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On September 7, 1940, the beginning of the Blitz, the German Luftwaffe bomb London for 1st of 57 consecutive nights. From the article:
"Regardless of the ability of the Luftwaffe to win air superiority, Hitler was frustrated it was not happening quickly enough. With no sign of the RAF weakening and the Luftflotten suffering many losses, OKL was keen for a change in strategy. To reduce losses further, strategy changed to prefer night raids, giving the bombers greater protection under cover of darkness.[36][a]
It was decided to focus on bombing Britain's industrial cities, in daylight to begin with. The main focus was London. The first major raid took place on 7 September. On 15 September, on a date known as Battle of Britain Day, a large-scale raid was launched in daylight, but suffered significant loss for no lasting gain. Although there were a few large air battles fought in daylight later in the month and into October, the Luftwaffe switched its main effort to night attacks. This became official policy on 7 October. The air campaign soon got under way against London and other British cities. However, the Luftwaffe faced limitations. Its aircraft – Dornier Do 17, Junkers Ju 88, and Heinkel He 111s – were capable of carrying out strategic missions[38] but were incapable of doing greater damage because of their small bomb-loads.[39] The Luftwaffe's decision in the interwar period to concentrate on medium bombers can be attributed to several reasons: Hitler did not intend or foresee a war with Britain in 1939; OKL believed a medium bomber could carry out strategic missions just as well as a heavy bomber force; and Germany did not possess the resources or technical ability to produce four-engined bombers before the war.[40]
Although it had equipment capable of doing serious damage, the Luftwaffe had unclear strategy and poor intelligence. OKL had not been informed that Britain was to be considered a potential opponent until early 1938. It had no time to gather reliable intelligence on Britain's industries. Moreover, OKL could not settle on an appropriate strategy. German planners had to decide whether the Luftwaffe should deliver the weight of its attacks against a specific segment of British industry such as aircraft factories, or against a system of interrelated industries such as Britain's import and distribution network, or even in a blow aimed at breaking the morale of the British population.[41] The Luftwaffe's strategy became increasingly aimless over the winter of 1940–1941.[42] Disputes among OKL staff revolved more around tactics than strategy.[43] This method condemned the offensive over Britain to failure before it began.[44]
In an operational capacity, limitations in weapons technology and quick British reactions were making it more difficult to achieve strategic effect. Attacking ports, shipping and imports as well as disrupting rail traffic in the surrounding areas, especially the distribution of coal, an important fuel in all industrial economies of the Second World War, would net a positive result. However, the use of delayed-action bombs, while initially very effective, gradually had less impact, partly because they failed to detonate.[b] The British had anticipated the change in strategy and dispersed its production facilities, making them less vulnerable to a concentrated attack. Regional commissioners were given plenipotentiary powers to restore communications and organise the distribution of supplies to keep the war economy moving."
"Regardless of the ability of the Luftwaffe to win air superiority, Hitler was frustrated it was not happening quickly enough. With no sign of the RAF weakening and the Luftflotten suffering many losses, OKL was keen for a change in strategy. To reduce losses further, strategy changed to prefer night raids, giving the bombers greater protection under cover of darkness.[36][a]
It was decided to focus on bombing Britain's industrial cities, in daylight to begin with. The main focus was London. The first major raid took place on 7 September. On 15 September, on a date known as Battle of Britain Day, a large-scale raid was launched in daylight, but suffered significant loss for no lasting gain. Although there were a few large air battles fought in daylight later in the month and into October, the Luftwaffe switched its main effort to night attacks. This became official policy on 7 October. The air campaign soon got under way against London and other British cities. However, the Luftwaffe faced limitations. Its aircraft – Dornier Do 17, Junkers Ju 88, and Heinkel He 111s – were capable of carrying out strategic missions[38] but were incapable of doing greater damage because of their small bomb-loads.[39] The Luftwaffe's decision in the interwar period to concentrate on medium bombers can be attributed to several reasons: Hitler did not intend or foresee a war with Britain in 1939; OKL believed a medium bomber could carry out strategic missions just as well as a heavy bomber force; and Germany did not possess the resources or technical ability to produce four-engined bombers before the war.[40]
Although it had equipment capable of doing serious damage, the Luftwaffe had unclear strategy and poor intelligence. OKL had not been informed that Britain was to be considered a potential opponent until early 1938. It had no time to gather reliable intelligence on Britain's industries. Moreover, OKL could not settle on an appropriate strategy. German planners had to decide whether the Luftwaffe should deliver the weight of its attacks against a specific segment of British industry such as aircraft factories, or against a system of interrelated industries such as Britain's import and distribution network, or even in a blow aimed at breaking the morale of the British population.[41] The Luftwaffe's strategy became increasingly aimless over the winter of 1940–1941.[42] Disputes among OKL staff revolved more around tactics than strategy.[43] This method condemned the offensive over Britain to failure before it began.[44]
In an operational capacity, limitations in weapons technology and quick British reactions were making it more difficult to achieve strategic effect. Attacking ports, shipping and imports as well as disrupting rail traffic in the surrounding areas, especially the distribution of coal, an important fuel in all industrial economies of the Second World War, would net a positive result. However, the use of delayed-action bombs, while initially very effective, gradually had less impact, partly because they failed to detonate.[b] The British had anticipated the change in strategy and dispersed its production facilities, making them less vulnerable to a concentrated attack. Regional commissioners were given plenipotentiary powers to restore communications and organise the distribution of supplies to keep the war economy moving."
The Blitz - Wikipedia
Posted from en.m.wikipedia.org
World History
Military History
Air Power
Flying
Strategy
Posted >1 y ago
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Yes my friend SGT (Join to see) my mother and father were teenagers in London when the blitz started during the Battle of Britain. My mother was evacuated with her two older sisters to an estate called Hatchlands. My father stayed in the city during the blitz. He described the bombing which wasn't very efficient. He also described the fact that many above ground activities went underground into the tube [subway. His school built classrooms under ground. The students attended school for a week or two and got fed up and went back to the classrooms.
During a weekend, an incendiary bomb or two hit the flat roof of the school and slowly burned. A teacher and serval students went on the room and extinguished the flames.
My dad' uncle and his wife were killed in southern England when a bomb hit there home The two youngest children were living at home and they survived - one under a sturdy table and the other in a closet. School children were taught how to survive in the bombing.
FYI LCpl Emanuel W. SSG Diane R.LTC John GriscomSPC Andrew RossBrig Gen Jim JaegerSSG Donald H "Don" BatesSP5 Jerry MuchaSP6: Roy WiltSGT John MeredithMSgt John McGowanMSgt David M.CPT Jim GallagherLt Col Jim Coe CWO3 Dennis M. 1SG John MillanSSgt Boyd HerrstSGT James MurphySSgt (Join to see)SrA John Monette
During a weekend, an incendiary bomb or two hit the flat roof of the school and slowly burned. A teacher and serval students went on the room and extinguished the flames.
My dad' uncle and his wife were killed in southern England when a bomb hit there home The two youngest children were living at home and they survived - one under a sturdy table and the other in a closet. School children were taught how to survive in the bombing.
FYI LCpl Emanuel W. SSG Diane R.LTC John GriscomSPC Andrew RossBrig Gen Jim JaegerSSG Donald H "Don" BatesSP5 Jerry MuchaSP6: Roy WiltSGT John MeredithMSgt John McGowanMSgt David M.CPT Jim GallagherLt Col Jim Coe CWO3 Dennis M. 1SG John MillanSSgt Boyd HerrstSGT James MurphySSgt (Join to see)SrA John Monette
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I was just in London last week and visited two of the key locations of the Battle of Britain. The first was the Battle of Britain Bunker which was where the Brits controlled the fighter squadrons that protect London and surrounding territories. They have put it back to the 1940 set up in the bunker with lot's of neat displays. They do a really nice tour with guides that know their stuff. The bunker is a bit west of the city (near Heathrow Airport in Uxbridge)
I also was able to get to Churchill's War Rooms which were made more recently famous by the recent movie "The Darkest Hour". Many of these rooms were closed up in 1945 and only reopened in the mid 1980's and were time capsules when they were reopened. They have also put in a really good Churchill Museum in the facility. I spent 3 hours there, could have spent a couple of more but had to meet up with the wife for lunch.
I also was able to get to Churchill's War Rooms which were made more recently famous by the recent movie "The Darkest Hour". Many of these rooms were closed up in 1945 and only reopened in the mid 1980's and were time capsules when they were reopened. They have also put in a really good Churchill Museum in the facility. I spent 3 hours there, could have spent a couple of more but had to meet up with the wife for lunch.
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I've read so many books about this. Can't imagine what this must have been like...terrifying. And the Brits kept going to work and about their business as much as possible. Many of them had to ship their children out to strangers to keep them safe...
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