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. [49] In 1939 military theorist Basil Liddell-Hart predicted that 250,000 deaths and injuries in Britain could occur in the first week of war. [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. The mines' ability to destroy entire streets earned them respect in Britain, but several fell unexploded into British hands allowing counter-measures to be developed which damaged the German anti-shipping campaign. [85] Although night air defence was causing greater concern before the war, it was not at the forefront of RAF planning after 1935, when funds were directed into the new ground-based radar day fighter interception system. Over the next few days weather was poor and the next main effort would not be made until 15 September 1940. Contact Us 0207 608 5516 Call today: 9am - 5.30pm Important events of 1940, including the beginning of the London Blitz (pictured above) and the Battle of Britain. [93], For industrial areas, fires and lighting were simulated. [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. [27], Although not specifically prepared to conduct independent strategic air operations against an opponent, the Luftwaffe was expected to do so over Britain. [167] The Bristol Blenheim F.1 carried four .303in (7.7mm) machine guns which lacked the firepower to easily shoot down a Do 17, Ju 88 or Heinkel He 111. [35][104][105], On 14 October, the heaviest night attack to date saw 380 German bombers from Luftflotte 3 hit London. [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. With no sign of the RAF weakening and the Luftflotten suffering many losses, OKL was keen for a change in strategy. The London Blitz Timeline Nathaniel Zarate Sep 7 1940 September 7, 1940 On Saturday September 7th 1940, Hitler ordered the Luftwaffe, the German Air Force to bomb London. [143], Not all of the Luftwaffe effort was made against inland cities. The air campaign soon got underway against London and other British cities. [9] and a large raid on the night of 10-11 May 1941. More might have been achieved had OKL exploited the vulnerability of British sea communications. London: The Blitz, September 1940-June 1941 Records are incomplete, but between 7 October 1940 and 6 June 1941 almost 28,000 high explosive bombs and over 400 parachute mines were recorded landing on Greater London. While wartime bombings affected London in both world wars, it was the Blitz that truly altered the cityscape forever. [156] Westminster Abbey and the Law Courts were damaged, while the Chamber of the House of Commons was destroyed. On 8 May 1941, 57 ships were destroyed, sunk or damaged, amounting to 80,000 long tons (81,300t). The first three directives in 1940 did not mention civilian populations or morale in any way. Many of the latter were abandoned in 1940 as unsafe. [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. A Raid From Above A further attack on the Clyde, this time at Greenock, took place on 6 and 7 May. [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. [145] The shift from precision bombing to area attack is indicated in the tactical methods and weapons dropped. [40] The Port of London, in particular, was an important target, bringing in one-third of overseas trade. [134], From November 1940 to February 1941, the Luftwaffe shifted its strategy and attacked other industrial cities. Too early and the chances of success receded; too late and the real conflagration at the target would exceed the diversionary fires. It reveals the devastation caused by the Blitz over eight months. Five main rail lines were cut in London and rolling stock damaged. Contributions rose to the 5,000 "Spitfire Funds" to build fighters and the number of work days lost to strikes in 1940 was the lowest in history. Roads and railways were blocked and ships could not leave harbour. Bombing civilians would cause a collapse of morale and a loss of production in the remaining factories. The RAF and the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) adopted much of this apocalyptic thinking. [131] Whitehall's disquiet at the failures of the RAF led to the replacement of Dowding (who was already due for retirement) with Sholto Douglas on 25 November. The cities and the capital were bombed until the following morning, leaving more than 430 dead and over 1600 people badly injured. [32], The decision to change strategy is sometimes claimed as a major mistake by OKL. [117] Attacks against East End docks were effective and many Thames barges were destroyed. The primary target of NAZI Germany was to destroy the civilian center and industries on London. 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. [35], While Gring was optimistic the Luftwaffe could prevail, Hitler was not. 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 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. Reports suggested the attacks blocked the movement of coal to the Greater London regions and urgent repairs were required. It hoped to destroy morale by destroying the enemy's factories and public utilities as well as its food stocks (by attacking shipping). Between 1940 and 1941, the Germans attacked Britain by bombing London. A tall white house known locally as the 'leaning tower of Rotherhithe' has sold for 1.5million. 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". [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. The main focus was London. Erik Larson (Goodreads Author) (shelved 1 time as london-blitz) avg rating 4.29 99,548 ratings published 2020. On the night of 22/23 July 1940, Flying Officer Cyril Ashfield (pilot), Pilot Officer Geoffrey Morris (air observer) and Flight Sergeant Reginald Leyland (Air Intercept radar operator) of the Fighter Interception Unit became the first pilot and crew to intercept and destroy an enemy aircraft using onboard radar to guide them to a visual interception, when their AI night fighter brought down a Do 17 off Sussex. [152] Raeder's successorKarl Dnitzwouldon the intervention of Hitlergain control of one unit (KG 40), but Gring would soon regain it. [24], A major problem in the managing of the Luftwaffe was Gring. [72] The psychoanalysts were correct, and the special network of psychiatric clinics opened to receive mental casualties of the attacks closed due to lack of need. Red lamps were used to simulate blast furnaces and locomotive fireboxes. By 16 February 1941, this had grown to 12; with 5 equipped, or partially equipped with Beaufighters spread over 5 Groups. This heavy bombing by German forces began in September 1940 and lasted for 57 days. Rapid frequency changes were introduced for X-Gert, whose wider band of frequencies and greater tactical flexibility ensured it remained effective at a time when British selective jamming was degrading the effectiveness of Y-Gert. [125], Few fighter aircraft were able to operate at night. IWM C 5424 1. Some 107,400 gross tons (109,100t) of shipping was damaged in the Thames Estuary and 1,600 civilians were casualties. The lack of bombing in the Phoney War contributed significantly to the return of people to the cities, but class conflict was not eased a year later when evacuation operations had to be put into effect again. Loge continued for 57 nights. [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. The lightning attack was infamously called "Black Saturday". 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. 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. Entertainment included concerts, films, plays and books from local libraries. The effectiveness of British countermeasures against Knickebein caused the Luftwaffe to prefer fire light instead for target marking and navigation. [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). The London Blitz started quietly. Around 250 tons (9,000 bombs) had been dropped, killing 1,413 people and injuring 3,500 more. [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. 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). 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". Hayward 2007, www.ltmrecordings.com/blitz1notes.html, Last edited on 24 February 2023, at 12:33, German strategic bombing during World War I, Neville Chamberlain declared war on Germany, Women's Voluntary Services for Civil Defence, Bombing of Wiener Neustadt in World War II, "The Blitz: The Bombing of Britain in WWII", "Families pay tribute to Stoke Newington war dead", Forgotten Voices of the Blitz and the Battle for Britain, The Wages of Destruction: The Making and Breaking of the Nazi Economy, Parliament & The Blitz UK Parliament Living Heritage, "London Blitz 1940: the first day's bomb attacks listed in full", Archive recordings from The Blitz, 194041 (audiobook), The Blitz: Sorting the Myth from the Reality, Exploring 20th century London The Blitz, Oral history interview with Barry Fulford, recalling his childhood during the Blitz, Interactive bombing map of Buckinghamshire, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Blitz&oldid=1141315217. [168] The Blenheim had only a small speed advantage to overtake a German bomber in a stern-chase. Poor intelligence about British industry and economic efficiency led to OKL concentrating on tactics rather than strategy. 6063, 6768, 75, 7879, 21516. 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). The Battle of Britain and the Blitz were two central moments in the British war effort during World War II. Dowding was summoned on 17 October, to explain the poor state of the night defences and the supposed (but ultimately successful) "failure" of his daytime strategy. 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. [160], On 13 March, the upper Clyde port of Clydebank near Glasgow was bombed (Clydebank Blitz). Destroying RAF Fighter Command would allow the Germans to gain control of the skies over the invasion area. 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. Each setback caused more civilians to volunteer to become unpaid Local Defence Volunteers. [93] The use of diversionary techniques such as fires had to be made carefully. 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. [183], A popular image arose of British people in the Second World War: a collection of people locked in national solidarity. Many civilians who were unwilling or unable to join the military joined the Home Guard, the Air Raid Precautions service (ARP), the Auxiliary Fire Service and many other civilian organisations. [149], From the German point of view, March 1941 saw an improvement. This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 12:33. With the doors to our museums physically closed, we are offering some exclusive World War II content from our galleries and collections. [132] On 19 November 1940 the famous RAF night fighter ace John Cunningham shot down a Ju 88 bomber using airborne radar, just as Dowding had predicted. : The Blitz 1940 971941 510 : Blitz Authorities expected that the raids would be brief and in daylight, rather than attacks by night, which forced Londoners to sleep in shelters. On the night of 13/14 November, 77 He 111s of Kampfgeschwader 26 (26th Bomber Wing, or KG 26) bombed London while 63 from KG 55 hit Birmingham. [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. Bomb-Damage Maps Reveal London's World War II Devastation. The Blitz holds a special place in British history for the light which it supposedly sheds on . [93] In general, German bombers were likely to get through to their targets without too much difficulty. For all the destruction of life and property, the observers sent out by the Ministry of Home Security failed to discover the slightest sign of a break in morale. [63] Peak use of the Underground as shelter was 177,000 on 27 September 1940 and a November 1940 census of London, found that about 4% of residents used the Tube and other large shelters, 9% in public surface shelters and 27% in private home shelters, implying that the remaining 60% of the city stayed at 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. On 17 September he postponed Operation Sea Lion (as it turned out, indefinitely) rather than gamble Germany's newly gained military prestige on a risky cross-Channel operation, particularly in the face of a sceptical Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union. Gring's lack of co-operation was detrimental to the one air strategy with potentially decisive strategic effect on Britain. Plymouth was attacked five times before the end of the month while Belfast, Hull, and Cardiff were hit. This caused more than 2,000 fires; 1,436 people were killed and 1,792 seriously injured, which affected morale badly. [55] The relocation of the government and the civil service was also planned but would only have occurred if necessary so as not to damage civilian morale. One-third of London's streets were impassable. Then bombers carrying SC1000 (1,000kg (2,205lb)), SC1400 (1,400kg (3,086lb)), and SC1800 (1,800kg (3,968lb)) "Satan" bombs were used to level streets and residential areas. [148], Hitler's interest in this strategy forced Gring and Jeschonnek to review the air war against Britain in January 1941. To start off, the idea of the London Underground as a bomb shelter wasn't a new one by 1940. Night fighters could claim only four bombers for four losses. It believed it could greatly affect the balance of power on the battlefield by disrupting production and damaging civilian morale. [45] This method condemned the offensive over Britain to failure before it began. 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. Many more ports were attacked. (AUDIO: The Wanderer) Despite being forbidden under the terms of the Treaty of .
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