The Great London Air Raid, officially known as "blitz" (German for blitz), refers to the most famous part of a series of massive bombing campaigns carried out by Nazi Germany against Britain during World War II.
This phase of strategic bombing began on 7 September 1940 and lasted until 10 May 1941, with the bombing of London being particularly tragic and protracted.
The Luftwaffe sought to weaken Britain's industrial production capacity, destroy its military installations, and demoralize the population through successive large-scale night bombardments.
London, as the political, economic and cultural center of the United Kingdom, became the main target. The bombing campaign was not limited to London, but also included many other cities and ports in Britain.
During the beginning of this period, known as "Black Thursday", German bombers carried out intensive bombing of London, resulting in a large number of civilians** and property damage.
It is estimated that more than 40,000 British civilians were killed and thousands of buildings were destroyed or damaged throughout the Great London Air Raid, but the resilience shown by the British people, as well as the effective resistance of the Royal Air Force and other air defense forces, ultimately failed to achieve Hitler's strategic goal of forcing Britain to surrender.
In the face of Germany's large-scale air raid on Britain (i.e., the Great London Air Raid), the British team under the leadership of Churchill took a series of effective measures:
1.Strengthening and strategic realignment of the Royal Air Force:
Churchill ensured the effective build-up and protection of the Royal Air Force (RAF), especially fighter units. Despite the intense pressure in the early stages of the war, Britain managed to prevent the Luftwaffe from gaining air supremacy by retaining a portion of its key fighter force against the German bombers.
2.Development and application of radar early warning system:
Britain began to develop radar technology before the war, and quickly deployed an effective early warning radar network during the war, which greatly improved the reaction speed and accuracy of British air defense systems, allowing fighter jets to intercept German aircraft in time when they approached the coastline.
3.Construction of the air defense system:
An air defense network, including searchlights, anti-aircraft guns, and ground observation points, has been established and improved, while training and tactical improvements for night fighters have been strengthened to increase night combat capabilities.
4.Establishment and mobilization of civil defense organizations:
Encourage people to participate in air defense operations, build bomb shelters on a large scale, organize local civil defense teams, and conduct air raid warning, evacuation planning, and fire rescue training to ensure that people can minimize losses in the event of air strikes.
5.Information Propaganda and National Morale Boost:
Through his inspirational speeches and radio speeches, Churchill inspired all British people to strengthen their confidence and jointly resist the aggression of Nazi Germany, forming a national spirit of "perseverance to the end".
6.Urban Planning & Emergency Services Preparedness:
The city has been adapted to air raids, such as the decentralization of vital facilities, the establishment of emergency medical services, and the establishment of temporary shelters in urban areas.
7.Flexible strategic decision-making:
In the face of the Luftwaffe's changing tactics, Churchill and his military advisers constantly adjusted their air defense strategies, such as transferring fighter jets to the most threatened areas at the right time to concentrate on defending strategic points.
The implementation of these measures helped Britain survive the massive air raids that lasted for several months, and ultimately thwarted the German invasion of the British mainland, laying the foundation for the later Allied ** European continent.