What was the Blitz?
The Blitz was a sustained German bombing campaign against British cities during World War II, from September 1940 to May 1941. London was bombed for 57 consecutive nights, and more than 40,000 civilians were killed across Britain.
The name comes from the German word Blitzkrieg, meaning lightning war. The bombing began on 7 September 1940, a day known as Black Saturday.
Other cities, including Coventry, Liverpool, Birmingham, Plymouth and Belfast, were also heavily bombed. Coventry's cathedral was destroyed in November 1940.
Life during the Blitz
Many Londoners sheltered in Underground stations, garden Anderson shelters or public shelters. Blackouts were enforced at night to make it harder for bombers to find targets.
Children were evacuated from cities to the countryside to keep them safe. Firefighters, air raid wardens and volunteers worked through the night.
The phrase Blitz spirit is used to describe the resilience of the British public during the bombing. The Blitz ended in May 1941, when Germany turned its attention to the Soviet Union, although further raids continued later in the war.