The Blitz was a German bombing campaign against the United Kingdom in 1940 and 1941, during the Second World War. The term was first used by the British press and originated from the term Blitzkrieg, the German word meaning ‘lightning war‘.
What did the word blitz mean?
‘Blitz’ comes from the German word for lightning. Its arrival in the English language can be traced to the German military strategy of Blitzkrieg (literally ‘lightning war’), which used tanks and bombers to secure rapid victories at the start of World War II.
Where did the term the Blitz come from?
The attacks were authorized by Germany’s chancellor, Adolf Hitler, after the British carried out a nighttime air raid on Berlin. The offensive came to be called the Blitz after the German word blitzkrieg (“lightning war”).
When was the word blitz first used?
1940
History of the blitz 1940 — The word “blitz”
First applied by the British press during heavy air bombing by the Luftwaffe, the German air force, over Britain in 1940.
What does blitz mean in war?
A sudden, overwhelming military attack during war is a blitz. Sometimes a major blitz can lead to the end of a conflict. The idea of a blitz is that it either overpowers or completely surprises the enemy, and it often involves bombing from overheard.
What is a blitz in war?
The ‘Blitz’ – from the German term Blitzkrieg (‘lightning war’) – was the sustained campaign of aerial bombing attacks on British towns and cities carried out by the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) from September 1940 until May 1941.
What ended the Blitz?
The Blitz ended on May 11, 1941 when Hitler called off the raids in order to move his bombers east in preparation for Germany’s invasion of Russia. “It was a night when London was ringed and stabbed with fire.
What was Hitler’s goal with the Blitz?
“Blitzkrieg,” a German word meaning “Lightning War,” was Germany’s strategy to avoid a long war in the first phase of World War II in Europe. Germany’s strategy was to defeat its opponents in a series of short campaigns.
Did you know facts about the Blitz?
10 Facts About the Blitz and the Bombing of Germany
- 55,000 British civilian casualties were sustained through German bombing before the end of 1940.
- London was bombed for 57 consecutive nights from 7 September 1940.
- At this time, as many as 180,000 people per night sheltered within the London underground system.
Is the term blitz offensive?
A blitz is a single-down defensive play that sends five or more defensive players to the line of scrimmage to disrupt the offense. In most scenarios, the ultimate goal of the blitz is to sack the quarterback.
Who invented the Blitz?
A secondary coach for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chuck Drulis, devised a play that called for one of the safeties to take part in a blitz, code-named “wildcat.” At first, Drulis didn’t think he had a player with the athleticism to run the play.
How many people died during the Blitz?
In WWII there were 384,000 soldiers killed in combat, but a higher civilian death toll (70,000, as opposed to 2,000 in WWI), largely due to German bombing raids during the Blitz: 40,000 civilians died in the seven-month period between September 1940 and May 1941, almost half of them in London.
Why was the Blitz so important?
The Blitz reduced pressure on the RAF, cost Germany enormous numbers of aircraft and personnel and failed to pave the way for the German invasion of Britain.
How long did the Blitz last in days?
57 days
The Blitz lasted for 8 months and 5 days between September 1940 & May 1941. The most intense period of the blitz, the London Blitz, lasted for 57 days. During this time, the city was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 56 of the following 57 days and nights and almost daily thereon until May 1941.
How do you survive the Blitz?
What To Do During An Air Raid
- Posters. Take care during the blackout.
- Posters. Carry a gas mask.
- Photographs. Take shelter at home.
- Art. If outside, find a communal shelter.
- Photographs. Shelter at home (even if you don’t have a garden)
- Equipment. Be prepared for a gas attack.
- Photographs. Volunteer for fire watching.
- Art.
When did the Blitz end and why?
In May 1941 the main phase of the Blitz ended. By this time British air defences, aided by developments in radar, had improved, meaning the Luftwaffe was suffering heavier losses during the raids.
What was the most bombed city in the Blitz?
While London was bombed more heavily and more often than anywhere else in Britain, the Blitz was an attack on the whole country. Very few areas were left untouched by air raids. In relatively small compact cities, the impact of a severe air raid could be devastating.
Did schools close during the Blitz?
As all the children and their teachers living in urban districts were expected to move to the rural areas, most schools in the towns were closed down. Of these, around two-thirds were requisitioned by the government and were handed over to the Civil Defence Services.
What was the worst night of the Blitz?
10/11 May 1941
The most devastating raid on London took place on the night of 10/11 May 1941. The moon was full and the Thames had a very low ebb tide. These two combined with a maximum effort by the Germans, before the moved east to attack the Soviet Union, to produce one of the most devastating raids on the capital.
Why was the Blitz a failure?
The German air offensive failed because the Luftwaffe High Command (Oberkommando der Luftwaffe, OKL) did not develop a methodical strategy for destroying British war industry. Poor intelligence about British industry and economic efficiency led to OKL concentrating on tactics rather than strategy.
Why was the Blitz a war crime?
Article 6(b) of the Charter thus condemned the “wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity” and classified it as a violation of the laws or customs of war, therefore, making it a war crime.