What happened in the London Blitz?

The London Blitz was a sustained air attack on the British capital by German (and some Italian) bombers from September 1940 to May 1941. The attacks killed 42,000, injured 50,000, and made hundreds of thosuands of people homeless.

How many Londoners died during the Blitz?

It is estimated that around 42,000 Londoners died during the Blitz.

Is the London Blitz the same as the Battle of Britain?

The Battle of Britain is not strictly speaking the same as the London Blitz since the former involved air force personnel and the latter was a bombing campaign against civilians. The two did slightly overlap as Germany shifted its war aims from achieving air superiority to a campaign of terror.

London Blitz Timeline

Definition

The London Blitz was the sustained bombing of Britain's capital by the German and Italian air forces from September 1940 to May 1941 during the Second World War (1939-45). The objective was to bomb Britain into submission, but despite almost 100,000 civilians being killed or injured in the nightly raids, Londoners resisted, and the war went on.

More about: London Blitz

Timeline

24 Aug 1940
German Heinkel He 111 bombers accidentally bomb London when aiming for an oil refinery.
25 Aug 1940
RAF bombers attack Berlin in retaliation for the Luftwaffe's bombing of London the previous night.
Sep 1940 - May 1941
The London Blitz when the British capital was repeatedly hit by Axis bombers of Germany and Italy.
7 Sep 1940
300 German bombers hit London. It marks the Luftwaffe's change in strategy to attack British cities in the Battle of Britain and the start of the London Blitz.
30 Dec 1940
The 'Second Great Fire of London' during the London Blitz.
19 Apr 1941
The heaviest bombing raid of the Luftwaffe during the London Blitz.
10 May 1941
The final Luftwaffe raid of the London Blitz.

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