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.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

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...

Read More

Balham Station bombing - 1

In memory of the 64 people killed at this station by a wartime bomb 14th Octo...

Read More

Balham Station bombing - 2

{Beneath the London Transport logo:} In remembrance of the civilians and Lond...

Read More

Balham Station bombing - 3

In remembrance of the civilians and London Transport staff who were killed at...

Read More

Bank Station WW2 bomb

{Above the London Underground roundel:} In remembrance of the fifty six peopl...

Read More

Show all 53

Other Subjects

Gladys Wundowa

Gladys Wundowa

Gladys Ama Addae was born on 14 March 1955 in Ghana. After coming to the UK she married Emmanuel B. Wundowa in the Tower Hamlets registration district in February 1991. They had two children: Azuma...

Person, Tragedy, Ghana

3 memorials
Ada Jane King

Ada Jane King

Drowned in the 1898 HMS Albion disaster, aged 23. Buried in grave 2 at the memorial in East London Cemetery.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Gulf War

Gulf War

The US, backed by the UN, invaded Iraq in response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.  Not to be confused with the Iraq War, March 2003 - December 2011 when the US invaded Iraq again.

Event, Armed Forces, Tragedy

2 memorials
Terrence Alonzo Best

Terrence Alonzo Best

Terrence Alonzo Best was born on 9 December 1932. On 20 August 1959 he is shown as arriving in Southampton, Hampshire, aboard the S.S. Ascania having departed from Port of Spain, Trinidad and Toba...

Person, Tragedy, Caribbean Islands

1 memorial
Tom Holmes

Tom Holmes

British, killed by the Bali bomb, age 39.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Michael Burns

Michael Burns

Crew member of the 'Olga'. Died during the voyage bringing Cleopatra's Needle to London.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Catherine Howard

Catherine Howard

As lady-in-waiting to Anne of Cleves Catherine attracted Henry's ever-roving eye.  Anne was dumped (via the annulment method) and the obese, 49-year old Henry married the 20-year old Catherine.  Sh...

Person, Execution, Royalty, Seriously Famous

3 memorials