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

Philip Stuart Russell

Philip Stuart Russell

Philip Stuart Russell was born on 11 July 1976 in Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, the son of Grahame Russell and Veronica Russell née Jones. He was an asset manager for J P Morgan. His obituary ca...

Person, Tragedy

3 memorials
William Dickson Mackie

William Dickson Mackie

Junior 5th Engineer on the RMS Titanic. A full résumé of his life can be found on the Encyclopedia Titanica website. He is also commemorated on the Engineers Memorial, Andrews East Park, Above Bar...

Person, Engineering, Tragedy, Scotland

1 memorial
Dorothy Wright

Dorothy Wright

Killed in the Camberwell Green air-raid, aged 19.

Person, Tragedy

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
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
Carina Cuanna

Carina Cuanna

23 years old, journalist from the Netherlands

Person, Tragedy, Turkey

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Parish pump Tooting

Parish pump Tooting

Artesian well sunk by the parish at their own expense. From the near-by pump the villagers received a supply of water at the rate of 130 gallons per minute. Known as "The Parish Pump" it was in use...

Building, Food & Drink

1 memorial
Blewcoat School

Blewcoat School

The school was founded 1688. This building was constructed in 1709 and was used by the school until 1926. Purchased by the National Trust in 1954 who use it as a gift shop and information centre.

Building, Education

1 memorial
British Film Institute

British Film Institute

In 1996 the BFI erected 126 plaques across Britain to commemorate the centenary of cinema. See the pdf.

Group, Cinema, Museums / Libraries

18 memorials
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

The borough was formed in 1965 by the merging of the separate former boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea. It was originally planned to call it just Kensington, but Chelsea was added after local prot...

Group, Politics & Administration

32 memorials
Anne Sharpley

Anne Sharpley

Journalist. At art school in York in the 1940s she won a competition organised by Vogue which was the start of her career as a journalist. Investigative reporter on the Evening Standard in the 60s....

Person, Journalism / Publishing

1 memorial