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

Beatrice Lilian Vickery

Beatrice Lilian Vickery

Civilian killed in the crash of Hampden bomber P4399. Our colleague Andrew Behan has kindly researched this woman: Beatrice Lillian Daniels was born on 7 January 1891 in Warrington, Lancashire, a ...

Person, Tragedy

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
Christine McNulty

Christine McNulty

United Kingdom citizen who died in the terrorist attacks in America on 11 September 2001. Christine Sheila McNulty was born on 26 March 1959 in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, a daughter of Terence W...

Person, Tragedy, USA

1 memorial
Behçet Aysan

Behçet Aysan

44 years old, poet

Person, Tragedy, Turkey

1 memorial
Jamie Gordon

Jamie Gordon

On the Hyde Park memorial Jamie’s name is given as ‘Jamie Glenbucket-Gordon’. Our colleague, Andrew Behan, has researched this man and found that Jamie Hector Gregor Glenbucket Gordon was born on ...

Person, Tragedy

3 memorials
Huriye Özkan

Huriye Özkan

22 years old, artist

Person, Tragedy, Turkey

1 memorial

Previously viewed

John Coode

John Coode

Born Bodmin, Cornwall. Civil Engineer, particularly involved with harbours: Portland, Table Bay and Colombo. Also Suez Canal. Died Brighton.

Person, Engineering

1 memorial
William Richard Lethaby

William Richard Lethaby

Born Barnstaple, Devon. Architect, in the arts and crafts style, and writer on archaeology and medieval art. First Principle of the Central School of Arts & Crafts.  The Lethaby gallery at the ...

Person, Architecture, Art, History

3 memorials
Ace Cafe

Ace Cafe

It originally catered for the traffic on the newly opened North Circular Road. Destroyed in a WW2 air raid, it was rebuilt in 1949 and through the 50s became a haven for the 'ton-up-boys' and then ...

Building, Food & Drink, Transport

2 memorials