The bombings left parts of London in ruins, and when the war ended in 1945 much of the city had to be rebuilt. [146] Eventually, he convinced Hitler of the need to attack British port facilities. Another innovation was the boiler fire. Summerfield and Peniston-Bird 2007, p. 84. Their incendiary bombs Dowding had introduced the concept of airborne radar and encouraged its usage. [92] The counter-operations were carried out by British Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) units under Wing Commander Edward Addison, No. By the height of the Blitz, they were becoming more successful. [48] Based on experience with German strategic bombing during World War I against the United Kingdom, the British government estimated that 50 casualtieswith about one-third killedwould result for every tonne of bombs dropped on London. 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. It reveals the devastation caused by the Blitz over eight months. Important events of 1940, including the beginning of the London Blitz (pictured above) and the Battle of Britain. The property stands alone on a section of riverbank on the Thames, in South East London 's . Praise for Blitz: "With a relaxed style and array of fun characters, including an agent who makes people who look at him see their mother and a baby goat that turns into a little boy, O'Malley's latest will appeal to his many followers." Kirkus Reviews Praise for Daniel O'Malley and the Rook Files series: "Laugh-out-loud funny, occasionally bawdy, and paced like a spy thriller . The reverse would apply only if the meacon were closer. [9] and a large raid on the night of 10-11 May 1941. [109], By mid-November 1940, when the Germans adopted a changed plan, more than 11,600 long tons (11,800t) of high explosive and nearly 1,000,000 incendiaries had fallen on London. Still, in February 1941, there remained only seven squadrons with 87 pilots, under half the required strength. They have usually been treated as distinct campaigns, but they are linked by the fact that the German Air Force conducted a continuous eleven-month offensive against Britain from July 1940 to June 1941. Locating targets in skies obscured by industrial haze meant the target area needed to be illuminated and hit "without regard for the civilian population". Although bombing attacks unexpectedly did not begin immediately during the Phoney War,[51] civilians were aware of the deadly power of aerial attacks through newsreels of Barcelona, the Bombing of Guernica and the Bombing of Shanghai. The Blitz The heavy and frequent bombing attacks on London and other cities was known as the 'Blitz'. [136] The Germans were surprised by the success of the attack. [33] Others argue that the Luftwaffe made little impression on Fighter Command in the last week of August and first week of September and that the shift in strategy was not decisive. [27], Although not specifically prepared to conduct independent strategic air operations against an opponent, the Luftwaffe was expected to do so over Britain. Soon a beam was traced to Derby (which had been mentioned in Luftwaffe transmissions). [28], The Luftwaffe's poor intelligence meant that their aircraft were not always able to locate their targets, and thus attacks on factories and airfields failed to achieve the desired results. Battle of Britain timeline. The first cross-beam alerted the bomb-aimer, who activated a bombing clock when the second cross-beam was reached. This meant that British coastal centres and shipping at sea west of Ireland were the prime targets. In September, there had been no less than 667 hits on railways in Great Britain, and at one period, between 5,000 and 6,000 wagons were standing idle from the effect of delayed action bombs. To start off, the idea of the London Underground as a bomb shelter wasn't a new one by 1940. The Blitz and what was known as 'Black Saturday' was the start in Britain of what Poland and Western Europe had already experienced - total war. [129] AA defences improved by better use of radar and searchlights. Poor intelligence about British industry and economic efficiency led to OKL concentrating on tactics rather than strategy. [165], The last major attack on London was on 10/11 May 1941, on which the Luftwaffe flew 571 sorties and dropped 787 long tons (800t) of bombs. Bombsite rubble from Birmingham was used to make runways on US Air Force bases in Kent and Essex in southeast England. 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. The electronic war intensified but the Luftwaffe flew major inland missions only on moonlit nights. Bungay, Stephen (2000). 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. Harold Macmillan wrote in 1956 that he and others around him "thought of air warfare in 1938 rather as people think of nuclear war today". This became official policy on 7 October. Roads and railways were blocked and ships could not leave harbour. [101] On 8 September the Luftwaffe returned; 412 people were killed and 747 severely wounded. [139], Although official German air doctrine did target civilian morale, it did not espouse the attacking of civilians directly. This timeline highlights key moments in the run up to and during the Battle of Britain. Democracies, where public opinion was allowed, were thought particularly vulnerable. [117] Attacks against East End docks were effective and many Thames barges were destroyed. German legal scholars of the 1930s carefully worked out guidelines for what type of bombing was permissible under international law. Over a quarter of London's population had left the city by November 1940. Only a few weeks after the British victory in the Battle of. Instead, he wasted aircraft of Fliegerfhrer Atlantik (Flying Command Atlantic) on bombing mainland Britain instead of attacks against convoys. [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. Wever outlined five points of air strategy: Wever argued that OKL should not be solely educated in tactical and operational matters but also in grand strategy, war economics, armament production and the mentality of potential opponents (also known as mirror imaging). 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. It is argued that persisting with attacks on RAF airfields might have won air superiority for the Luftwaffe. [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). [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. In the Myth of the Blitz, Calder exposed some of the counter-evidences of anti-social and divisive behaviours. More than 70,000 buildings . Other reasons, including industry dispersal may have been a factor. Many popular works of fiction during the 1920s and 1930s portrayed aerial bombing, such as H. G. Wells' novel The Shape of Things to Come and its 1936 film adaptation, and others such as The Air War of 1936 and The Poison War. Ingersol wrote that Battersea Power Station, one of the largest landmarks in London, received only a minor hit. The number of suicides and drunkenness declined, and London recorded only about two cases of "bomb neurosis" per week in the first three months of bombing. In this section. The London Underground rail system was also affected; high explosive bombs damaged the tunnels rendering some unsafe. Two hours later, guided by the fires set by the first assault, a second group of raiders commenced another attack that lasted until 4:30 the following morning. [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. In comparison to the Allied bombing campaign against Germany, casualties due to the Blitz were relatively low; the bombing of Hamburg alone inflicted about 40,000 civilian casualties. On 9 April 1941, Luftflotte 2 dropped 150 tons (152t) of high explosives and 50,000 incendiaries from 120 bombers in a five-hour attack. Much damage was done. [11][162] Plymouth in particular, because of its vulnerable position on the south coast and close proximity to German air bases, was subjected to the heaviest attacks. 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. 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. The exhausted population took three weeks to overcome the effects of an attack. [168] The Boulton Paul Defiant, despite its poor performance during daylight engagements, was a much better night fighter. London experienced regular attacks and on 10-11 May 1941 was hit by its biggest raid. 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. [119] The Ministry of Home Security reported that although the damage caused was "serious" it was not "crippling" and the quays, basins, railways and equipment remained operational. Over a period of nine months, over 43,500 civilians were killed in the raids, which focused on major cities and industrial centres. Most residents found that such divisions continued within the shelters and many arguments and fights occurred over noise, space and other matters. The debris of St Thomas's Hospital, London, the morning after receiving a direct hit during the Blitz, in front of the Houses of . The Blitz (shortened from German 'Blitzkrieg', "lightning war") was the period of sustained strategic bombing of the United Kingdom by Nazi Germany during the Second World War. To support the operations of the army formations, independent of railways, i.e., armoured forces and motorised forces, by impeding the enemy's advance and participating directly in ground operations. The maps help to contextualize the staggering statistics from the Blitz: in London alone, there were 57 consecutive nights of bombing. Loge continued for 57 nights. 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. (Photo by J. 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 Communists attempted to blame the damage and casualties of the Coventry raid on the rich factory owners, big business and landowning interests and called for a negotiated peace. At the beginning of the war in 1939, London was the largest city in the world, with 8.2 million inhabitants. [60] In March 1943, 173 men, women and children were crushed to death at Bethnal Green tube station in a crowd surge after a woman fell down the steps as she entered the station. However, meteorological conditions over Britain were not favourable for flying and prevented an escalation in air operations. Direction-finding checks also enabled the controller to keep the pilot on course. Get 20% off purchases above 10.Apply discount code SAVE20 at checkout.. Company Search. [149] This strategy had been recognised before the war, but Operation Eagle Attack and the following Battle of Britain had got in the way of striking at Britain's sea communications and diverted German air strength to the campaign against the RAF and its supporting structures. The light guns, about half of which were of the excellent Bofors 40 mm, dealt with aircraft only up to 6,000ft (1,800m). Signals from the station were retransmitted by the bomber's equipment, which allowed the distance the bomber had travelled along the beam to be measured precisely. 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. [107], Luftwaffe policy at this point was primarily to continue progressive attacks on London, chiefly by night attack; second, to interfere with production in the vast industrial arms factories of the West Midlands, again chiefly by night attack; and third to disrupt plants and factories during the day by means of fighter-bombers. Some people even told government surveyors that they enjoyed air raids if they occurred occasionally, perhaps once a week. History of the Battle of Britain The Blitz - The Hardest Night The Blitz - The Hardest Night 10/11 May 1941, 11:02pm - 05:57am The most devastating raid on London took place on the night of 10/11 May 1941. There was also a mentality in all air forces that flying by day would obviate the need for night operations and their inherent disadvantages. Corum 1997, pp. Seven major and eight heavy attacks were flown, but the weather made it difficult to keep up the pressure. When this proved impossible, he began to fear that popular feeling would turn against his regime, and he redoubled efforts to mount a similar "terror offensive" against Britain in order to produce a stalemate in which both sides would hesitate to use bombing at all. Its round-the-clock bombing of London was an immediate attempt to force the British government to capitulate, but it was also striking at Britain's vital sea communications to achieve a victory through siege. [184], Raids during the Blitz produced the greatest divisions and morale effects in the working-class areas, with lack of sleep, insufficient shelters and inefficiency of warning systems being major causes. The Battle of Britain The hope was that, if it could deceive German bombardiers, it would draw more bombers away from the real target. Hull and Glasgow were attacked but 715 long tons (726t) of bombs were spread out all over Britain. Anti-Jewish sentiment was reported, particularly around the East End of London, with anti-Semitic graffiti and anti-Semitic rumours, such as that Jewish people were "hogging" air raid shelters. In Portsmouth Southsea and Gosport waves of 150 bombers destroyed vast swaths of the city with 40,000 incendiaries. Aviation strategists dispute that morale was ever a major consideration for Bomber Command. Erik Larson (Goodreads Author) (shelved 1 time as london-blitz) avg rating 4.29 99,548 ratings published 2020. Anti-Semitic attitudes became widespread, particularly in London. Timeline How Allies Broke The Deadlock | First World War EP6 | Timeline Biographer Reveals Audrey Hepburn's . [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. Edgar Jones, et al. 4546. [60], Each day orderly lines of people queued until 4:00pm, when they were allowed to enter the stations. It could be claimed civilians were not to be targeted directly, but the breakdown of production would affect their morale and will to fight. The Most Dangerous Enemy: A History of the Battle of Britain. Many houses and commercial centres were heavily damaged, the electrical supply was knocked out, and five oil tanks and two magazines exploded. London: Aurum Press. In late 1940, Churchill credited the shelters. It also took part in the bombing over Britain. The programme evacuated 2,664 boys and girls (ages 5 - 15) until its ending in October after the sinking of the SS City of Benares with the loss of 81 children out of 100 on board. The Luftwaffe had dropped 16,331 long tons (16,593t) of bombs. (PROSE: A History of Humankind) In 1903, after receiving a wealth of information from the future, Grigori Rasputin foresaw the Blitz. [141][failed verification] Altogether, 130 German bombers destroyed the historical centre of London. At this time, the Underground lines were mostly owned and run by separate companies, all of which were merged together with . 348 bombers led by 617 fighters barraged London around 4:00 in the afternoon that day. (AUDIO: The Wanderer) Despite being forbidden under the terms of the Treaty of . Three cross-beams intersected the beam along which the He 111 was flying. [149] The indifference displayed by the OKL to Directive 23 was perhaps best demonstrated in operational directives which diluted its effect. 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. It was supposed Bomber Command, Coastal Command, and the Royal Navy could not operate under conditions of German air superiority. [58], Deep shelters provided most protection against a direct hit. Nevertheless, its official opposition to attacks on civilians became an increasingly moot point when large-scale raids were conducted in November and December 1940. To reduce losses further, strategy changed to prefer night raids, giving the bombers greater protection under cover of darkness. Children pull crackers under paper decorations while jubilant adults smile . The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz (Kindle Edition) by. [46], In an operational capacity, limitations in weapons technology and quick British reactions were making it more difficult to achieve strategic effect. In those sites, carbon arc lamps were used to simulate flashes at tram overhead wires. World War 2 Timeline - 1940. by Ben Johnson. [151], Directive 23 was the only concession made by Gring to the Kriegsmarine over the strategic bombing strategy of the Luftwaffe against Britain. The heavy fighting in the Battle of Britain had eaten up most of Fighter Command's resources, so there was little investment in night fighting. Gring's lack of co-operation was detrimental to the one air strategy with potentially decisive strategic effect on Britain. Tickets were issued for bunks in large shelters, to reduce the amount of time spent queuing. [1], In early July 1940, the German High Command began planning Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. The British government grew anxious about the delays and disruption of supplies during the month. Summerfield, Penny and Peniston-Bird, Corina. [173] On 10/11 May, London suffered severe damage, but 10 German bombers were downed. An interactive map showing the location of bombs dropped on London during World War II has been created. [89][90], Knickebein was in general use but the X-Gert (X apparatus) was reserved for specially trained pathfinder crews. Attacking ports, shipping and imports as well as disrupting rail traffic in the surrounding areas, especially the distribution of coal, an important fuel in all industrial economies of the Second World War, would net a positive result. Airfields became water-logged and the 18 Kampfgruppen (bomber groups) of the Luftwaffe's Kampfgeschwadern (bomber wings) were relocated to Germany for rest and re-equipment. The air campaign soon got underway against London and other British cities. What he saw as the mythserene national unitybecame "historical truth". [99] Fighter Command lost 23 fighters, with six pilots killed and another seven wounded. [79] The Women's Voluntary Services for Civil Defence (WVS) was established in 1938 by the Home Secretary, Samuel Hoare, who considered it the female branch of the ARP. Smaller raids are not included in the tonnages. The cities and the capital were bombed until the following morning, leaving more than 430 dead and over 1600 people badly injured. To support naval operations by attacking naval bases, protecting German naval bases and participating directly in naval battles. The rate of civilian housing loss was averaging 40,000 people per week dehoused in September 1940. Some 107,400 gross tons (109,100t) of shipping was damaged in the Thames Estuary and 1,600 civilians were casualties. [125], Few fighter aircraft were able to operate at night. [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. Contact Us 0207 608 5516 Call today: 9am - 5.30pm But the Luftwaffe's effort eased in the last 10 attacks as seven Kampfgruppen moved to Austria in preparation for the Balkans Campaign in Yugoslavia and Greece. More than 13,000 civilians had been killed, and almost 20,000 injured, in September and October alone,[110] but the death toll was much less than expected. [43] The Luftwaffe's strategy became increasingly aimless over the winter of 19401941. The primary goal of Bomber Command was to destroy the German industrial base (economic warfare) and in doing so reduce morale. [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. An average of 200 were able to strike per night. This involved the bombing of English Channel convoys, ports, and RAF airfields and supporting industries. In one incident on 28/29 April, Peter Stahl of KG 30 was flying on his 50th mission. [109], These decisions, apparently taken at the Luftflotte or Fliegerkorps level, meant attacks on individual targets were gradually replaced by what was, for all intents and purposes, an unrestricted area attack or Terrorangriff (Terror Attack). [45] This method condemned the offensive over Britain to failure before it began. Liverpool and its port became an important destination for convoys heading through the Western Approaches from North America, bringing supplies and materials. Explore Docklands at War. On 17 April 346 tons (352t) of explosives and 46,000 incendiaries were dropped from 250 bombers led by KG 26. The Royal Chapel, inner quadrangle and Palace gates were hit, and several workmen were injured. [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). 219 Squadron RAF at RAF Kenley). The Metropolitan-Vickers works in Manchester was hit by 12 long tons (12.2t) of bombs. [100] Another 247 bombers from Luftflotte 3 (Air Fleet 3) attacked that night. Little tonnage was dropped on Fighter Command airfields; Bomber Command airfields were hit instead. [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. [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. Predictions had underestimated civilian adaptability and resourcefulness. [178][3], In aircraft production, the British were denied the opportunity to reach the planned target of 2,500 aircraft in a month, arguably the greatest achievement of the bombing, as it forced the dispersal of the industry, at first because of damage to aircraft factories and then by a policy of precautionary dispersal. 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. [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. Many Londoners, in particular, took to using the Underground railway system, without authority, for shelter and sleeping through the night. However, as with the attacks in the south, the Germans failed to prevent maritime movements or cripple industry in the regions. Summerfield and Peniston-Bird 2007, p. 3. 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. Ports were easier to find and made better targets. The blitz 1940-1941: an interactive timeline This interactive timeline tracks the German air force's bombing campaign as it devastated towns and cities across Britain during the second world. From July until September 1940 the Luftwaffe attacked Fighter Command to gain air superiority as a prelude to invasion. Ground transmitters sent pulses at a rate of 180 per minute. 11 Group RAF and No.