WORLD WAR II
WHAT WAS IT LIKE
IN THE BLITZ?
THE BLITZ: FACTFILE
• The Blitz began on 7 September 1940.
• It started when Hitler changed his tactics during the Battle of Britain
and ordered the Luftwaffe to start bombing London rather than military
targets such as airforce bases, runways and radar installations. The Blitz
had begun
• German bombing of London lasted for 57 nights in a row after
September 7 1940.
• The Germans dropped on average 2000 - 3000 tonnes of bombs per
raid.
• 3,500,000 homes were damaged or destroyed.
• 16 May 1941 was the last heavy German raid, although bombing went
on throughout the war.
How did people in Britain prepare for
German air-raids in 1939?
• In 1939 the British people and government expected the
German airforce to bomb Britain immediately. This did not
happen.
• Cinemas were closed and other public entertainments like
football matches were stopped.
• 1 million coffins were produced to handle the number of
casualties.
• People assembled Anderson and Morrison shelters in their
homes and gardens.
How did people defend themselves during the Blitz?
• Air-raid sirens warned people of oncoming raids. Radar gave air
intelligence warning of oncoming raids. Air Raid Precaution Wardens
(ARPs) often tried to spot oncoming planes
• People began to use their Anderson and Morrison Shelters. In London,
many people used the London Underground stations.
• Barrage balloons, searchlights and guns as well as our fighters were
used to stop the German bombers.
• The government ordered a blackout. No street lights, no shop lights,
thick curtains at every window, covered traffic lights and no lighting
cigarettes in the streets.
• People placed strips of tape across their windows to protect themselves
from flying glass.
• The government issued gas masks to all members of the public
including babies
• Children were evacuated from London again
What were the aims of the Luftwaffe?
• The German airforce had two main aims in their bombing.
• They wanted to lower the morale of people in Britain and make them
believe that they could not carry on the war.
• They wanted to make fighting the war as difficult as possible for
Britain by destroying targets that helped Britain’s war effort.
• The German airforce was therefore determined to destroy as much of
London as possible. In particular the London docks were a major
target.
• The House of Commons was bombed during the Blitz.
How much destruction was caused?
• Approximately 40,000 civilians were killed in London between
September 1940 and May 1941
• About 3,500,000 houses were destroyed in the Blitz, including over 1
million in London.
• Many families were made homeless.
• Many people became part-time firemen by joining the Auxiliary Fire
Service (AFS). The ARP and AFS both helped with rescue squads and
the ambulance service.
• Roads were cratered, telephone systems were crippled, gas mains were
fractured, electricity supplies were destroyed.
• Hospitals all over London were damaged, some severely.
• A Blitz spirit was said to have developed. People tried to carry on as
normal.
HOW SHOULD WE
REMEMBER THE BLITZ
TODAY, 60 YEARS LATER?