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

W. A. Roust

W. A. Roust

District Staff Officer in the St John Ambulance Brigade, No. 1 District, 1909-1940. Officer in the Order of St John. The Straits Times, 29 September 1940, Page 2 carried an obituary: "WESTMINSTER ...

Person, Emergency Services, Medicine, Politics & Administration, Tragedy

1 memorial
Mehmet Atay

Mehmet Atay

25 years old, journalist

Person, Tragedy, Turkey

1 memorial
Parvin Rieu
1 memorial
Terry Hunt

Terry Hunt

Terence James Hunt was born on 12 December 1957 and lived in Chadwell Heath, Essex. He was a firefighter attached to Silvertown fire station who died, aged 33 years, on 10 July 1991 while fighting...

Person, Emergency Services, Tragedy

3 memorials
John Petty

John Petty

Drowned in the 1898 HMS Albion disaster, aged 21. Buried in grave 2 at the memorial in East London Cemetery.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Elizabeth Boxall

Elizabeth Boxall

For more information about this hero click on the picture of her plaque.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Cheistha Kochhar

Cheistha Kochhar

Born in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India, Cheistha Kochhar was a PhD student at the London School of Economics. She had already worked in a range of roles including business start-ups and with variou...

Person, Cyclist, Tragedy, India

1 memorial
Frank Matcham

Frank Matcham

Theatre architect. Born Newton Abbot, Devon. Never qualified as an architect but designed at least 80 theatres and did some work on about the same number again. About 24 of his theatres survive rea...

Person, Architecture, Theatre

10 memorials
Arthur Bourchier

Arthur Bourchier

Actor and theatre manager. Born in Speen, Berkshire. Made his first stage appearance in 1889, although his performances were met with less than critical acclaim. W. S. Gilbert said of his rendition...

Person, Cinema, Politics & Administration, Theatre, South Africa

1 memorial
Charles Arnold

Charles Arnold

We found nothing on this man (too common a name) and even our colleague Andrew Behan who normally digs up good stuff found very little with a certain connection to the plaque: On 29 September 1939...

Person

1 memorial