Why was London Bombed During the Blitz?

Answer 1

During World War II, the 'Blitz' took place from August 1940 to June 1941 in the United Kingdom -- and included London as a primary objective of the German attackers. Consisting of air warfare, the 'Blitz' saw German air forces attempting (unsuccessfully) to subdue England through a massive bombing campaign of its industrial and population centers, among many other targets.

Answer 2

Germans decided to attack London because the Germans couldn't defeat RAF in the air. The RAF bombed industrial areas such as the Ruhr in Germany in 1940. The first RAF (Royal Air Force) bombs fell on Berlin on the 24/25th of August 1940. This outraged Hitler so much that he got Goering, the commander of the Luftwaffe to make reprisal raids on London.

The first one was on 7 Sept. 1940 and it began what we call "the Blitz" which means "lightening" German air-raids were made over the city of London. This went on until May 1941. London was bombed at least 57 nights in a row. Later came other cities such as Plymouth, Liverpool, and Birmingham. Because of aircraft factories in Coventry it was bombed most severely.

The raids took place at night mostly so the German bombers were less easy for the RAF to target. But in Britain they turned off all their lights on streets and shops and homes. They put up thick black curtains to make it difficult for the German bombers to target them.

Londoners had "Andersen shelters" in their backyards for protection They were made from corrugated steel and were half buried in the garden. There were also brick shelters and many people went to the underground tube stations for protection. Victims of a blast didn't show any signs of injury. The pressure from the blast crushed the internal organs of the body and sometimes stripped the clothes off them. Sometimes bodies were torn apart. If a shelter was hit directly there wouldn't much chance of survivors.

Many children from London went to the country to live with families during the war. Many women started working to help out while the men were at war and were reluctant to give up work when the men came back after the war. They had proved to the world and themselves that they could work outside the home and were happy with the freedom it gave them.

Winston Churchill was Prime Minister and held a famous speech to get people in Britian to stand together: "United we can save and guide the world". "Not so easily shall the onward progress of the peoples be barred. Not so easily shall the onward progress of the peoples be barred. Not so easily shall the lights of freedom die."

40,000 British civilians were killed and about ½ of them were from London. About 1 million houses were destroyed. 2 million became homeless but the British kept their morale up.

Answer 3

The Nazi leadership wanted to bomb the British into surrender, completely unaware of the British resolve. The Germans thought that continual bombing of London would demoralise the British public so much that they would call for surrender to Germany. The strategy failed.

Answer 4

Blitz was the aerial bombing of England by German Luftwaffe in World War II. It was a precursor to the operation Sea Lion, which was aimed at invasion of England by Germans from English channel side. Chief of Luftwaffe Herman Goering wanted to destroy RAF bases and claim majority of their planes so as to ensure a safe landing of German forces.

Answer 5

To scare the British into surrendering to Germany.

Answer 6

Move so quickly that the greater power of France and Britain would not be able to mount an organised defence against Germany.

Answer 7

Why did Hitler start the Blitz on London?

Answer 8

Every day my willy hurts so much!!