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

Colin William Morley

Colin William Morley

Colin William Morley was born on 5 March 1953 in Coulsdon, Surrey, the eldest of the three children of William F. Morley and Hilary Morley née Baldock. His sister, Gillian A. Morley, was born in 19...

Person, Tragedy

2 memorials
Lear Nadel

Lear Nadel

Killed in the Camberwell Green air-raid, aged 58.

Person, Tragedy

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
Marjanne Van Lijnen Noomen

Marjanne Van Lijnen Noomen

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Peter Sloan

Peter Sloan

Chief Electrician on the RMS Titanic. A résumé of his life can be found on the Encyclopedia Titanica website.

Person, Engineering, Tragedy

1 memorial

Previously viewed

William Haken

William Haken

Islingtonian who died in the South African War, 1899-1903

Person, South Africa

War dead, Other war
1 memorial
Urban Hanlon Broughton

Urban Hanlon Broughton

Engineer who married money and then made lots more.  Born England. Studied civil engineering and gained expertise in the Shone sewer system which took him to Massachusetts to manage its installatio...

Person, Engineering, Politics & Administration, USA

2 memorials
Tower Hamlets Community Housing Ltd

Tower Hamlets Community Housing Ltd

THCH is a charitable housing provider managing over 3,000 homes exclusively in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Established in 2000 as part of a Government programme to transfer housing from lo...

Group, Social Welfare

24 memorials
Emma Ross

Emma Ross

Killed in the Camberwell Green air-raid, aged 48.

Person, Tragedy

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
William Moorcroft

William Moorcroft

Pioneer veterinary surgeon, Asian explorer.  Born Lancashire.  First Englishman to qualify as a vet, in France, during a revolution.  He set up in practice in Oxford Street, creating a horse hosp...

Person, Animals, Exploring, Medicine, Afghanistan, Central Asia, Tibet, Uzbekistan

1 memorial