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

Sharpeville Massacre

Sharpeville Massacre

This took place near the police station in the South African township of Sharpeville in Transvaal (today part of Gauteng). After a day of demonstrations against pass laws (these were an internal pa...

Event, Race Issues, Tragedy, South Africa

1 memorial
Annika Kerstin Linden

Annika Kerstin Linden

British, killed by the Bali bomb, age 30.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Hugh Joseph Fitzpatrick

Hugh Joseph Fitzpatrick

Junior Boilermaker 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, Ireland

1 memorial
District Officer Charles Edward Pearson

District Officer Charles Edward Pearson

Died at the Siege of Sidney Street.  Andrew Behan has researched this man: District Officer Charles Edward Pearson was born on 2 August 1869 in Shadwell, a son of Henry Grove Pearson and Sarah Pea...

Person, Emergency Services, Tragedy

1 memorial
Mary Wright

Mary Wright

Killed in the Camberwell Green air-raid, aged 18.

Person, Tragedy

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial