The Heroes of London in The Blitz

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Brian Kight

Between September 1940 and May 1941, Nazi Germany launched an aerial assault on England known as “The Blitz.” It was the largest, longest, most concentrated bombing offensive the world had ever seen.

The Blitz began with 57 consecutive nights of bombing raids on London. As many as 348 bombers escorted by 617 fighters per night. Darkness would fall, and the citizens of London would wait to hear the sirens announcing the arrival of German aircraft. Bombs always followed sirens. Hundreds and hundreds of bombs.

The most popular bombs used on London were incendiary bombs. Relatively small, they would not explode on impact but embed into whatever structure they hit and ignite a 3,600º chemical flame that could melt steel and collapse buildings. One bomber could carry and drop 250-500 of these each night. On December 29, 1940, alone, Nazi Germany dropped 100,000 incendiary bombs on London, setting the city ablaze in The Second Great Fire of London.

London was not the only target in England, but it was the primary target. In the story of The Blitz, the citizens of London are the heroes. Each dusk, they faced the knowledge of what came with the darkness. Each night, they endured a reality few can imagine. They never flinched, never wavered, never gave an inch.

Each night was hell, but the sun would rise again each day. Amid the ash, rubble, and still-burning flames, Londoners would carry on. They opened their shops. They did their jobs. They put out fires. They rebuilt what needed to be rebuilt. They did what they could and did without the rest. They did all this while they grieved for their lost loved ones, their city, and their country.

The citizens of London did not choose to participate in The Blitz. The war brought it to them. Powers beyond their control assigned them their unenviable role on the world’s biggest stage. The Blitz intended to break the British spirit. Instead, it invigorated it.
They needed to do more than hide and survive to win the war. They needed to send Nazi Germany a message. They needed England to be strong, even while it was under attack. “London can take it. We can take it.” was their rallying cry. “Keep calm and carry on.” was their motto. They chose courage over fear, resolve over complaint, and resourcefulness over retreat.

Why? It’s simple. Because the outcome they needed demanded it. Their destiny and everything they cared about hung in the balance.

The goal brings out the response.

Event + Response = Outcome. Do the work.

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