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

Michelle Dunlop

Michelle Dunlop

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
David Taylor

David Taylor

David Earl Taylor. Born Glasgow. Employed at the Silvertown Brunner Mond works and killed in the 1917 Silvertown explosion. Imperial War Museum has a page: "On January 29, the Birmingham Post wrote...

Person, Tragedy, Scotland

1 memorial
Lance Corporal Jeffrey Vernon Young

Lance Corporal Jeffrey Vernon Young

Andrew Behan has kindly carried out some research on this soldier: Born Bridgend, Glamorganshire. In early 1979 he married Judith Nash in Ogwr, Mid Glamorgan and they had two children. He died a da...

Person, Armed Forces, Tragedy

1 memorial
Neil Dowse

Neil Dowse

A sheet metal worker, killed in the Ladbroke Grove rail disaster, aged 39. Andrew Behan has kindly carried out further research: Neil Bernard Dowse was born on 4 November 1959. He was a sheet meta...

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial