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

John Cowie

John Cowie

Role on the lost expedition: Petty officer on SS Erebus. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial
Burns' Day Storm

Burns' Day Storm

Because this storm hit during the day-time it caused more human casualties than the Great Storm of 1987. Then the death toll was 22, compared with 47 on Burns' Day. Under other names (e.g. Daria) t...

Event, Tragedy

2 memorials
John Sullivan

John Sullivan

Role on the lost expedition: Petty officer on SS Erebus. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial
Alistair Gordon

Alistair Gordon

Alistair Gordon was born in 1942, the youngest of the three children of John Gordon (1901-1988) and Elizabeth Margaret Gordon née MacIntosh (1905-1986). His birth was recorded in the 1st quarter of...

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Andre Spitzer

Andre Spitzer

Fencing master and coach. Born in Timișoara, Romania. In 1956 he moved to Israel where he served in the air force and attended the National Sport Academy, where he studied fencing. Representing Isr...

Person, Sport / Games, Tragedy, Germany, Israel/Palestine, Romania

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Foundling pavement plaque

Foundling pavement plaque

WC1, Gray's Inn Road

We had spotted this unusual plaque in 2015 but put it on the long finger. Then Timothy Evers noticed it in 2021 and prompted us to publis...

1 subject commemorated
Archaeology standing stone

Archaeology standing stone

WC1, Gordon Square, Garden

Unveiling page tells that the sarsen stone was donated by a farmer in the Avebury area of Wiltshire. We cannot explain the "MEC" - perhap...

1 subject commemorated