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

Bob Sharp

Bob Sharp

Robert John Sharp was born on 24 November 1924. Telephone directories from 1969 show him listed at 52 Garth Lane, Lower Morden, Surrey. He died, aged 50 years, on 6 August 1975 when he and his co...

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Michael Minh Matsushita

Michael Minh Matsushita

Michael Minh Matsushita was born on 25 May 1968 in Vietnam, the son of a South Vietnamese soldier killed in the conflict when he was just five months old. At the age of three, he and his mother, Mu...

Person, Tragedy, USA, Vietnam

3 memorials
Anthony Scott Stewart

Anthony Scott Stewart

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Robert Hubert

Robert Hubert

A watchmaker from Rouen, France, who was executed following his false confession of starting the Great Fire of London. There were many obvious flaws and impossibilities in Hubert's confession. He h...

Person, Tragedy, France

1 memorial
Watney Market sewer deaths

Watney Market sewer deaths

Initially we could find very little information about the event in which these 3 men died. From Labour Net: "Fellow worker Paul Barker (aged 20) was the only one of the four to survive the hydrogen...

Event, Tragedy

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Hotel Russell - Queen Victoria

Hotel Russell - Queen Victoria

WC1, Russell Square, 1-8

This ornate extravaganza, designed by the splendidly named Fitzroy Doll, was built in 1898. Ornamental Passions has a good post about the...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II

Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II

Our picture shows Queen Elizabeth II in the River Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant which took place in the cold and pouring rain on 3 June. Diamond represents 60 years.

Event, Royalty

20 memorials