The City of London was always going to be an obvious target for German
bombers during the Second World War. What better way for Nazi Germany to
spread fear and panic amongst the British people than by attacking their
capital city? Although not vastly populated in the same way that a
bigger city or larger town would be, there were still enough people
working there during the day for attacks on it to take their toll. The
city's ancient and iconic buildings also bore the brunt of the German
bombs, including churches designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the
Great Fire in 1666.
The book looks at the effects of war on the City of London, including
the damage caused by the 8 months of the Blitz between September 1940
and May 1941. The most devastating of the raids took place on 29
December 1940, with both incendiary and explosive bombs causing a
firestorm so intense it was known as the Second Great Fire of London.
It also looks at the bravery of the staff at St Bart's Hospital, which
was one of the medical facilities that remained open during the course
of the war. Other stories include the sterling work carried out by the
City's civilian population and the different voluntary roles that they
performed to help keep the city safe, including the Home Guard and the
Fire Watchers, who spent their nights on the city's rooftops looking out
for incendiary devices dropped by the German Luftwaffe.
Despite the damage to its buildings and its population, by the end of
the war the City of London was able to rise, like a phoenix, from the
flames of destruction, ready to become the vibrant and flourishing
borough that it is today.
