By September 1940, the large-scale German air raids which had been expected twelve months earlier finally arrived. For all the destruction of life and property, the observers sent out by the Ministry of Home Security failed to discover the slightest sign of a break in morale. 10 Group RAF, No. 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. [156] The Luftwaffe attacks failed to knock out railways or port facilities for long, even in the Port of London, a target of many attacks. In December, only 11 major and five heavy attacks were made. These were marked out by parachute flares. Nearly 350 German bombers (escorted by over 600 fighters) dropped explosives on East London, targeting the docks in particular. The failure to prepare adequate night air defences was undeniable but it was not the responsibility of the AOC Fighter Command to dictate the disposal of resources. London Blitz took place during the World War 2. The docks drew produce and people from all over the world; they survived the bombings of World War II and the economic downturn of the 1970s and 80s to become a hive of industry and activity once again. Most residents found that such divisions continued within the shelters and many arguments and fights occurred over noise, space and other matters. Daylight bombing was abandoned after October 1940 as the Luftwaffe experienced unsustainable losses. The Blitz came to London on September Saturday 7 th 1940 and lasted for many days. The estimate of tonnes of bombs an enemy could drop per day grew as aircraft technology advanced, from 75 in 1922, to 150 in 1934, to 644 in 1937. [26], The deliberate separation of the Luftwaffe from the rest of the military structure encouraged the emergence of a major "communications gap" between Hitler and the Luftwaffe, which other factors helped to exacerbate. Using historical paintings, a timeline, and a simple map, children can discover why the re started, how it spread, and the damage it caused. The Luftwaffe dropped around 40,000 long tons (40,600t) of bombs during the Blitz, which disrupted production and transport, reduced food supplies, and shook British morale. But the great bulk of the traffic went on, and Londonersthough they glanced apprehensively each morning at the list of closed stretches of line displayed at their local station, or made strange detours round back streets in the busesstill got to work. The term was first used by the British press and originated from the term Blitzkrieg, the German word meaning 'lightning war'.[4]. [56] Not only was there evacuation over land, but also by ship. Lights were not allowed after dark for almost six years and the blackout became by far the most unpopular aspect of the war for civilians, even more than rationing. Moreover, the OKL could not settle on an appropriate strategy. [5] Large air battles broke out, lasting for most of the day. [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. [70], Although the intensity of the bombing was not as great as pre-war expectations so an equal comparison is impossible, no psychiatric crisis occurred because of the Blitz even during the period of greatest bombing of September 1940. Direction-finding checks also enabled the controller to keep the pilot on course. Other reasons, including industry dispersal may have been a factor. [13] British wartime studies concluded that most cities took 10 to 15 days to recover when hit severely, but some, such as Birmingham, took three months. [94], On 15 September the Luftwaffe made two large daylight attacks on London along the Thames Estuary, targeting the docks and rail communications in the city. The damage was considerable, and the Germans also used aerial mines. [143], Not all of the Luftwaffe effort was made against inland cities. Predictions had underestimated civilian adaptability and resourcefulness. Red lamps were used to simulate blast furnaces and locomotive fireboxes. Important events of 1940, including the beginning of the London Blitz (pictured above) and the Battle of Britain. [140] The first group to use these incendiaries was Kampfgruppe 100 which despatched 10 "pathfinder" He 111s. 1 March 1935 3 June 1936) championed strategic bombing and the building of suitable aircraft, although he emphasised the importance of aviation in operational and tactical terms. Cardiff was bombed on three nights; Portsmouth centre was devastated by five raids. German legal scholars of the 1930s carefully worked out guidelines for what type of bombing was permissible under international law. The Battle of Britain Of greater potential was the GL (Gunlaying) radar and searchlights with fighter direction from RAF fighter control rooms to begin a GCI system (Ground Control-led Interception) under Group-level control (No. Notable interviews include Thomas Alderson, the first recipient of the George Cross, John Cormack, who survived eight days trapped beneath rubble on Clydeside, and Herbert Morrison's famous "Britain shall not burn" appeal for more fireguards in December 1940. [188] In the wake of the Coventry Blitz, there was widespread agitation from the Communist Party over the need for bomb-proof shelters. Wever's vision was not realised, staff studies in those subjects fell by the wayside and the Air Academies focused on tactics, technology and operational planning, rather than on independent strategic air offensives. Ingersol wrote that Battersea Power Station, one of the largest landmarks in London, received only a minor hit. [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 first attack merely damaged the rail network for three days,[102] and the second attack failed altogether. No follow-up raids were made, as OKL underestimated the British power of recovery (as Bomber Command would do over Germany from 1943 to 1945). (Photo by J. [63] Peak use of the Underground as shelter was 177,000 on 27 September 1940 and a November 1940 census of London, found that about 4% of residents used the Tube and other large shelters, 9% in public surface shelters and 27% in private home shelters, implying that the remaining 60% of the city stayed at home. The policy of RAF Bomber Command became an attempt to achieve victory through the destruction of civilian will, communications and industry. All but one railway station line was blocked for several weeks. In the last days of the battle, the bombers became lures in an attempt to draw the RAF into combat with German fighters. [124] Although the use of the guns improved civilian morale, with the knowledge the German bomber crews were facing the barrage, it is now believed that the anti-aircraft guns achieved little and in fact the falling shell fragments caused more British casualties on the ground. Plymouth was attacked five times before the end of the month while Belfast, Hull, and Cardiff were hit. Another poll found an 88% approval rating for Churchill in July. [2], The military effectiveness of bombing varied. It reveals the devastation caused by the Blitz over eight months. [134], From November 1940 to February 1941, the Luftwaffe shifted its strategy and attacked other industrial cities. 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. The name "Blitz" comes from the word "blitzkrieg" which meant "lightning war". By September 1940, London had already experienced German bombing. However, as with the attacks in the south, the Germans failed to prevent maritime movements or cripple industry in the regions. Many people over 35 remembered the bombing and were afraid of more. The official history volume British War Production (Postan, 1952) noted that the greatest effect on output of warlike stores was on the supply of components and dispersal of production rather than complete equipment. [87] Dowding accepted that as AOC, he was responsible for the day and night defence of Britain but seemed reluctant to act quickly and his critics in the Air Staff felt that this was due to his stubborn nature. 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. The Blitz The heavy and frequent bombing attacks on London and other cities was known as the 'Blitz'. [31] On 7 September, the Germans shifted away from the destruction of the RAF's supporting structures. Around 200 people were killed and another 2,000 injured. During World War I, German zeppelins and Gotha airplanes had bombed the city and forced people to take shelter in the tunnels. [11][12] The greatest effect was to force the British to disperse the production of aircraft and spare parts. In those sites, carbon arc lamps were used to simulate flashes at tram overhead wires. Mackay2002, pp. Dowding had to rely on night fighters. [80] The WVS organised the evacuation of children, established centres for those displaced by bombing and operated canteens, salvage and recycling schemes. Liverpool suffered 180 long tons (183t) of bombs dropped. [122][123] In July 1940, only 1,200 heavy and 549 light guns were deployed in the whole of Britain. American observer Ralph Ingersoll reported the bombing was inaccurate and did not hit targets of military value, but destroyed the surrounding areas. [135] In particular, the West Midlands were targeted. X- and Y-Gert beams were placed over false targets and switched only at the last minute. These attacks produced some breaks in morale, with civil leaders fleeing the cities before the offensive reached its height. Around 66,000 houses were destroyed and 77,000 people made homeless ("bombed out"[158]), with 1,900 people killed and 1,450 seriously hurt on one night. 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. [32], The decision to change strategy is sometimes claimed as a major mistake by OKL. Many Londoners, in particular, took to using the Underground railway system, without authority, for shelter and sleeping through the night. [55] The relocation of the government and the civil service was also planned but would only have occurred if necessary so as not to damage civilian morale. [85] Although night air defence was causing greater concern before the war, it was not at the forefront of RAF planning after 1935, when funds were directed into the new ground-based radar day fighter interception system. When the second hand re-aligned with the first, the bombs were released. This timeline highlights key moments in the run up to and during the Battle of Britain. The tactic was expanded into Feuerleitung (Blaze Control) with the creation of Brandbombenfelder (Incendiary Fields) to mark targets. [100] Another 247 bombers from Luftflotte 3 (Air Fleet 3) attacked that night. The Luftwaffe flew 4,000 sorties that month, including 12 major and three heavy attacks. [93], The first deliberate air raids on London were mainly aimed at the Port of London, causing severe damage. In January, Swansea was bombed four times, very heavily. To destroy the enemy air force by bombing its bases and aircraft factories and defeat enemy air forces attacking German targets. [166] This was not immediately apparent. [95][96], Initially, the change in strategy caught the RAF off-guard and caused extensive damage and civilian casualties. [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. The Blitz as it became known in the British press was a sustained aerial attack, sending waves of bombs raining down onto British towns and cities. Four days later 230 tons (234t) were dropped including 60,000 incendiaries. Still, in February 1941, there remained only seven squadrons with 87 pilots, under half the required strength. People were forced to sleep in air raid shelters, and many people took shelter in underground stations. He fell asleep at the controls of his Ju 88 and woke up to discover the entire crew asleep. [57] The programme favoured backyard Anderson shelters and small brick surface shelters. 80 Wing RAF.