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. [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. [127] Over 10,000 incendiaries were dropped. Two heavy (50 long tons (51t) of bombs) attacks were also flown. 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. [157] Air attacks sank 39,126 long tons (39,754t) of shipping, with another 111,601 long tons (113,392t) damaged. 28384; Murray 1983, pp. The 'all clear' was sounded at 05.00 on 8 September - 420 people were killed and over 1600 seriously wounded. Browse 1,952 london blitz stock photos and images available, or search for the blitz or world war ii to find more great stock photos and pictures. [76], Despite the attacks, defeat in Norway and France, and the threat of invasion, overall morale remained high. [192] The total number of evacuees numbered 1.4million, including a high proportion from the poorest inner-city families. [62], Communal shelters never housed more than one seventh of Greater London residents. [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. 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. The blasts at Hyde Park and Regents Park kill 11 people and injure 50 others. In Wartime One Girls Journey From The Blitz To Sadlers Wells is understandable in our digital library an online permission to it is set as public . The Blitz came to London on September Saturday 7 th 1940 and lasted for many days. [93], For industrial areas, fires and lighting were simulated. At around 4:00 PM on that September day, 348 German bombers escorted by 617 fighters Sept. 7, 1940 - the beginning of the London Blitz blasted London until 6:00 PM. A Raid From Above The policy of RAF Bomber Command became an attempt to achieve victory through the destruction of civilian will, communications and industry. 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. The Communist Party made political capital out of these difficulties. 10 Group RAF, No. 5 Jan. Leslie Hore-Belisha, Britain's Minister of War, is dismissed. A Gallup poll found only 3% of Britons expected to lose the war in May 1940. In some cases, the concentration of the bombing and resulting conflagration created firestorms of 1,000C. [127] By the second month of the Blitz the defences were not performing well. Other reasons, including industry dispersal may have been a factor. These attacks produced some breaks in morale, with civil leaders fleeing the cities before the offensive reached its height. [103] The air battle was later commemorated by Battle of Britain Day. Only one year earlier, there had only been 6,600 full-time and 13,800 part-time firemen in the entire country. Morrison warned that he could not counter the Communist unrest unless provision of shelters were made. 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. 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). [92] The counter-operations were carried out by British Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) units under Wing Commander Edward Addison, No. The year-long project . [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. His hope wasfor reasons of political prestige within Germany itselfthat the German population would be protected from the Allied bombings. The Blitz was a huge bombing campaign of London and other English cities carried about by the German airforce from September 1940 to May 1941. [17], The vital industries and transport centres that would be targeted for shutdown were valid military targets. [35], While Gring was optimistic the Luftwaffe could prevail, Hitler was not. The Minister of Aircraft Production, Lord Beaverbrook and Churchill distanced themselves. Timeline London portal v t e The United Kingdom took part in World War II from 3 September 1939 until 15 August 1945. London Blitz took place during the World War 2. Plymouth was attacked five times before the end of the month while Belfast, Hull, and Cardiff were hit. [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. In the last days of the battle, the bombers became lures in an attempt to draw the RAF into combat with German fighters. He frequently complained of the Luftwaffe's inability to damage industries sufficiently, saying, "The munitions industry cannot be impeded effectively by air raids usually, the prescribed targets are not hit". At 18:17, it released the first of 10,000 firebombs, eventually amounting to 300 dropped per minute. It is argued that persisting with attacks on RAF airfields might have won air superiority for the Luftwaffe. This was when warfare deliberately included civilian populations. de Zeng, Henry L., Doug G. Stankey and Eddie J. Creek. 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. The first German attack on London actually occurred by accident. 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. With the doors to our museums physically closed, we are offering some exclusive World War II content from our galleries and collections. 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. [127] Other sources say 449 bombers and a total of 470 long tons (478t) of bombs were dropped. [38][a], It was decided to focus on bombing Britain's industrial cities, in daylight to begin with. [169] The Beaufighter had a maximum speed of 320mph (510km/h), an operational ceiling of 26,000ft (7,900m), a climb rate of 2,500ft (760m) per minute, and its battery of four 20mm (0.79in) Hispano cannon and six .303in Browning machine guns was much more lethal. Other targets would be considered if the primary ones could not be attacked because of weather conditions. 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 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. [156], The Luftwaffe could still inflict much damage and after the German conquest of Western Europe, the air and submarine offensive against British sea communications became much more dangerous than the German offensive during the First World War. [147] At Raeder's prompting, Hitler correctly noted that the greatest damage to the British war economy had been done through the destruction of merchant shipping by submarines and air attacks by small numbers of Focke-Wulf Fw 200 naval aircraft and ordered the German air arm to focus its efforts against British convoys. A tall white house known locally as the 'leaning tower of Rotherhithe' has sold for 1.5million. The first cross-beam alerted the bomb-aimer, who activated a bombing clock when the second cross-beam was reached. "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. British fighter aircraft production continued at a rate surpassing Germany's by 2 to 1. The hope was that, if it could deceive German bombardiers, it would draw more bombers away from the real target. The maximum range of Y-Gert was similar to the other systems and it was accurate enough on occasion for specific buildings to be hit. [166] This was not immediately apparent. X-Gert received and analysed the pulses, giving the pilot visual and aural directions. [31], The circumstances affected the Germans more than the British. World War 2 Timeline - 1940. by Ben Johnson. [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. Only one bomber was lost, to anti-aircraft fire, despite the RAF flying 125-night sorties. On occasion, only one-third of German bombs hit their targets. [135] In particular, the West Midlands were targeted. Ground transmitters sent pulses at a rate of 180 per minute. The main damage was inflicted on the commercial and domestic areas. The RAF and the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) adopted much of this apocalyptic thinking. From 1916 to 1918, German raids had diminished against countermeasures which demonstrated defence against night air raids was possible. 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. The name "Blitz" comes from the word "blitzkrieg" which meant "lightning war". [136] The raid against Coventry was particularly devastating, and led to widespread use of the phrase "to coventrate". To start off, the idea of the London Underground as a bomb shelter wasn't a new one by 1940. On 17 April 346 tons (352t) of explosives and 46,000 incendiaries were dropped from 250 bombers led by KG 26. These units were fed from two adjacent tanks containing oil and water. [145] Part of the reason for this was inaccuracy of navigation. Ground-based radar was limited, and airborne radar and RAF night fighters were generally ineffective. Summerfield and Peniston-Bird 2007, p. 3. The offensive came to be called the Blitz after the German word blitzkrieg ("lightning war"). 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. Blitzkrieg - the lightning war - was the name given to the devastating German bombing attacks to which the United Kingdom was subjected from September 1940 until May 1941. He roused them, ensured they took oxygen and Dextro-Energen amphetamine tablets, then completed the mission. [93] In general, German bombers were likely to get through to their targets without too much difficulty. To destroy the enemy air force by bombing its bases and aircraft factories and defeat enemy air forces attacking German targets. Night after night, from September 1940 until May 1941, German bombers attacked British cities, ports and industrial areas. Committees quickly formed within shelters as informal governments, and organisations such as the British Red Cross and the Salvation Army worked to improve conditions. Less than 100 incidents reported by the London Fire Brigade up to 5pm on September 7, 1940. The Luftwaffe gradually decreased daylight operations in favour of night attacks to evade attacks by the RAF, and the Blitz became a night bombing campaign after October 1940. [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. An estimated 43,000 people lost their lives. [187] Historians' critical response to this construction focused on what were seen as over-emphasised claims of patriotic nationalism and national unity. 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. The main focus was London. 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. 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. 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. When a continuous sound was heard from the second beam the crew knew they were above the target and dropped their bombs. 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. It hoped to destroy morale by destroying the enemy's factories and public utilities as well as its food stocks (by attacking shipping). Ironically, the Blitz was the result of an . Soon a beam was traced to Derby (which had been mentioned in Luftwaffe transmissions). [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. The tactic was expanded into Feuerleitung (Blaze Control) with the creation of Brandbombenfelder (Incendiary Fields) to mark targets. [111], Wartime observers perceived the bombing as indiscriminate. [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. [42], Although it had equipment capable of doing serious damage, the Luftwaffe had an unclear strategy and poor intelligence. [35][104][105], On 14 October, the heaviest night attack to date saw 380 German bombers from Luftflotte 3 hit London. 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. Loge continued for 57 nights. Port cities were also attacked to try to disrupt trade and sea communications. [170] In November and December 1940, the Luftwaffe flew 9,000 sorties against British targets and RAF night fighters claimed only six shot down. The bombing also helped to support the U-boat blockade by sinking some 58,000 long tons (58,900t) of shipping and damaging 450,000 long tons (457,000t) more. Poor intelligence about British industry and economic efficiency led to OKL concentrating on tactics rather than strategy. [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. The electronic war intensified but the Luftwaffe flew major inland missions only on moonlit nights. "Civilian morale during the Second World War: Responses to air raids re-examined.". 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. 80 Wing RAF. Only a few weeks after the British victory in the Battle of. [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. Who . Still, in February 1941, there remained only seven squadrons with 87 pilots, under half the required strength. Much of the city centre was destroyed. 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. 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. Battle of Britain timeline. Here are the flats today, courtesy of Street View . [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. 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 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. Bungay, Stephen (2000). [39] The attacks were focused against western ports in March. [160], On 13 March, the upper Clyde port of Clydebank near Glasgow was bombed (Clydebank Blitz). By December, this had increased to 92 percent. There was also a mentality in all air forces that flying by day would obviate the need for night operations and their inherent disadvantages. At this time, the Underground lines were mostly owned and run by separate companies, all of which were merged together with . The Allies did so later when Bomber Command attacked rail communications and the United States Army Air Forces targeted oil, but that would have required an economic-industrial analysis of which the Luftwaffe was incapable. This is a Timeline of the United Kingdom home front during World War II covering Britain 1939-45.Timeline of the United Kingdom home front during World War II covering Britain 1939-45. [80] The WVS organised the evacuation of children, established centres for those displaced by bombing and operated canteens, salvage and recycling schemes. It showed the extent to which Hitler mistook Allied strategy for one of morale breaking instead of one of economic warfare, with the collapse of morale as a bonus. Much damage was done. This timeline highlights key moments in the run up to and during the Battle of Britain. 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. (Photo by J. [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. 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. 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 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. Eventually, it would become a success. [67] By the end of 1940 improvements had been made in the Underground and in many other large shelters. Gring's lack of co-operation was detrimental to the one air strategy with potentially decisive strategic effect on Britain. Moreover, the OKL could not settle on an appropriate strategy. Operating over home territory, British aircrew could fly again if they survived being shot down. 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. 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. 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. People referred to raids as if they were weather, stating that a day was "very blitzy". Summerfield and Peniston-Bird 2007, p. 4. [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. [1] It was the capital not just for the United Kingdom, but for the entire British Empire. Roads and railways were blocked and ships could not leave harbour. Some people even told government surveyors that they enjoyed air raids if they occurred occasionally, perhaps once a week. [156] Hitler now had his sights set on attacking the USSR with Operation Barbarossa, and the Blitz came to an end. [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 amount of firm operational and tactical preparation for a bombing campaign was minimal, largely because of the failure by Hitler as supreme commander to insist upon such a commitment.