The North Sea port of Hull, a convenient and easily found target or secondary target for bombers unable to locate their primary targets, suffered the Hull Blitz. This meant that British coastal centres and shipping at sea west of Ireland were the prime targets. 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). In the following month, 22 German bombers were lost with 13 confirmed to have been shot down by night fighters. The name "Blitz" comes from the word "blitzkrieg" which meant "lightning war". The action did not guarantee automatic success. The London Blitz The Blitz is the term used to describe the German bombing campaign that took place from September 7, 1940, through May 11, 1941. Here are the flats today, courtesy of Street View . [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. X-Gert received and analysed the pulses, giving the pilot visual and aural directions. Soon a beam was traced to Derby (which had been mentioned in Luftwaffe transmissions). More than 70,000 buildings . [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. [70] Pub visits increased in number (beer was never rationed), and 13,000 attended cricket at Lord's. The aerial bombing was now principally aimed at the destruction of industrial targets, but also continued with the objective of breaking the morale of the civilian population. [183], A popular image arose of British people in the Second World War: a collection of people locked in national solidarity. This caused more than 2,000 fires; 1,436 people were killed and 1,792 seriously injured, which affected morale badly. [45] This method condemned the offensive over Britain to failure before it began. Below is a table by city of the number of major raids (where at least 100 tons of bombs were dropped) and tonnage of bombs dropped during these major raids. Curiously, while 43 percent of the contacts in May 1941 were by visual sightings, they accounted for 61 percent of the combats. : The Blitz 1940 971941 510 : Blitz A present day image of the Freedom Press, Whitechapel, London. Erik Larson (Goodreads Author) (shelved 1 time as london-blitz) avg rating 4.29 99,548 ratings published 2020. [76], Civilians of London played an enormous role in protecting their city. Children pull crackers under paper decorations while jubilant adults smile . The first cross-beam alerted the bomb-aimer, who activated a bombing clock when the second cross-beam was reached. [179], Some writers claim the Air Staff ignored a critical lesson, that British morale did not break and that attacking German morale was not sufficient to induce a collapse. The Blitz (the London Blitz) was the sustained bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7th September 1940 and 10th May 1941 during the World War Two Every night bar one for ten solid weeks,from 7 September to 14 November 1940, London was attacked by an average of 160 bombers. Democracies, where public opinion was allowed, were thought particularly vulnerable. The Blitz as it became known in the British press was a sustained aerial attack, sending waves of bombs raining down onto British towns and cities. [58][59], The most important existing communal shelters were the London Underground stations. Little tonnage was dropped on Fighter Command airfields; Bomber Command airfields were hit instead. It also took part in the bombing over Britain. [108], Kesselring, commanding Luftflotte 2, was ordered to send 50 sorties per night against London and attack eastern harbours in daylight. Predictions had underestimated civilian adaptability and resourcefulness. Important events of 1940, including the beginning of the London Blitz (pictured above) and the Battle of Britain. They believed the Luftwaffe had failed in precision attack and concluded the German example of area attack using incendiaries was the way forward for operations over Germany. People were forced to sleep in air raid shelters, and many people took shelter in underground stations. [145] Part of the reason for this was inaccuracy of navigation. Rumours that Jews were inflating prices, were responsible for the Black Market, were the first to panic under attack (even the cause of the panic) and secured the best shelters via underhanded methods, were also widespread. Battle of Britain timeline. From 1940 to 1941, the most successful night-fighter was the Boulton Paul Defiant; its four squadrons shot down more enemy aircraft than any other type. July 20, 1982: Two IRA bombs explode in central London less than two hours apart. [56] Not only was there evacuation over land, but also by ship. Much civil-defence preparation in the form of shelters was left in the hands of local authorities and many areas such as Birmingham, Coventry, Belfast and the East End of London did not have enough shelters. [16], The Luftwaffe took a cautious view of strategic bombing but the OKL did not oppose the strategic bombardment of industries or cities. Let us find out other historical facts about London Blitz below: Facts about London Blitz 1: the German intelligence [93] The use of diversionary techniques such as fires had to be made carefully. The failure to prepare adequate night air defences was undeniable but it was not the responsibility of the AOC Fighter Command to dictate the disposal of resources. [136] The Germans were surprised by the success of the attack. [124] Although the use of the guns improved civilian morale, with the knowledge the German bomber crews were facing the barrage, it is now believed that the anti-aircraft guns achieved little and in fact the falling shell fragments caused more British casualties on the ground. [13][14], In the 1920s and 1930s, airpower theorists such as Giulio Douhet and Billy Mitchell claimed that air forces could win wars, obviating the need for land and sea combat. It reveals the devastation caused by the Blitz over eight months. 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. 4546. Bomb damage around St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London. The main damage was inflicted on the commercial and domestic areas. Still, in February 1941, there remained only seven squadrons with 87 pilots, under half the required strength. The Blitz referred to the bombing of most major British cities by the Germans in World War II. [26], The deliberate separation of the Luftwaffe from the rest of the military structure encouraged the emergence of a major "communications gap" between Hitler and the Luftwaffe, which other factors helped to exacerbate. The next night, a large force hit Coventry. If a vigilant bomber crew could spot the fighter first, they had a decent chance of evading it. Summerfield and Peniston-Bird 2007, p. 3. This heavy bombing by German forces began in September 1940 and lasted for 57 days. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965) and his wife inspect bomb-damage in the City of London during the Blitz, 31st December 1940. The Blitz was a German bombing campaign against the United Kingdom, in 1940 and 1941, during the Second World War.The term was first used by the British press and originated from the term Blitzkrieg, the German word meaning 'lightning war'.. Dec. 17, 1983: Six people are. [125], Few fighter aircraft were able to operate at night. Air attacks continued sporadically, then in 1944 an entirely new threat arrived in the form . [118] The London Docklands, in particular, the Royal Victoria Dock, received many hits and Port of London trade was disrupted. [163] By the end of the air campaign over Britain, only eight percent of the German effort against British ports was made using mines. Seven major and eight heavy attacks were flown, but the weather made it difficult to keep up the pressure. The first three directives in 1940 did not mention civilian populations or morale in any way. It is argued that persisting with attacks on RAF airfields might have won air superiority for the Luftwaffe. The hope was that, if it could deceive German bombardiers, it would draw more bombers away from the real target. The general neglect of the RAF until the late spurt in 1938, left few resources for night air defence and the Government, through the Air Ministry and other civil and military institutions was responsible for policy. [80] The WVS organised the evacuation of children, established centres for those displaced by bombing and operated canteens, salvage and recycling schemes. [1] It was the capital not just for the United Kingdom, but for the entire British Empire. [12], Five nights later, Birmingham was hit by 369 bombers from KG 54, KG26, and KG55. Reflections made by factory skylights were created by placing lights under angled wooden panels. Dozens of men, women and children celebrate a Christmas party at a London Underground station during the Blitz in 1940. Included are activities that London was then bombed for 57 consecutive nights, and often during daytime too. Contact Us 0207 608 5516 Call today: 9am - 5.30pm From 1943 to the end of the war, he [Harris] and other proponents of the area offensive represented it [the bomber offensive] less as an attack on morale than as an assault on the housing, utilities, communications, and other services that supported the war production effort. 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. The Most Dangerous Enemy: A History of the Battle of Britain. It had no time to gather reliable intelligence on Britain's industries. [156] The Luftwaffe attacks failed to knock out railways or port facilities for long, even in the Port of London, a target of many attacks. Hull and Glasgow were attacked but 715 long tons (726t) of bombs were spread out all over Britain. At around 8.30pm on Sunday 13 October, a high-explosive bomb plunged through the Coronation Avenue flats on Stoke Newington High Street, and exploded directly above a shelter made up of three interconnected basements. From the beginning of the National Socialist regime until 1939, there was a debate in German military journals over the role of strategic bombardment, with some contributors arguing along the lines of the British and Americans. However, the use of delayed-action bombs, while initially very effective, gradually had less impact, partly because they failed to detonate. This philosophy proved impractical, as Bomber Command lacked the technology and equipment for mass night operations, since resources were diverted to Fighter Command in the mid-1930s and it took until 1943 to catch up. [152] Raeder's successorKarl Dnitzwouldon the intervention of Hitlergain control of one unit (KG 40), but Gring would soon regain it. [145] Use of incendiaries, which were inherently inaccurate, indicated much less care was taken to avoid civilian property close to industrial sites. The first attack merely damaged the rail network for three days,[102] and the second attack failed altogether. The Blitz began on 7 September, 'Black Saturday', when German bombers attacked London, leaving 430 dead and 1,600 injured. [145], In 1941, the Luftwaffe shifted strategy again. [114] It is not clear whether the power station or any specific structure was targeted during the German offensive as the Luftwaffe could not accurately bomb select targets during night operations. 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 first German attack on London actually occurred by accident. Notable interviews include Thomas Alderson, the first recipient of the George Cross, John Cormack, who survived eight days trapped beneath rubble on Clydeside, and Herbert Morrison's famous "Britain shall not burn" appeal for more fireguards in December 1940. 5 Jan. Leslie Hore-Belisha, Britain's Minister of War, is dismissed. The Metropolitan-Vickers works in Manchester was hit by 12 long tons (12.2t) of bombs. 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. Throughout 1940, dummy airfields were prepared, good enough to stand up to skilled observation. In late 1943, just before the Battle of Berlin, Harris declared the power of Bomber Command would enable it to achieve "a state of devastation in which surrender is inevitable". The German bombers would fly along either beam until they picked up the signal from the other beam. [68], Although only a small number of Londoners used the mass shelters, when journalists, celebrities and foreigners visited they became part of the Beveridge Report, part of a national debate on social and class division. The receipt of the German signal by the receiver was duly passed to the transmitter, the signal to be repeated. [168] The Blenheim had only a small speed advantage to overtake a German bomber in a stern-chase. Bungay, Stephen (2000). 1940 30 June: The order is given by Reichsmarschall Hermann Gering, head of the Luftwaffe, to draw the RAF into battle. [2], The military effectiveness of bombing varied. The History Place - World War II in Europe Timeline: London During the Blitz London during the Blitz A view of Big Ben through barbed wire entanglement. Five main rail lines were cut in London and rolling stock damaged. [143], Not all of the Luftwaffe effort was made against inland cities. The Blitz The heavy and frequent bombing attacks on London and other cities was known as the 'Blitz'. [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. In one incident on 28/29 April, Peter Stahl of KG 30 was flying on his 50th mission. All but one railway station line was blocked for several weeks. [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. [156] Hitler now had his sights set on attacking the USSR with Operation Barbarossa, and the Blitz came to an end. Destroying RAF Fighter Command would allow the Germans to gain control of the skies over the invasion area. So worried were the government over the sudden campaign of leaflets and posters distributed by the Communist Party in Coventry and London, that the police were sent to seize their production facilities. Official histories concluded that the mental health of a nation may have improved, while panic was rare. [129] AA defences improved by better use of radar and searchlights. World War 2 Timeline - 1940. by Ben Johnson. Both the RAF and Luftwaffe struggled to replace manpower losses, though the Germans had larger reserves of trained aircrew. [121] Few anti-aircraft guns had fire-control systems, and the underpowered searchlights were usually ineffective against aircraft at altitudes above 12,000ft (3,700m). [161] This raid was significant, as 63 German fighters were sent with the bombers, indicating the growing effectiveness of RAF night fighter defences. However, meteorological conditions over Britain were not favourable for flying and prevented an escalation in air operations. Between 1940 and 1941, the Germans attacked Britain by bombing London. [17], The vital industries and transport centres that would be targeted for shutdown were valid military targets. [173] On 3/4 May, nine were shot down in one night. Reception committees were completely unprepared for the condition of some of the children. [10] Bombing failed to demoralise the British into surrender or do much damage to the war economy; eight months of bombing never seriously hampered British war production, which continued to increase. X- and Y-Gert beams were placed over false targets and switched only at the last minute. Over several months, the 20,000 shells spent per raider shot down in September 1940, was reduced to 4,087 in January 1941 and to 2,963 shells in February 1941. To prevent German formations from hitting targets in Britain, Bomber Command would destroy Luftwaffe aircraft on their bases, aircraft in their factories and fuel reserves by attacking oil plants. From 1916 to 1918, German raids had diminished against countermeasures which demonstrated defence against night air raids was possible. [173] In May 1941, RAF night fighters shot down 38 German bombers. [145] Captured German aircrews also indicated the homes of industrial workers were deliberately targeted. Only a few weeks after the British victory in the Battle of. Want to Read. [173] On 10/11 May, London suffered severe damage, but 10 German bombers were downed. Fighter Command lost 17 fighters and six pilots. Many unemployed people were drafted into the Royal Army Pay Corps and with the Pioneer Corps, were tasked with salvaging and clean-up. In December, only 11 major and five heavy attacks were made. By 16 February 1941, this had grown to 12; with 5 equipped, or partially equipped with Beaufighters spread over 5 Groups. Other reasons, including industry dispersal may have been a factor. [52], Based in part on the experience of German bombing in the First World War, politicians feared mass psychological trauma from aerial attacks and the collapse of civil society. This led the British to develop countermeasures, which became known as the Battle of the Beams. [80], Pre-war dire predictions of mass air-raid neurosis were not borne out. American observer Ralph Ingersoll reported the bombing was inaccurate and did not hit targets of military value, but destroyed the surrounding areas. Only one year earlier, there had only been 6,600 full-time and 13,800 part-time firemen in the entire country. In mid-September 1940, about 150,000 people a night slept in the Underground, although by winter and spring the numbers declined to 100,000 or less. German crews, even if they survived, faced capture. This timeline highlights key moments in the run up to and during the Battle of Britain. Mackay2002, pp. 6063, 6768, 75, 7879, 21516. Red lamps were used to simulate blast furnaces and locomotive fireboxes. 10 Group RAF, No. [73][74][75], The cheerful crowds visiting bomb sites were so large they interfered with rescue work. [92], German beacons operated on the medium-frequency band and the signals involved a two-letter Morse identifier followed by a lengthy time-lapse which enabled the Luftwaffe crews to determine the signal's bearing. In 1938, a committee of psychiatrists predicted three times as many mental as physical casualties from aerial bombing, implying three to four million psychiatric patients. London alone had 1,589 assembly points and although most children boarded evacuation trains at their local stations, trains ran out of the capital's main stations every nine minutes for nine hours. On 10/11 March, 240 bombers dropped 193 tons (196t) of high explosives and 46,000 incendiaries. Of greater potential was the GL (Gunlaying) radar and searchlights with fighter direction from RAF fighter control rooms to begin a GCI system (Ground Control-led Interception) under Group-level control (No. Around 250 tons (9,000 bombs) had been dropped, killing 1,413 people and injuring 3,500 more. Much of the city centre was destroyed. [43] The Luftwaffe's strategy became increasingly aimless over the winter of 19401941. Roads and railways were blocked and ships could not leave harbour. When the third cross-beam was reached the bomb aimer activated a third trigger, which stopped the first hand of the clock, with the second hand continuing. Between September 1940 and May 1941 the German Luftwaffe attacked the city on over 70 separate occasions, with around 1 million homes being destroyed and killing over 20,000 civilians. Anti-Semitic attitudes became widespread, particularly in London. [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. The London docks and railways communications had taken a heavy pounding, and much damage had been done to the railway system outside. A tall white house known locally as the 'leaning tower of Rotherhithe' has sold for 1.5million. With no sign of the RAF weakening and the Luftflotten suffering many losses, OKL was keen for a change in strategy. [9] and a large raid on the night of 10-11 May 1941. [128] London's defences were rapidly reorganised by General Pile, the Commander-in-Chief of Anti-Aircraft Command. 'Blitz' is an abbreviation of the German word 'blitzkrieg', meaning 'lightning war'. In those sites, carbon arc lamps were used to simulate flashes at tram overhead wires. The property stands alone on a section of riverbank on the Thames, in South East London 's . To paralyse the enemy armed forces by stopping production in armaments factories. The word "blitz" comes from the German term. The Germans adapted the short-range Lorenz system into Knickebein, a 3033MHz system, which used two Lorenz beams with much stronger signals.