10 facts about the belfast blitz

In the first days of the Blitz, a tragic incident in the East End stoked public anger over the governments shelter policy. 55,000 houses were damaged leaving 100,000 temporarily homeless. Revised estimates made decades later indicated that close to 600 men, women, and children had been killed in the bombing. No attendant nurse had soothed the last moments of these victims; no gentle reverent hand had closed their eyes or crossed their hands. By the. Some 900 people died as a result of the bombing and 1,500 were injured. The Belfast blitz devastated a city that up until 1941 had remained unscathed during World War Two. For more than six months, German planes had flown reconnaissance flights over Belfast. In just these few hours, 430 people were killed and 1,600 were badly injured. Interesting facts about Belfast | Just Fun Facts The city has been a leader in women's rights. Authorities had noted Queens Island in the cityas a vulnerable point as early as 1929. He gave an interview saying: "the people of Belfast are Irish people too". On September 1, 1939, the day World War II began with Germanys invasion of Poland, the British government implemented a massive evacuation plan. Several theatres and many cinemas were open, and there were even a few sporting events. The area included the Harland and Wolff Ltd. Shipyard, the Short and Harland Ltd. Aircraft Factory, and the airfield at RAF Sydenham. During what was known as the "Belfast Blitz," 1,000 people were killed by bombs dropped by the Nazis in 1941 during the Second World War. The RAFs Spitfire was a superlative fighter, and it was not always easy for the Germans to distinguish it from the slightly less maneuverable but much more numerous Hurricanes. The attacks by both V1's and V2's only ended as the Allies advanced up through Western Europe . "[22], In his opinion, the greatest want was the lack of hospital facilities. Video, 00:00:36Tears of relief after man found in Amazon jungle. The Blitz began at around 4 pm on September 7, 1940, when German bomber planes first appeared over London. The fall of France in June, 1940, enabled the Luftwaffe to establish airfields across the north of the country, leaving Ulster within reach of bombers. The most heavily bombed area was that which lay between York Street and the Antrim Road, north of the city centre. Over 500 received care from the Irish Red Cross in Dublin. With tangled hair, staring eyes, clutching hands, contorted limbs, their grey-green faces covered with dust, they lay, bundled into the coffins, half-shrouded in rugs or blankets, or an occasional sheet, still wearing their dirty, torn twisted garments. Belfast's Albert Clock tower is sinking - it leans by four feet. But these people all had families and friends and they had to deal with their loss for the rest of their lives.". Wherever Churchill is hiding his war material we will go. Over 150 people died in what became known as the 'Fire Blitz'. 10,000 "officially" crossed the border. The attacks were authorized by Germanys chancellor, Adolf Hitler, after the British carried out a nighttime air raid on Berlin. It has been reported that on Easter Tuesday, Belfast suffered the highest loss of life of any city in the UK in a single raid. Video, 00:01:41, The German bombing of Coventry. The national government also provided funds to local municipalities to construct public air-raid shelters. Many "arrived in Fermanagh having nothing with them only night shirts". In the eight months of attacks, some 43,000 civilians were killed. Initially it was thought that the Germans had mistaken this reservoir for the harbour and shipyards, where many ships, including HMS Ark Royal were being repaired. However, the Docklands was also a densely populated and impoverished area where thousands of working-class Londoners lived in run-down housing. Sometimes they were trying establish a blockade by destroying shipping and port facilities, sometimes they were directly attacking Fighter Command ground installations, sometimes they were targeting aircraft factories, and sometimes they were attempting to engage Fighter Command in the skies. "There will always be people who will slip through the net but I am able to say at least 987 were killed across all raids.". Protection of the city fell to seven anti-aircraft batteries of 16 heavy guns and six light guns. Prior to the "Belfast Blitz" there were only 200 public shelters in the city, although around 4,000 households had built their own private shelters. People hung black curtains in their windows so that no lights showed outside their houses. The Blitz began at about 4:00 in the afternoon on September 7, 1940, when German planes appeared over London. WW2: How did an elephant beat the Belfast Blitz? - BBC Teach 1. In early 1941 the Germans launched another wave of attacks, this time focusing on ports. On August 2, Luftwaffe commander Hermann Gring issued his Eagle Day directive, laying down a plan of attack in which a few massive blows from the air were to destroy British air power and so open the way for the invasion. Nurse Emma Duffin, who had served in World War I, contrasted death in that conflict with what she saw:.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}. At nightfall the Northern Counties Station was packed from platform gates to entrance gates and still refugees were coming along in a steady stream from the surrounding streets Open military lorries were finally put into service and even expectant mothers and mothers with young children were put into these in the rather heavy drizzle that lasted throughout the evening. Author Lawrence H. Dawson detailed the damage to Londons historic buildings for the 1941 Britannica Book of the Year: The following curtailed list identifies some of the better known places in inner London that have been damaged by enemy action. There were few bomb shelters. Streets heavily bombed in the city centre included High Street, Ann Street, Callender Street, Chichester Street, Castle Street, Tomb Street, Bridge Street (effectively obliterated), Rosemary Street, Waring Street, North Street, Victoria Street, Donegall Street, York Street, Gloucester Street, and East Bridge Street. For eight months the Luftwaffe dropped bombs on London and other strategic cities across Britain. Learn how your comment data is processed. VideoRussian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Xi Jinping's power grab - and why it matters, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. The period of the next moon from say the 7th to the 16th of April may well bring our turn." Apart from those on London, this was the greatest loss of life in any night raid during the Blitz. By 6am, within two hours of the request for assistance, 71 firemen with 13 fire tenders from Dundalk, Drogheda, Dublin, and Dn Laoghaire were on their way to cross the Irish border to assist their Belfast colleagues. They remained for three days, until they were sent back by the Northern Ireland government. The working-class living close to industrial centres suffered more than anyone over the course of the four raids. The youngest victim was just six-weeks-old. Video, 00:01:38, At least 17 dead in Jakarta fuel storage depot fire, Australia's 'biggest drug bust' nets $700m of cocaine. 13 died, including a soldier killed when an anti-aircraft gun, at the Balmoral show-grounds, misfired. Everything on wheels is being pressed into service. The Blitz of Belfast 1941 - History Learning Site The Luftwaffe never attacked the city after May 1941, but it would be many years before life returned to normal for many in the city. As well as these two major targets, other firms in Belfast produced valuable materials for the war effort including munitions, linen, ropes, food supplies and, of course, cigarettes. The Belfast blitz is remembered. Once more, London was targeted and children were victims. Belfast made a considerable contribution towards the Allied war effort, producing many naval ships, aircraft and munitions; therefore, the city was deemed a suitable bombing target by the Luftwaffe. Incendiary bombs predominated in this raid. Roads out of town are still one stream of cars, with mattresses and bedding tied on top. to households. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Jimmy Doherty, an air raid warden (who later served in London during the V1 and V2 blitz), who wrote a book on the Belfast blitz; The night raids on London continued into 1941, and January 1011 saw exceptionally heavy attacks; the Mansion House (residence of the lord mayor of London) and the Bank of England narrowly avoided destruction when a bomb fell directly between them, creating a gigantic crater. Despite the military and industrial importance of the city, the Luftwaffe described the defences asweak, scanty, insufficient. Because basements, a logical destination in the event of an air raid, were a relative rarity in Britain, the A.R.P. They are sleeping in the same sheugh (ditch), below the same tree or in the same barn. 3. Compared to other cities, Belfast was virtually undefended. One of every six Londoners was made homeless at some point during the Blitz, and at least 1.1 million houses and flats were damaged or destroyed. In his interview, Becker stated that only military objectives were aimed for. About 1,000 people were killed and bombs hit half of the houses in the city, leaving 100,000 people homeless. In the mistaken belief that they might damage RAF fighters, the anti-aircraft batteries ceased firing. Read about our approach to external linking. The Belfast Blitz consisted of four German air raids on strategic targets in the city of Belfast in Northern Ireland, in April and May 1941 during World War II, causing high casualties. Another defensive measure employed by the British was barrage balloonslarge oval-shaped unmanned balloons with stabilizing tail finsinstalled in and around major target areas. Video, 00:01:15The Belfast blitz, Up Next. The Blitz Around Britain - World War 2 | Imperial War Museums The higher the German planes had to fly to avoid the balloons, the less accurate they were when dropping their bombs. This type of shelteressentially a low steel cage large enough to contain two adults and two small childrenwas designed to be set up indoors and could serve as a refuge if the building began to collapse. IWM C 5424 1. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of any material on this site without expressand written permission from the author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Half of the city's housing was damaged over the course of all the raids. The bombs continued to fall until 5am. But the raid of 15-16 April - the Easter Tuesday Raid - was on another scale. BBC News | NORTHERN IRELAND | The Belfast blitz is remembered Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter'. Children and World War Two - History Learning Site Belfast, Irish Bal Feirste, city, district, and capital of Northern Ireland, on the River Lagan, at its entrance to Belfast Lough (inlet of the sea). The nights of November 3 and 28 were the only occasions during this period in which Londons peace was unbroken by siren or bomb. TOP 10: Facts About Belfast You Didn't Know - Ireland Before You Die At 10:40 on the evening of Easter Tuesday 1941 air raid sirens sounded across Belfast, sending people across the city scrambling for safety - in one of the 200 public shelters in the city or the thousands of shelters or other "safe" spaces in private homes. Between April 7 and May 6 of that year, Luftwaffe bombers unleashed death and destruction on the cities of Belfast, Bangor, Derry/Londonderry and Newtownards. In many cases the daily life of the city was able to resume with delays of only hours. department distributed more than two million Anderson shelters (named after Sir John Anderson, head of the A.R.P.) Authorities quickly implemented plans to protect Londoners from bombs and to house those left homeless by the attacks. Brooke noted in his diary "I gave him authority as it is obviously a question of expediency". The first deliberate raid took place on the night of 7 April. There was no smokescreen ability, however there were some barrage balloons positioned strategically for protection. Belfast Blitz - Wikipedia For eight months the Luftwaffe dropped bombs on London and other strategic cities across Britain. Another claim was that the Catholic population in general and the IRA in particular guided the bombers. Fortunately, the railway telegraphy link between Belfast and Dublin was still operational. Their Chain Home early warning radar, the most advanced system in the world, gave Fighter Command adequate notice of where and when to direct their forces, and the Luftwaffe never made a concerted effort to neutralize it. There wasn't enough room for Anna or Billy, so they sheltered elsewhere, a twist of fate that would save their lives. Neighbouring residential areas were also hit. Updates? It was solemn, tragic, dignified, but here it was grotesque, repulsive, horrible. Video, 00:02:54Living through the London Blitz, At least 17 dead in Jakarta fuel storage depot fire. Belfast was largely unprepared for an attack of such a scale as 200 German bombers shelled the city on 15 April 1941. When the bombing began, 76-year-old William and 72-year-old Harriette took refuge under the stairs along with Dorothy, Dot and Isa. The city covers a total area of 132.5 square kilometers (51 square miles). 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. He was replaced by 54-year-old Sir Basil Brooke on 1 May. 2023 BBC. People are leaving from all parts of town and not only from the bombed areas. Video, 00:01:37Thanks, but no big speech, in Ken Bruce's sign off, Tear gas fired at Greece train crash protesters. There was no opposition. In the west and north of the city, streets heavily bombed included Percy Street, York Park, York Crescent, Eglinton Street, Carlisle Street, Ballyclare, Ballycastle and Ballynure Streets off the Oldpark Road; Southport Street, Walton Street, Antrim Road, Annadale Street, Cliftonville Road, Hillman Street, Atlantic Avenue, Hallidays Road, Hughenden Avenue, Sunningdale Park, Shandarragh Park, and Whitewell Road.

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