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

Thomas Millar

Thomas Millar

Deck 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 Stree...

Person, Engineering, Tragedy, Ireland

1 memorial
Vivien Punter

Vivien Punter

We guess the date on the plaque is her date of death and that she may have been associated with Islington Council.  Beyond that we have no information... until ... 2015: Via Facebook we were kindl...

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Godfrey Maule Nicholson

Godfrey Maule Nicholson

Entry in The Peerage. Son of the distiller William Nicholson. For more information about this hero click on the picture of the distillery plaque.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Michael John Maddocks-Watson

Michael John Maddocks-Watson

Michael John Maddocks-Watson was born in August 1942, the son of John A. Maddox-Watson (b.circa 1917) and June Elizabeth Maddocks-Watson née Clarkson-Tinline (1921-1995). His birth was registered i...

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
London Bridge attack, 2017

London Bridge attack, 2017

This terror attack involved vehicle-ramming and stabbing. A van was deliberately driven into pedestrians on London Bridge, and then crashed on Borough High Street, just south of the River Thames. T...

Event, Terrorism, Tragedy

2 memorials

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London Bridge

London Bridge

Four stone bridges have spanned the Thames at this point. The first was built in about 1210 and lasted right through the medieval period. This was the one that had the spikes and is shown in some d...

Building, Transport, USA

25 memorials
John Keats

John Keats

Born 24 Moorfields Pavement Row, Finsbury. This was the Swan and Hoop pub, where his father worked as a stableman and later managed the inn. Baptised at St Botolphs. 1815-16 trained at Guy’s Hospit...

Person, Poetry, Seriously Famous, Italy

8 memorials
Blackfriars Station

Blackfriars Station

The station was opened by the London, Chatham and Dover Railway company with the name St. Paul's, and renamed in 1937. It underwent a major redevelopment between 2009 and 2012, with the platforms n...

Building, Transport

1 memorial
Esther Roper

Esther Roper

Esther Roper was an English suffragist and social justice campaigner who fought for equal employment and voting rights for working-class women. Lifelong partner of Eva Gore-Booth. The photo shows ...

Person, Gender Issues

1 memorial
Wandsworth Society

Wandsworth Society

A community group with the aim of safeguarding the character, quality and integrity of the environment around Wandsworth.

Group, Community / Clubs, History

1 memorial