The Blitz


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The Blitz, a contraction of the German word Blitzkrieg, was the sustained
and intensive bombing of Britain, particularly London, from September 7,
1940 through to May 1941 by the German Luftwaffe in World War II.

After the defeat of France, the Battle of Britain began in July of 1940.
From July to September the Luftwaffe were pursuing a strategy of directly
challenging the RAF in an attempt to gain 'air superiority' as a prelude to
a seaborne and land invasion (see Operation Sealion). On September 5 Hitler
issued a directive stating a requirement ...for disruptive attacks on the
population and air defences of major British cities, including London, by
day and night. The Germans consequently modified their previous strategy of
attacking airfields in favour of the bombing of London and other cities.
This change of tactics on the part of the Luftwaffe was fortunate for the
RAF insofar as it reduced the unsustainable rate of attrition (of aircraft
and pilots) the RAF was experiencing.

The first air raids on London were mainly aimed at the docklands in the East
End of London. For several weeks the raids took place both by day and night.
Eventually the Germans switched to night time raids only because the
Luftwaffe was losing too many bombers during the day. One reason for
relatively heavy losses on the German side was that the UK had radar that
allowed the early detection of German aircraft as they approached the
British coast.

In November 1940 the Luftwaffe began bombing other towns and cities too,
such as Manchester, Sheffield, Coventry and Birmingham. They were major
manufacturing areas, and the action was also aimed at causing fear among the
workers. London continued to be bombed but the raids were less frequent. On
June 22, 1941 Germany launched the invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation
Barbarossa) and air raids on London became infrequent as Germany moved the
bulk of its war effort to it's Eastern Front.

42,000 civilians are estimated to have died during the campaign, with over
50,000 injured, and around 130,000 houses destroyed.

A major objective of World War 2 bombing on both sides was the reduction of
enemy morale, and the sustaining of home morale, but it doubtful that the
Blitz dented British morale. It is more likely that the attacks served to
stiffen British resolve to confront the Nazis.

American radio journalist Edward R. Murrow was stationed in London at the
time of the Blitz, and he provided live radio broadcasts to the United
States as the bombings were taking place. This form of immediate live news
broadcasting from a theatre of war had never been experienced by radio
audiences before, and Murrow's London broadcasts made him a radio celebrity,
launching his career.