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

Walter Henry Hathaway

Walter Henry Hathaway

Passenger killed in the Handley Page V/1500 air-crash. Walter Henry Hathaway was born on 16 November 1884 in Alderminster, Worcestershire (now Warwickshire), the fifth of the six children of John ...

Person, Aviation, Tragedy

1 memorial
Iqbal

Iqbal

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Edward Morris

Edward Morris

For more information about this hero click on the picture of his plaque.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Jonathan Mark Ellwood

Jonathan Mark Ellwood

British, killed by the Bali bomb, age 37.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Ada Rosa van Dantzig

Ada Rosa van Dantzig

Dantzig was a Dutch Jew who came to London to study. She returned to the Netherlands intending to help her family flee the Nazis. Instead she was captured and killed in Auschwitz, Poland, with most...

Person, Tragedy, Netherlands, Poland

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial

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William Henry Grimbaldeston, VC

William Henry Grimbaldeston, VC

Awarded the VC for his heroism on 16 August 1917, age 27, while serving in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers. "In spite of heavy fire from a blockhouse, he pressed on towards its entrance, threaten...

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
Soweto children killed in 1976

Soweto children killed in 1976

Soweto is a township of Johannesburg, South Africa. At least 176 people were killed during a protest about the introduction of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in local schools. Of these, 116...

Group, Children, Tragedy, South Africa

1 memorial
Hampstead Police Force

Hampstead Police Force

British History Online provides a quite detailed history of the police force and where it was located.

Group, Armed Forces

2 memorials
Dr. John Snow

Dr. John Snow

Pioneer anaesthetist and epidemiologist. Born North Street in York. The site given as the source for the picture of Snow is an excellent site.

Person, Medicine

6 memorials
Aldersgate

Aldersgate

Sometimes used as a prison and to display the remains of gruesomely executed traitors. Taken down and rebuilt in 1617, damaged in the Great Fire of 1666 but not finally removed until 1761, to impro...

Building, London Wall

1 memorial