. Our Picture Source informs that he started ...

Person, Aviation, Tragedy, Scotland, USA

1 memorial
Jon Choi
1 memorial

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Corporation of the City of London

Corporation of the City of London

The municipal governing body of the City of London. Officially the 'Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London'. In 2006 the name was changed from just 'Corporation of London' to disti...

Group, Commerce, Politics & Administration

184 memorials
William de Morgan

William de Morgan

Potter, tile designer and novelist. Born 69 Gower Street as William Frend de Morgan, to the mathematician Augustus de Morgan. Lifelong friend of William Morris, he designed tiles, stained glass an...

Person, Craft / Design, Literature

23 memorials
Charles Arnold

Charles Arnold

We found nothing on this man (too common a name) and even our colleague Andrew Behan who normally digs up good stuff found very little with a certain connection to the plaque: On 29 September 1939...

Person

1 memorial
Dame Myra Hess

Dame Myra Hess

Pianist. Born Julia Myra Hess in South Hampstead. She studied at the Guildhall School of Music and the Royal Academy of Music. During WW2, when concert halls were blacked out at night, she organise...

Person, Music / songs

1 memorial