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

Neil Dowse

Neil Dowse

A sheet metal worker, killed in the Ladbroke Grove rail disaster, aged 39. Andrew Behan has kindly carried out further research: Neil Bernard Dowse was born on 4 November 1959. He was a sheet meta...

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Cecil Adair Leonard John Genin

Cecil Adair Leonard John Genin

There is some confusion over this man. Most records show him as 'Cecil Adair Genin' or 'Cecil A. Genin'. However, his death is recorded as 'Cecil Adair L. J. Genin' and probate records show him as ...

Person, Armed Forces, Tragedy

1 memorial
London Bridge head spikes

London Bridge head spikes

Traitors’ heads used to be displayed on spikes on London Bridge, at the Stone Gateway on the south bank.  This merry London ritual began in about 1300 and continued until about 1660.  The lofty hea...

Place, Tragedy

1 memorial
Claudia Dietlinde Theile

Claudia Dietlinde Theile

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Bhavana Krishnamoorthy

Bhavana Krishnamoorthy

Bhavana Krishnamoorthy was born on 29 January 1975. She was a PhD research student at University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and was murdered, aged 29 years, on 29 Ap...

Person, Education, Tragedy, India

1 memorial

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Lord Byron

Lord Byron

Born Holles Street, baptised at St Marylebone church in the same year. Spent the first 10 years of his life in Aberdeen with his mother. On the death of a great-uncle in 1798 he succeeded to the ti...

Person, Poetry, Seriously Famous, Greece, Scotland

9 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

402 memorials