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

Christopher David Pullen

Christopher David Pullen

Christopher Pullen, aged 12, died in Southdown House when a heavy steel fire door, lying off its hinges, propped up in the stairwell of a block of flats, fell on him causing fatal injuries. The doo...

Person, Children, Tragedy

1 memorial
Sadako Sasaki

Sadako Sasaki

Sadako Sasaki was a Japanese girl who was one of the c.100,000 people killed by the atom bomb dropped on  Hiroshima. She was two years of age at the time and was severely irradiated. She survived f...

Person, Tragedy, Japan

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
Sarah Anne Redheffer

Sarah Anne Redheffer

United Kingdom citizen who died in the terrorist attacks in America on 11 September 2001. She was born as Sarah Anne Prothero on 26 July 1966 in Oxford, Oxfordshire, a daughter of the Reverend Dav...

Person, Tragedy, USA

1 memorial
Alice Maud Denman

Alice Maud Denman

Died in a fire at 423 Hackney Road on the night of 19/20 April 1902. For more details see our page for the fire.

Person, Tragedy

2 memorials
Erdal Ayrancı

Erdal Ayrancı

35 years old, director

Person, Tragedy, Turkey

1 memorial

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Alan Wilson

Alan Wilson

Sculptor based at Henley on Thames.

Person, Sculpture

1 memorial