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

Christine Egan

Christine Egan

United Kingdom citizen who died in the terrorist attacks in America on 11 September 2001. She was the sister of Michael Egan who also died in the attack. Christine Egan was born on 20 June 1946 a...

Person, Tragedy, Canada, USA

1 memorial
Joan Lilian Phelps

Joan Lilian Phelps

Joan Lilian Williams was born on 31 May 1930, the second of the three children of George Henry Williams (1906-1990) and Maud Melbourne Williams née Sinfield (1907-1996). Her birth was registered in...

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Brixton nail bomb

Brixton nail bomb

The bomb which injured 48 people, was planted by neo-Nazi bomber David Copeland. Copeland, who was also responsible for the nail bomb attacks in Brick Lane (24 April) and at the Admiral Duncan pub...

Event, Race Issues, Terrorism, Tragedy

2 memorials
Elizabeth Webb

Elizabeth Webb

From East London Cyclist: "Elizabeth was killed at the junction of Burdett Road and Mile End Road on Friday 24th September 1999 at 1.00 pm. The incident involved a 38-ton lorry turning left from Mi...

Person, Cyclist, Tragedy

1 memorial
WPC Jane Arbuthnot

WPC Jane Arbuthnot

Andrew Behan has researched this woman: Woman Police Constable Philippa Jane Arbuthnot was born on 8 October 1961, the youngest of the four children of Lieutenant Commander John Keith Arbuthnot O.B...

Person, Armed Forces, Tragedy

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Festival of Britain

Festival of Britain

'A tonic for the Nation', The Festival was intended to cheer us all up after WW2, and incidentally to celebrate the centenary of the 1851 Great Exhibition. The symbol for the Festival was designed ...

Event, Art, Cinema, Science, Tourism / Traditions

20 memorials
Irene Hall

Irene Hall

Aged 8.

Person

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
S. Bewsey

S. Bewsey

R.A.S.C.. Fought but did not die in WW1. Andrew Behan has kindly provided this research: First he writes "The memorial shows S. Bewsey having been a member of the R.A.S.C. (i.e. the Royal Army Ser...

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
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

31 memorials
Josiah Wedgwood

Josiah Wedgwood

Master potter. Born in Burslem, Stoke, Staffordshire, into a potters family. Married his cousin, Sally. Childhood smallpox left him with a limp. His inability to operate the potters wheel meant he ...

Person, Craft / Design, Industry, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Seriously Famous

4 memorials