Damage was inflicted on the port installations, but many bombs fell on the city itself. The estimate of tonnes of bombs an enemy could drop per day grew as aircraft technology advanced, from 75 in 1922, to 150 in 1934, to 644 in 1937. BBC - WW2 People's War - Timeline Fact File : The Blitz 25 August 1940 to 16 May 1941 Theatre: United Kingdom Area: London and other major cities Players: Britain: RAF Fighter Command under. This was when warfare deliberately included civilian populations. The oil-fed fires were then injected with water from time to time; the flashes produced were similar to those of the German C-250 and C-500 Flammbomben. An unknown number of bombs fell on these diversionary ("Starfish") targets. It was to be some months before an effective night-fighter force would be ready, and anti-aircraft defences only became adequate after the Blitz was over, so ruses were created to lure German bombers away from their targets. By the end of 1941, the WVS had one million members. This heavy bombing by German forces began in September 1940 and lasted for 57 days. The defences failed to prevent widespread damage but on some occasions did prevent German bombers concentrating on their targets. Nearly 350 German bombers (escorted by over 600 fighters) dropped explosives on East London, targeting the docks in particular. BLITZ DIGITAL MEDIA LTD - Company Credit Reports, Company Accounts The hope was that, if it could deceive German bombardiers, it would draw more bombers away from the real target. Although many civilians had used them for shelter during the First World War, the government in 1939 refused to allow the stations to be used as shelters so as not to interfere with commuter and troop travel and the fears that occupants might refuse to leave. The leaning tower of Rotherhithe sells for 1.5million The Luftwaffe flew 4,000 sorties that month, including 12 major and three heavy attacks. London: The Blitz, September 1940-June 1941 | Historic England [127] By the second month of the Blitz the defences were not performing well. London Blitz Facts | London Blitz WWII - DK Find Out Nevertheless, its official opposition to attacks on civilians became an increasingly moot point when large-scale raids were conducted in November and December 1940. [31] On 7 September, the Germans shifted away from the destruction of the RAF's supporting structures. [1] It was the capital not just for the United Kingdom, but for the entire British Empire. [175], Between 20 June 1940, when the first German air operations began over Britain, and 31 March 1941, OKL recorded the loss of 2,265 aircraft over the British Isles, a quarter of them fighters and one-third bombers. Eventually, it would become a success. Direction-finding checks also enabled the controller to keep the pilot on course. [139], Probably the most devastating attack occurred on the evening of 29 December, when German aircraft attacked the City of London itself with incendiary and high explosive bombs, causing a firestorm that has been called the Second Great Fire of London. Within four months, 88 percent of evacuated mothers, 86 percent of small children, and 43 percent of schoolchildren had been returned home. First, the difficulty in estimating the impact of bombing upon war production was becoming apparent, and second, the conclusion British morale was unlikely to break led the OKL to adopt the naval option. [103] The air battle was later commemorated by Battle of Britain Day. Hitler believed the Luftwaffe was "the most effective strategic weapon", and in reply to repeated requests from the Kriegsmarine for control over naval aircraft insisted, "We should never have been able to hold our own in this war if we had not had an undivided Luftwaffe. Douglas set about introducing more squadrons and dispersing the few GL sets to create a carpet effect in the southern counties. If a vigilant bomber crew could spot the fighter first, they had a decent chance of evading it. Other targets would be considered if the primary ones could not be attacked because of weather conditions. Hello, I Am Charlie from London - Stephane Husar 2014-07-15 The Demon in the Embers - Julia Edwards 2016-09-02 . [73][74][75], The cheerful crowds visiting bomb sites were so large they interfered with rescue work. Attacks from below offered a larger target, compared to attacking tail-on, as well as a better chance of not being seen by the crew (so less chance of evasion), as well as greater likelihood of detonating its bomb load. Fighter Command lost 17 fighters and six pilots. For eight months the Luftwaffe dropped bombs on London and other strategic cities across Britain. [35][36], It was also possible, if RAF losses became severe, that they could pull out to the north, wait for the German invasion, then redeploy southward again. Bombing civilians would cause a collapse of morale and a loss of production in the remaining factories. [13] British wartime studies concluded that most cities took 10 to 15 days to recover when hit severely, but some, such as Birmingham, took three months. [170] On 19 November, John Cunningham of No. [88] Bomber crews already had some experience with the Lorenz beam, a commercial blind-landing aid for night or bad weather landings. [154], Even so, the decision by the OKL to support the strategy in Directive 23 was instigated by two considerations, both of which had little to do with wanting to destroy Britain's sea communications in conjunction with the Kriegsmarine. [116] On 7 November, St Pancras, Kensal and Bricklayers Arms stations were hit and several lines of Southern Rail were cut on 10 November. The word "blitz" comes from the German term. German intelligence suggested Fighter Command was weakening, and an attack on London would force it into a final battle of annihilation while compelling the British Government to surrender. By December, this had increased to 92 percent. Still, in February 1941, there remained only seven squadrons with 87 pilots, under half the required strength. The German Luftwaffe dropped thousands of bombs on London from 1939 to 1945, killing almost 30,000 people. [112] In fact, on 8 September 1940 both Battersea and West Ham Power Station were both shut down after the 7 September daylight attack on London. Battle noises were muffled and sleep was easier in the deepest stations, but many people were killed from direct hits on stations. [149] Some 50 Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers and Jabos (fighter-bombers) were used, officially classed as Leichte Kampfflugzeuge ("light bombers") and sometimes called Leichte Kesselringe ("Light Kesselrings"). Bombers were noisy, cold, and vibrated badly. [164], In the north, substantial efforts were made against Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Sunderland, which were large ports on the English east coast. The effectiveness of British countermeasures against Knickebein caused the Luftwaffe to prefer fire light instead for target marking and navigation. [161] This raid was significant, as 63 German fighters were sent with the bombers, indicating the growing effectiveness of RAF night fighter defences. By 1938, experts generally expected that Germany would try to drop as much as 3,500 tonnes in the first 24 hours of war and average 700 tonnes a day for several weeks. Still, many British citizens, who had been members of the Labour Party, itself inert over the issue, turned to the Communist Party. Destroying RAF Fighter Command would allow the Germans to gain control of the skies over the invasion area. Curiously, while 43 percent of the contacts in May 1941 were by visual sightings, they accounted for 61 percent of the combats. The government saw the leading role taken by the Communist Party in advocating the building of deep shelters as an attempt to damage civilian morale, especially after the MolotovRibbentrop Pact of August 1939. 15 Powerful Photos Of The WW2 Blitz | Imperial War Museums [9] and a large raid on the night of 10-11 May 1941. Many houses and commercial centres were heavily damaged, the electrical supply was knocked out, and five oil tanks and two magazines exploded. Hitler quickly developed scepticism toward strategic bombing, confirmed by the results of the Blitz. Thereafter, he would refuse to make available any air units to destroy British dockyards, ports, port facilities, or shipping in dock or at sea, lest Kriegsmarine gain control of more Luftwaffe units. Industry, seats of government and communications could be destroyed, depriving an opponent of the means to make war. [citation needed] This image entered the historiography of the Second World War in the 1980s and 1990s,[dubious discuss] especially after the publication of Angus Calder's book The Myth of the Blitz (1991). The difference this made to the effectiveness of air defences is questionable. [49], In addition to high-explosive and incendiary bombs, the Germans could use poison gas and even bacteriological warfare, all with a high degree of accuracy. The Blitz - Historic UK The Metropolitan-Vickers works in Manchester was hit by 12 long tons (12.2t) of bombs. The Luftwaffe was not pressed into ground support operations because of pressure from the army or because it was led by ex-soldiers, the Luftwaffe favoured a model of joint inter-service operations, rather than independent strategic air campaigns. [56] Not only was there evacuation over land, but also by ship. The rate of civilian housing loss was averaging 40,000 people per week dehoused in September 1940. Dowding had to rely on night fighters. Jones began a search for German beams; Avro Ansons of the Beam Approach Training Development Unit (BATDU) were flown up and down Britain fitted with a 30MHz receiver. [47] Up to nine special transmitters directed their signals at the beams in a manner that subtly widened their paths, making it harder for bomber crews to locate targets; confidence in the device was diminished by the time the Luftwaffe was ready to conduct big raids. [35], While Gring was optimistic the Luftwaffe could prevail, Hitler was not. [130], Airborne Interception radar (AI) was unreliable. This day marks the beginning of the Blitz when an attack on London is launched by the Germans, starting a nine-month long campaign against the city. Ed Murrow reporting on war torn London during the blitz. [3] OKL instead sought clusters of targets that suited the latest policy (which changed frequently), and disputes within the leadership were about tactics rather than strategy. American observer Ralph Ingersoll reported the bombing was inaccurate and did not hit targets of military value, but destroyed the surrounding areas. [94], On 15 September the Luftwaffe made two large daylight attacks on London along the Thames Estuary, targeting the docks and rail communications in the city. [118] The London Docklands, in particular, the Royal Victoria Dock, received many hits and Port of London trade was disrupted. [86], Hugh Dowding, Air Officer Commanding Fighter Command, defeated the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain, but preparing day fighter defences left little for night air defence. However, meteorological conditions over Britain were not favourable for flying and prevented an escalation in air operations. The considerable rail network distributed to the rest of the country. Summerfield and Peniston-Bird 2007, p. 4. [50], On the other hand, some historians have recently contended that this revisionism of the "Blitz spirit" narrative may have been an over-correction. It could be claimed civilians were not to be targeted directly, but the breakdown of production would affect their morale and will to fight. [194], In one 6-month period, 750,000 tons (762,000t) of bombsite rubble from London were transported by railway on 1,700 freight trains to make runways on Bomber Command airfields in East Anglia. In December, only 11 major and five heavy attacks were made. Time Travel Back To The London Blitz In Connie Willis' New - Gizmodo [5][6] Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall Hermann Gring, commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe, ordered the new policy on 6 September 1940. [189] The "Communist threat" was deemed important enough for Herbert Morrison to order, with the support of the Cabinet, the cessation of activities of the Daily Worker, the Communist newspaper. The first German attack on London actually occurred by accident. OKL did not believe air power alone could be decisive and the Luftwaffe did not adopt an official policy of the deliberate bombing of civilians until 1942. [12], Five nights later, Birmingham was hit by 369 bombers from KG 54, KG26, and KG55. KGr 100 increased its use of incendiaries from 13 to 28 percent. Ingersol wrote that Battersea Power Station, one of the largest landmarks in London, received only a minor hit. Although there had been many bombing raids on London since mid 1940, the first raid where the survival of St. Paul's Cathedral was at risk and where the Watch were tested in the extreme was on Sunday 29th December 1940. On 17 January around 100 bombers dropped a high concentration of incendiaries, some 32,000 in all. The first three directives in 1940 did not mention civilian populations or morale in any way. Many more ports were attacked. However, as with the attacks in the south, the Germans failed to prevent maritime movements or cripple industry in the regions. Two heavy (50 long tons (51t) of bombs) attacks were also flown. [80] The WVS organised the evacuation of children, established centres for those displaced by bombing and operated canteens, salvage and recycling schemes. Seeschlange would be carried out by Fliegerkorps X (10th Air Corps) which concentrated on mining operations against shipping. Erik Larson (Goodreads Author) (shelved 1 time as london-blitz) avg rating 4.29 99,548 ratings published 2020. Its hope was to destroy its targets and draw the RAF into defending them, allowing the Luftwaffe to destroy their fighters in large numbers, thereby achieving air superiority. The action did not guarantee automatic success. 80 Wing RAF. "Pathfinders" from 12 Kampfgruppe 100 (Bomb Group 100 or KGr100) led 437 bombers from KG 1, KG 3, KG26, KG 27, KG55 and Lehrgeschwader 1 (1st Training Wing, or LG1) which dropped 350 long tons (356t) of high explosive, 50 long tons (50.8t) of incendiaries, and 127 parachute mines. 1 March 1935 3 June 1936) championed strategic bombing and the building of suitable aircraft, although he emphasised the importance of aviation in operational and tactical terms. 5 Jan. Leslie Hore-Belisha, Britain's Minister of War, is dismissed. At a London railway station, arriving troops pass by children who are being evacuated to the countryside. [77] Before the war, civilians were issued with 50million respirators (gas masks) in case bombardment with gas began before evacuation. While direct attacks against civilians were ruled out as "terror bombing", the concept of attacking vital war industriesand probable heavy civilian casualties and breakdown of civilian moralewas ruled as acceptable.[18]. While wartime bombings affected London in both world wars, it was the Blitz that truly altered the cityscape forever. Dec. 17, 1983: Six people are. Intricately Color-Coded Maps Marking Bomb Damage from the London Blitz Regional commissioners were given plenipotentiary powers to restore communications and organise the distribution of supplies to keep the war economy moving. Entertainment included concerts, films, plays and books from local libraries. London Blitz Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images An interactive map showing the location of bombs dropped on London during World War II has been created. [135] In particular, the West Midlands were targeted. Blitz Incidents: High Holborn - the morning of 8th October 1940 - Blogger It was supposed Bomber Command, Coastal Command, and the Royal Navy could not operate under conditions of German air superiority. The name "Blitz" comes from the word "blitzkrieg" which meant "lightning war". The Luftwaffe dropped around 40,000 long tons (40,600t) of bombs during the Blitz, which disrupted production and transport, reduced food supplies, and shook British morale. German planners had to decide whether the Luftwaffe should deliver the weight of its attacks against a specific segment of British industry such as aircraft factories, or against a system of interrelated industries such as Britain's import and distribution network, or even in a blow aimed at breaking the morale of the British population. Over a quarter of London's population had left the city by November 1940. A Gallup poll found only 3% of Britons expected to lose the war in May 1940. [50] Panic during the Munich crisis, such as the migration by 150,000 people to Wales, contributed to fear of social chaos.[54]. A. Hampton/Topical Press Agency . [57] The programme favoured backyard Anderson shelters and small brick surface shelters. The government did not build them for large populations before the war because of cost, time to build and fears that their safety would cause occupants to refuse to leave to return to work or that anti-war sentiment would develop in large congregations of civilians. The property stands alone on a section of riverbank on the Thames, in South East London 's . [49], In 1937 the Committee on Imperial Defence estimated that an attack of 60 days would result in 600,000 dead and 1.2million wounded. The Battle of Britain Some 107,400 gross tons (109,100t) of shipping was damaged in the Thames Estuary and 1,600 civilians were casualties. 11 Feb 2020. The building of London's Royal Docks introduced a new world of commerce to the capital. Their incendiary bombs [2], The British began to assess the impact of the Blitz in August 1941 and the RAF Air Staff used the German experience to improve Bomber Command's offensives. It was decided to recreate normal residential street lighting, and in non-essential areas, lighting to recreate heavy industrial targets. [81], British air doctrine, since Hugh Trenchard had commanded the Royal Flying Corps (19151917), stressed offence as the best means of defence,[82] which became known as the cult of the offensive. A Princess At War: Queen Elizabeth II During World War II Four days later 230 tons (234t) were dropped including 60,000 incendiaries. But the Blitz started in earnest on the afternoon of 7 September when the German Luftwaffe filled the skies in the first major daytime raid on London. There was also a mentality in all air forces that flying by day would obviate the need for night operations and their inherent disadvantages. By 19/20 April 1941, it had dropped 3,984 mines, .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}13 of the total dropped. By December, the SC2500 (2,500kg (5,512lb)) "Max" bomb was used. Added to the tension of the mission which exhausted and drained crews, tiredness caught up with and killed many. [70], Although the intensity of the bombing was not as great as pre-war expectations so an equal comparison is impossible, no psychiatric crisis occurred because of the Blitz even during the period of greatest bombing of September 1940. Between 1940 and 1945, over 52,000 civilians were killed in Britain during bombing raids by German aircraft. Bomb-Damage Maps Reveal London's World War II Devastation. Authorities expected that the raids would be brief and in daylight, rather than attacks by night, which forced Londoners to sleep in shelters. [b] The British had anticipated the change in strategy and dispersed its production facilities, making them less vulnerable to a concentrated attack. [149], By now, the imminent threat of invasion had all but passed as the Luftwaffe had failed to gain the prerequisite air superiority. How Thousands of Civilians Were Killed by British Shells in the London The London docks and railways communications had taken a heavy pounding, and much damage had been done to the railway system outside. [173] Losses were minimal. [89][90], Knickebein was in general use but the X-Gert (X apparatus) was reserved for specially trained pathfinder crews. In January 1941, Fighter Command flew 486 sorties against 1,965 made by the Germans. Whitechapel, London - History | Victorian Era and Before [13], The German air offensive failed because the Luftwaffe High Command (Oberkommando der Luftwaffe, OKL) did not develop a methodical strategy for destroying British war industry. Battle of Britain and the Blitz - Military History - Oxford - obo The Minister of Aircraft Production, Lord Beaverbrook and Churchill distanced themselves. By September 1940, the large-scale German air raids which had been expected twelve months earlier finally arrived. But even in May, 67 percent of the sorties were visual cat's-eye missions. London was bombed ever day and night, bar one, for 11 weeks. Beginning. At the beginning of the war in 1939, London was the largest city in the world, with 8.2 million inhabitants. Only one bomber was lost, to anti-aircraft fire, despite the RAF flying 125-night sorties. [106], Loge continued during October. Added to the fact an interception relied on visual sighting, a kill was most unlikely even in the conditions of a moonlit sky. [47], London had nine million peoplea fifth of the British populationliving in an area of 750 square miles (1,940 square kilometres), which was difficult to defend because of its size. The German bombers would fly along either beam until they picked up the signal from the other beam. [120], British night air defences were in a poor state. [173] On 10/11 May, London suffered severe damage, but 10 German bombers were downed. From 7 September 1940, London was systematically bombed by the Luftwaffe for 56 of the following 57 days and nights. [80], Pre-war dire predictions of mass air-raid neurosis were not borne out. [131], Nevertheless, it was radar that proved to be the critical weapon in the night battles over Britain from this point onward. Many civilians found that the best way to retain mental stability was to be with family, and after the first few weeks of bombing, avoidance of the evacuation programmes grew. For the London-based American football team, see, Directive 23: Gring and the Kriegsmarine, This was caused by moisture ruining the electrical. This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 12:33. [187] Historians' critical response to this construction focused on what were seen as over-emphasised claims of patriotic nationalism and national unity. [7][8] Notable attacks included a large daylight attack against London on 15 September, a large raid on December 29 1940 against London resulting in a firestorm known as the Second Great Fire of London. 604 Squadron RAF shot down a bomber flying an AI-equipped Beaufighter, the first air victory for the airborne radar. The air campaign soon got underway against London and other British cities. They emphasised the core strategic interest was attacking ports but they insisted in maintaining pressure or diverting strength, onto industries building aircraft, anti-aircraft guns, and explosives. Corum 1997, pp. [27], Although not specifically prepared to conduct independent strategic air operations against an opponent, the Luftwaffe was expected to do so over Britain. The Battle of Britain: Timeline | Military History Matters [111], Wartime observers perceived the bombing as indiscriminate. A significant number of the aircraft not shot down after the resort to night bombing were wrecked during landings or crashed in bad weather. Locating targets in skies obscured by industrial haze meant the target area needed to be illuminated and hit "without regard for the civilian population". [2], The military effectiveness of bombing varied. (Photo by J. [76], Despite the attacks, defeat in Norway and France, and the threat of invasion, overall morale remained high. The Children's Overseas Reception Board was organised by the government to help parents send their children overseas to four British Dominions Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. [21], In 1936, Wever was killed in an air crash and the failure to implement his vision for the new Luftwaffe was largely attributable to his successors. 'Blitz' is an abbreviation of the German word 'blitzkrieg', meaning 'lightning war'. Around 66,000 houses were destroyed and 77,000 people made homeless ("bombed out"[158]), with 1,900 people killed and 1,450 seriously hurt on one night. [173] On 3/4 May, nine were shot down in one night. [151], Directive 23 was the only concession made by Gring to the Kriegsmarine over the strategic bombing strategy of the Luftwaffe against Britain. It was evoked by both the right and left political factions in Britain in 1982, during the Falklands War when it was portrayed in a nostalgic narrative in which the Second World War represented patriotism actively and successfully acting as a defender of democracy. This meant that British coastal centres and shipping at sea west of Ireland were the prime targets. The London Underground rail system was also affected; high explosive bombs damaged the tunnels rendering some unsafe. Of the "heavies", some 200 were of the obsolescent 3in (76mm) type; the remainder were the effective 4.5in (110mm) and 3.7in (94mm) guns, with a theoretical "ceiling"' of over 30,000ft (9,100m) but a practical limit of 25,000ft (7,600m) because the predictor in use could not accept greater heights. [22], Two prominent enthusiasts for ground-support operations (direct or indirect) were Hugo Sperrle the commander of Luftflotte 3 (1 February 1939 23 August 1944) and Hans Jeschonnek (Chief of the Luftwaffe General Staff from 1 February 1939 19 August 1943). Three cross-beams intersected the beam along which the He 111 was flying. [58][59], The most important existing communal shelters were the London Underground stations. Red lamps were used to simulate blast furnaces and locomotive fireboxes. The number of contacts and combats rose in 1941, from 44 and two in 48 sorties in January 1941, to 204 and 74 in May (643 sorties). de Zeng, Henry L., Doug G. Stankey and Eddie J. Creek. To start off, the idea of the London Underground as a bomb shelter wasn't a new one by 1940. [78], During the Blitz, The Scout Association guided fire engines to where they were most needed and became known as the "Blitz Scouts". The Impact of the Blitz on London - historylearning.com People left shelters when told instead of refusing to leave, although many housewives reportedly enjoyed the break from housework. [161] Still, while heavily damaged, British ports continued to support war industry and supplies from North America continued to pass through them while the Royal Navy continued to operate in Plymouth, Southampton, and Portsmouth. [125], Few fighter aircraft were able to operate at night. Official histories concluded that the mental health of a nation may have improved, while panic was rare. More might have been achieved had OKL exploited the vulnerability of British sea communications. Erich Raedercommander-in-chief of the Kriegsmarinehad long argued the Luftwaffe should support the German submarine force (U-Bootwaffe) in the Battle of the Atlantic by attacking shipping in the Atlantic Ocean and attacking British ports. The government planned the evacuation of four million peoplemostly women and childrenfrom urban areas, including 1.4million from London. The Blitz begins as Germany bombs London - HISTORY [13] The strategic impact on industrial cities was varied; most took from 10 to 15 days to recover from heavy raids, although Belfast and Liverpool took longer. Civilians left for more remote areas of the country. X- and Y-Gert beams were placed over false targets and switched only at the last minute. By September 1940, the Luftwaffe had lost the Battle of Britain and the German air fleets (Luftflotten) were ordered to attack London, to draw RAF Fighter Command into a battle of annihilation. [117] Attacks against East End docks were effective and many Thames barges were destroyed. WW2: The Blitz Hits | Sky HISTORY TV Channel These attacks produced some breaks in morale, with civil leaders fleeing the cities before the offensive reached its height. [115] In the initial operations against London, it did appear as if rail targets and the bridges over the Thames had been singled out: Victoria Station was hit by four bombs and suffered extensive damage.