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

Ignacio Echeverria

Ignacio Echeverria

Killed in the 2017 London Bridge attack. Worked at HSBC bank. 39-year-old, from Spain, he had been on his way home after skating in a park with friends.

Person, Tragedy, Spain

1 memorial
George Mackmurdie

George Mackmurdie

George Mackmurdie was born on 24 August 1948, the eldest of the four children of Clarence George Mackmurdie (1926-2012) and Mavis Mackmurdie née Bickerdike (1928-2009). His birth was registered in ...

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Richard Norman Everitt

Richard Norman Everitt

Richard was an innocent victim of gang warfare. Aged 15 he was murdered on his way home from playing football. He and his friends were confronted by around 20 older boys and Richard stabbed in the ...

Person, Children, Tragedy

3 memorials
Liam Hamilton

Liam Hamilton

A family squabble developed into a fight in which Paul Hamilton, 30, of nearby Woodstock Terrace fatally stabbed his cousin, Liam Hamilton, in the back with a large kitchen knife, near the site of ...

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Surrey Docks fire

Surrey Docks fire

The docks were set on fire in the first raid of the Blitz. Our picture source gives: "... a firestorm in the docks that blazed from end to end for a whole week. ... A third of the warehouses and tr...

Event, Tragedy

1 memorial