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

Calvin Dawson

Calvin Dawson

United Kingdom citizen who died in the terrorist attacks in America on 11 September 2001. Calvin Dawson was born on 2 March 1955 and grew up with his mother, Idialia Dawson, in the British Virgin ...

Person, Tragedy, USA, Virgin Islands

1 memorial
Cyril Elliott

Cyril Elliott

A management consultant, killed in the Ladbroke Grove rail disaster, aged 41. Andrew Behan has kindly carried out further research: Cyril William Elliot was born on 9 November 1957 and his birth w...

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Alexandre Moraes Watake

Alexandre Moraes Watake

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Alfred Samuel Allsop

Alfred Samuel Allsop

2nd Electrician on the RMS Titanic. A résumé of his life can be found on the Encyclopedia-titanica website that incorrectly claims (in April 2022) that he was aged 36 years when he died. His birth...

Person, Engineering, Tragedy

1 memorial

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Marks & Co.

Marks & Co.

Antiquarian booksellers at 84 Charing Cross Road, an address made famous through the book by Helene Hanff.

Group, Commerce

1 memorial
William Pennefather

William Pennefather

Revrd. William Pennefather, BA, vicar. Born Dublin, the youngest son in a well-established family. Came to England c.1848. He and his wife Catherine were transferred to St. Jude's Church, Mildmay P...

Person, Religion, Ireland

1 memorial
Ada Salter

Ada Salter

Socialist and pacifist. Born Ada Brown at Raunds, Northamptonshire. She joined the West London Mission to work among the London poor, and in 1897 transferred to the Bermondsey Settlement, where she...

Person, Community / Clubs, Politics & Administration

6 memorials
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

The borough was formed in 1965 by the merging of the separate former boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea. It was originally planned to call it just Kensington, but Chelsea was added after local prot...

Group, Politics & Administration

31 memorials
London County Council

London County Council

Prior to the LCC London matters were run by church parishes. The LCC was the first directly elected strategic local government body for London. Replaced by the Greater London Council, covering a la...

Group, Politics & Administration

279 memorials