Today, on the 75th anniversary of the start of the Blitz, we’re taking a look at some fascinating maps published together for the first time.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Blitz – the aerial bombardment of London during the Second World War – one of the most significant events in the city’s modern history. Between 1939 and 1945, London and its environs experienced destruction on a huge and deadly scale, with air raids and rocket attacks reducing entire buildings and streets to rubble.
The London County Council Bomb Damage Maps, meticulously hand-colored to document the level of damage being wrought on London’s built environment, represent a key record of the destruction, the impact of which can still be seen in the capital’s urban and social landscapes. They also speak of the human experience of war—of loss and camaraderie, of tragedy and heroism—conjuring up the days of blackout and the “Spirit of the Blitz.” They tell a story, moreover, that was echoed in towns and cities across Britain and throughout the world.
The London County Council Bomb Damage Maps 1939-1945, by Lawrence Ward, is available in store and online now.