Brighton Blitz facts for kids

The Brighton Blitz was a time during Second World War when the town of Brighton was bombed by German planes. These planes belonged to the Luftwaffe, which was the German air force. Brighton was attacked from the sky 56 times between July 1940 and February 1944. Sadly, 198 people were killed, 357 were badly hurt, and 433 had minor injuries.

To get ready for a possible invasion by German soldiers from the sea, the beaches in Brighton were closed on July 2, 1940. They were protected with mines and barbed wire. Parts of the Palace Pier and West Pier were even removed. This was to stop them from being used as places for enemy troops to land. Brighton was no longer seen as a "safe area," and about 30,000 people had to leave their homes.

Air Raids on Brighton

1940: The First Big Attack

On the evening of September 14, 1940, a single German bomber, a Dornier Do 17, got separated from its group. It dropped twenty 50 kg bombs over Edward Street and the Upper Rock Gardens area. Two bombs hit the Odeon cinema in Kemp Town, killing 6 people. Another 48 people died nearby. This was the worst attack in Brighton during the war for the number of people killed.

1943: Damage to the Town

At 12:25 p.m. on May 25, 1943, Brighton was attacked by 25 to 30 German Focke-Wulf 190 planes. They dropped twenty-two 500 kg bombs and even shot at the streets with machine guns. This quick attack lasted only five minutes. In this raid, 24 people died, 58 were seriously hurt, and 69 had slight injuries.

One of the main supports of the 20-metre-high (66 ft) London Road railway viaduct was destroyed. There was also a lot of damage to railway workshops and trains. This was the worst raid for damage to the town during the war. About 150 houses became unlivable, and more than 500 people lost their homes. The Black Rock Gasworks also caught fire.

1944: V-1 Flying Bombs

In 1944, Brighton was hit by new weapons called V-1 flying bombs.