Experiencing and Remembering the Blitz

« Whenever the United Kingdom faces unprecedented hardships, such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic, politicians and the media frequently draw parallels to a defining chapter of World War II: the Blitz.

In 2020, the government called for a collective national effort, explicitly echoing the resilience and unity that helped the country survive the 1940 bombings.

Indeed, this historical period embodies a mindset of steadfastness that remains deeply ingrained in the British psyche.

It serves as the ultimate historical reference, promoting the very qualities required from the population to overcome any modern adversity. The “Blitz” is a term used since WW2 to describe the bombardments of british towns and cities by the german aviation, the Luftwaffe, from 7th of September 1940 to around May-June 1941.

Two months before its beginning, the Battle of England had begun. However, the Germans, overwhelmed by the Royal Air Force, realised that they couldn’t win this battle as quickly as expected and decided to launch the Blitz.

Strategic cities such as harbours, industrial cities and political symbols were targeted.

Among them were the cities of Liverpool, Newcastle and of course London which was at the top of the list.

The goal here for the Germans was to break the spirit of the Londoners who would then put pressure on the government in order to negotiate peace. To conduct this commentary, we will examine two distinct documents. The first document is an excerpt from a testimony about the Blitz, given by Denis Gardner and recorded by the BBC on May 23rd, 2005.

Through the eyes of his 14-year-old self, Gardner portrays a horrific scene resulting from the consecutive air raids carried out by the Luftwaffe, while simultaneously highlighting a strong sense of comradeship among Londoners.

This wartime account, like many others, was recorded by the BBC for its history section.

It serves as an educational resource for students, teachers, and historians, but primarily aims to preserve an authentic perspective on an event of greatest importance in British history, transmitting it across generations to fulfil the duty of remembrance. The second document is a 1979 painting by Nettie Moon entitled “The Spirit of London during the Blitz”.

Currently exhibited at the Museum of London, it depicts an air raid on the capital near St Paul's Cathedral.

Its presence in a public museum underscores its role in the duty of remembrance for younger generations.

Although the painting undeniably conveys the sheer brutality of war, it also shows that despite the violence, both the citizens and the city itself remain standing, facing adversity with bravery and remarkable composure. Denis Gardner was a teenager during the Blitz, and based on her date of birth, Nettie Moon was in her thirties when the bombing of the capital began.

Since both documents originate from direct witnesses of the Blitz in London, they can legitimately be considered as primary sources.

However, it is essential to bear in mind that their perception of the Blitz may have been altered by the passage of time.

Furthermore, they might have internalised and idealised the reality due to the intense government propaganda spread at the time regarding the so-called "Blitz Spirit." The analysis of these two documents raises a central question: How did the British population face the dangers of the bombings and display a resilient spirit amidst such profound hardships? Firstly, we will describe the intensity of the Blitz, detailing its material and human costs.

Secondly, we will analyse the steadfast mindset demonstrated by British citizens throughout the war, commonly referred to as “The Blitz Spirit”. Unable to defeat the formidable Royal Navy at sea and subsequently invade Britain, the Third Reich launched a massive bombing campaign across the United Kingdom.

As the capital city, London constituted a high-value target; thus, the bombings it endured were the most intensive and brutal.

To illustrate the relentless nature of these attacks, Denis Gardner notes in Document 1 that “London was bombed for 74 consecutive nights”.

He then portrays scenes of “destruction, fire and mayhem”, explaining that “sticks of bombs” had hit numerous areas and that “houses were blown down”.

Indeed, by the end of the Blitz, the material toll had reached unprecedented levels: half of London’s houses were destroyed, and 4 million of them were seriously damaged.

Other buildings and public infrastructure were not spared by the continuous bombings; hospitals and schools, railways and roads—most were destroyed by the end of the Blitz in 1941.

This chaos, as described by Gardner, is visually echoed by Nettie Moon in Document 2, where buildings are seen crumbling, burning, and disappearing into a thick smokescreen that shrouds the entire painting.

Furthermore, Gardner mentions that certain “areas were liable to collapse or had unexploded bombs under them”.

Tragically, this material devastation directly impacted the civilians trapped inside “the bombed-out houses” and surrounding areas.

In total, 43,000 civilians died under the bombs during the.... »