The secret history of the blitz by joshua levine goodreads. Some essential facts on the german attack plan which brought world war two to british civilians with devastating effect. Liverpool in the second world war, a new exhibition created by national museums liverpool which opens at the merseyside maritime museum on july 10th. Facts about blitz world war 2 present the information about the sustained attack conducted by nazi germany in united kingdom during world war 2. World war 2 facts for kids national geographic kids. The blitz shortened from german blitzkrieg, lightning war was the period of strategic bombing of the united kingdom by nazi germany during. Food rationing lasted for 14 years in britain, from 1940 until 1954. The german air force was drawn back after it is lost on september 15th, 1940 for they focused on the daylight attack. In the space of just 44 minutes, 127 bombs fell, damaging or destroying more than 12,000 homes and killing 98 civilians and 27 soldiers. The home front ww2 is the name given to the effect of the war on peoples everyday lives. Sep 12, 2016 5 things you didnt know about the blitz.
The blitz was a term used to describe the heavy bombing of london and other british cities during ww2 the attack on london by german bombers started on 7th popular articles about. While the blitz were happening people had to sleep in the station and some of them had to sleep on the train tracks. The heavy air raid, which stroke britain in 19401941, is explained on facts about london blitz. How winston churchill endured the blitz and taught the people of england to do the same in a new book, bestselling author erik larson examines the determination of the british bulldog. The blitz was the sustained bombing of britain by nazi germany between 7 september 1940 and 10 may 1941, during the second world war. This book also looks at the enduring effects of world war ii during succeeding decades.
The raids followed the failure of the german luftwaffe to defeat britains royal air force in the battle of britain julyseptember 1940. That was the unofficial motto of the british people in 1940 as bombs began to rain down during the second world war. Some trace it back to the anger created in germany by the treaty of versailles. His plan was to take control of the english channel by destroying the royal airforce and then to send german troops into britain to take control. Sep 06, 2019 the blitz begins as germany bombs london. As the national capital, and by far the largest city, london was central to the british war effort. The primary target of nazi germany was to destroy the civilian center and industries on london. How winston churchill endured the blitzand taught the people of.
After the failure of the battle of britain, the germans attempted to bomb london into submission a tactic used again with the. Even though aberdeen was the most frequently bombed city in. The blitz was developed from the concept that victory could also be achieved through rapid movement. Incorrect book the list contains an incorrect book please specify the title of the book. For a comprehensive list of world war 2 facts, including the primary actors in the war, causes, a comprehensive timeline, and bibliography, click here. Winston churchill visits bombdamaged birmingham, england, during the blitz. Mar 31, 2012 the blitz was the sustained bombing of britain by nazi germany between 7 september 1940 and 10 may 1941, during the second world war. During the raid a small detachment of german bombers got lost and, worried about being caught by the raf, they dumped their bombs and quickly returned home. Historians disagree about the causes of world war two ww2. It was devised as a defence against german bombers, so they could not be guided by the lights. But what makes this respected historians book unforgettably impressive, by far the best i have read on the subject, are the. A saga of churchill, family, and defiance during the blitz, details world war ii in britain.
Tailend charlie is an accessible book with a high visual appeal and a great way of hooking in younger or more reluctant readers. In a new book, bestselling author erik larson examines the. The blitz was a huge bombing campaign of london and other english cities carried out by the german airforce from september 1940 to may 1941. Fascinating facts about wwii including maps, historic photographs, and timelines. Yet the liverpool blitz remains the forgotten blitz. See more ideas about the blitz, battle of britain and the blitz ww2. How winston churchill endured the blitzand taught the. Jan 05, 2018 15 powerful photos of the blitz iwm staff. The fact that we only get one side of the story to my mind, weakens what is otherwise a very. The blitz, september 1940may 1941, nighttime bombing raids against london and other british cities by nazi germany during world war ii. A shopkeeper cancels the coupons in a british housewifes ration book. Between 7 september 1940 and 21 may 1941, nazi germany launched a bombing campaign against major cities in the united.
They even brought 3 complete bottling plants ashore in north africa to supply the troops with this beverage. People fleeing the blitz, people caught in the middle of it, people picking up the pieces after it, etc. Find out more about the london blitz with facts for kids. World war ii presents a complete overview of the war, including the rise of hitler and the nazi party, fascism, pearl harbor, hiroshima, and the dday landings. Simon jones published in history today volume 53 issue 7 july 2003. This city was bombed 71 times over the period of 37 weeks or 267 days. The name blitz comes from the word blitzkrieg which meant lightning war. Fascinating facts about wwii including maps, historic photographs, and timelines wagner, melissa, bryant, dan on. London was bombed ever day and night, bar one, for 11 weeks.
Part of the strategic bombing campaign of world war ii. Erik larsons new book puts spotlight on winston churchill. The blitz provides valuable insight about the realities of world war ii in london through a relatable and. The germans conducted mass air attacks against industrial targets, towns, and cities, beginning with raids on london towards the end of the battle of britain in 1940 a battle for daylight air. On september 7, 1940, 300 german bombers raid london, in the first of 57 consecutive nights of bombing. World war ii unit including fact pages, activities, and interactive quizzes. A history of everyday life during the second world war.
Did the blitz prompt a sense of national unity or was this merely. The blitz was a term used to describe the heavy bombing of london and other british cities during ww2 the attack on london by german bombers started on 7th. This is an excellent book for anyone interested in the this story of world war two. As ww2 planes go, this is a definite clister compared to the superstars like the spitfire and hurricane, and gets a bad press because well, it was rubbish at dogfights. In his personal memoir on the history of the war, he exalts that he became prime minister.
Blitz an illustrated history general military mortimer, gavin, the mirror. This great depression and world war ii lap book contains 14 interactive organizers which may be glued onto a file folder to form a lap book, added to interactive notebooks, or used individually. The blitz of 194041 is one of the most iconic peri. For books that focus on, feature and are about the blitz. Here are some facts about the world war 2 blackout.
However, the term blitz is more commonly used for the bombing campaign against london. The sustained german bombing of london and other major british cities began towards the end of the battle of britain, after a british raid on berlin in early september prompted hitler to order the. It seems that london was the main target for the aerial attack of germany. Meat rationing continued for 10 years after dday june 1954 in 1946, when food was just as short as during the preceding years, bread was added to the ration and the sweet ration was halved. The concept dated back to world war i but for some unknown reasons, it was not used until the next war. The blitz was a german bombing campaign against the united kingdom in 1940 and 1941. The blitz shortened from german blitzkrieg, lightning war was the period of strategic bombing of the united kingdom by nazi germany during the second world war. The heavy and frequent bombing attacks on london and other cities was known as the blitz.
This is every bomb dropped on london during the blitz. In fact, on 8 september 1940 both battersea and west ham power station were both shut. The foremost example is the fact that i was thankfully given. The blitz is the title given to the german bombing campaign on british cities during world war two. Luftwaffe bombed london systematically from september 7, 1940. The war in europe began in september 1939 when nazi germany, under adolf hitler, invaded poland. Here are some facts and some pieces of key information about the blitz, an important, yet terrifying part of world war 2.
After the failure of the battle of britain, the germans attempted to bomb london into submission a. On 23rd august 1940 the luftwaffe launched a massive air bombing raid on the south of england. Food rationing during world war 2 primary homework help. Night after night, from september 1940 until may 1941, german bombers attacked british cities, ports and industrial areas. In the summer of 1940, hitler decided to invade britain. The people left behind at home also had a part to play in ww2. It was the favourite target of the luftwaffe german air force in 1940, and in 194445 the target of the v1 cruise missile and v2 rocket attacks.
What makes the blitz so important in world war 2 answers. The blitz was a german bombing campaign against the united kingdom in 1940 and 1941, during the second world war. Entertainment included concerts, films, plays and books from local libraries. The term was first used by the british press and is the german word for lightning. Drugs in the third reich is that rare sort of book whose remarkable insight focuses on a subject thats been overlooked, even disregarded by historians. Beginning in september 1940, the blitz was an aerial bombing campaign conducted by the luftwaffe. What happened in may was the culmination of a bombing campaign which left a total of 4,000 dead, probably the heaviest loss per head of population of any british city. Book 5 of the ladybird expert history of the second world war the ladybird expert series james holland. Blitz, the german word for lightning, was applied by the british press. As a result of the raids on the nights of and 14 march 1941, the town was largely destroyed and it suffered the worst destruction and civilian loss of life in all of scotland. Buy on amazon woeful second world war terry deary part of the very popular horrible histories series, this book allows children to uncover all of the gory and foul facts about the second world war.
They played games well bored games sang songs or they just read a book maybe sometimes they did nothing. The postmistress by sarah blake, the secret keeper by kate morton, a leaf on the wind of all hallows by diana gabaldon, th. Get information about the blitz during world war ii and discover facts for kids with dk find out. The sustained german bombing of london and other major british cities began towards the end of the battle of britain, after a british raid on berlin in. A summary of world war two world war two ks3 history. Cite this article world war two the blitz history on the net. When the japanese attacked pearl harbor the question whether america will enter the second world war was over. Using blitzkrieg tactics the country was quickly overtaken. The blitz fiction and nonfiction for books that focus on, feature and are about the blitz. The main purpose of the raid was to demolish the industrial infrastructure and factories in coventry. The blitz began and developed before world war ii by a member of the german military, heinz guberian.
People were forced to sleep in air raid shelters, and many people took shelter in underground stations. The conduct of the air war in the second world war edited by. During world war 2, the blackout was a nationwide effort to turn off all lights in towns and cities. Sold by green street booksemployment for adults with special needs. Oct 14, 2016 the war in europe began in september 1939 when nazi germany, under adolf hitler, invaded poland. The word the blitz is taken from the german word of blitzkrieg. Blitz in ww2 was an intensive campaign of aerial bombing. Defiants would mount sudden, surprise attacks, and shot down more germans than any other type of raf aircraft during the london blitz.
531 527 705 242 651 1087 497 1115 320 1337 543 1145 258 630 1215 260 911 578 1355 1315 1010 52 919 549 762 976 1574 1009 1560 1243 1255 1338 1405 923 1491 702