December 29 - Most Devastating Attack During The Blitz

This Day in History: 29 December 2019

 

29 December 1940

 

79 years ago, today, London suffered its most devastating air raid, as part of the Blitz, when the Germans firebombed the city with high explosive bombs, causing hundreds of fires, but firefighters still managed to save much of the city. The Second World War was only four months old at this point, and the aerial conflict had been predicted by Prime Minister Winston Churchill previously in the year. During preparations for Adolf Hitler's Operation Sealion, the invasion of Britain, he ordered that the Royal Air Force must be eliminated, so the German Luftwaffe made the RAF's destruction its first priority, bombing aircraft bases and communication networks. However, by accident, in late August, a German formation dropped bombs on London instead, and in retaliation, the RAF bombed Berlin. As a result, Hitler vowed to destroy London and its people's spirit.

 

The event resulted in over 50,000 casualties, and many buildings were destroyed, but it gave the RAF time to rebuild, and thus went on to dominate the skies, forcing Hitler to abandon his plans. As well as this, Hitler failed miserably to break the Londoner's spirits, as they maintained their composure. Almost half a year later, the air raids ceased, as the Germans instead started to mass near the USSR border. Britain denied the Germans an easy and quick victory and deprived them of forces to use in their invasion of the USSR. The outcome of the Blitz significantly changed the course of the Second World War. After the events, photos emerged of St. Paul's Cathedral standing unharmed amid the smoke and flames, symbolising to many Britain's undefeatable spirit.

 

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