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.

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 49

Other Subjects

John Jefferies

John Jefferies

One of two killed by the Docklands IRA bomb. They were both workers in the newsagent’s directly opposite the bomb. Our colleague Andrew Behan has researched this man and found the photo: John Alan...

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Kuttalam Govindarajan

Kuttalam Govindarajan

Kuttalam Govindarajan was born on 6 December 1965 in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). In September 1987 he married Leticia Abuan in Ealing and he died, aged 21 years, on 18 November 1987 in the King's Cross...

Person, Tragedy, Ceylon

1 memorial
Emma Ross

Emma Ross

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

Person, Tragedy

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
Sidney Street siege

Sidney Street siege

We are indebted to Derek Smith for the following write-up of the siege: The Siege of Sidney Street on 3rd January 1911 came about because of a bungled robbery in Houndsditch in the City of London a...

Event, Tragedy

3 memorials