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

Alan Stewart

Alan Stewart

An accountant from Auckland, killed in the Ladbroke Grove rail disaster, aged 28. Andrew Behan has kindly carried out further research: Allan John Stewart was born in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotlan...

Person, Tragedy, New Zealand

1 memorial
William Drake

William Drake

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

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Matthew Lucas Bolwerk

Matthew Lucas Bolwerk

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Mark Gavin Ludvigsen

Mark Gavin Ludvigsen

United Kingdom citizen who died in the terrorist attacks in America on 11 September 2001. Mark Gavin Ludvigsen was born on 12 May 1969 in Rothesay, New Brunswick, Canada. He was the son of Karl an...

Person, Tragedy, Canada, USA

1 memorial
Dr Katharine Giles

Dr Katharine Giles

Dr Giles worked at the Centre for Polar Observation & Modelling, Department of Earth Sciences, University College London.  From her own website: "I am a NERC Postdoctoral Research Fellow and my...

Person, Cyclist, Tragedy

1 memorial

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Mary Queen of Scots

Mary Queen of Scots

Mary’s first 20 years were an amazing roller-coaster of a life. She spent the last 20 years imprisoned and was then beheaded. Born in Linlithgow Palace (north east of Edinburgh), only surviving ch...

Person, Royalty, Seriously Famous, Scotland

6 memorials
World War 2

World War 2

Sorry, we've done no research on WW2, it's just too big a subject. But do visit the picture source web site - it has a fascinating collection of maps.  And we enjoyed these photos of current WW2 ev...

Event, Armed Forces, Tragedy

380 memorials
Ivan Maisky & wife

Ivan Maisky & wife

That looks to us very much like the bust that Maisky and his wife unveiled at Holford Gardens, unfinished of course.

Group, Politics & Administration

2 memorials
Southern Housing Group

Southern Housing Group

Initially the Samuel Lewis Housing Trust, set up after the death of the founder in 1901. Their first housing development was in Liverpool Road, Islington. From their website: "As one of southern E...

Group, Property, Social Welfare

3 memorials
World War 1

World War 1

We'd always assumed that this war was known as the Great War until WW2 came along at which point it was renamed as World War One or the First World War. But the term was first used in print in 1920...

Event, Armed Forces, Tragedy

403 memorials