Southampton Blitz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southampton Blitz |
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| Part of the Strategic bombing campaign of World War II | |||||||
 Damage in Southampton following the Blitz |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Nazi Germany |
 United Kingdom |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | 137 | ||||||
The Southampton Blitz was a time when the city of Southampton in England was heavily bombed. This happened during World War II, from 1940 to 1944. The German air force, called the Luftwaffe, carried out these attacks. Southampton was an important target because it had busy docks and factories. One very important factory built Spitfire planes. These planes were vital for Britain's defense. Southampton was also easy for German planes to reach from their airfields in France.
During the war, Southampton faced 57 air raids. However, the city had over 1,500 air raid warnings. This means people often had to take shelter. Around 2,300 bombs were dropped on the city. These bombs weighed over 470 tonnes. More than 30,000 fire bombs were also dropped. Nearly 45,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed. Much of the city's main street was hit.
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Why Southampton Was a Target: The Spitfire Factory
One of the main reasons Southampton was bombed was the Supermarine factory. This factory, located in Woolston, built the famous Spitfire fighter planes. These planes were crucial for the Royal Air Force. On September 24 and 26, 1940, the Luftwaffe attacked the factory during the day. A large part of the factory was destroyed. Sadly, 110 people were killed in these raids. The Northam gasworks was also bombed on September 26. Eleven workers there lost their lives.
The Civic Centre Attack
On November 6, 1940, the city's Civic Centre was attacked during the day. Hermann Goering, who was the head of the Luftwaffe, reportedly said the Civic Centre looked like a "piece of cake" from the sky. He even joked he would "cut himself a slice." During this raid, twelve bombs were dropped. One 500-pound bomb hit the Civic Centre directly. It went through to the lower floors of the art gallery. Thirty-five people were killed, including 15 children. They were having an art lesson in the basement at the time.
The Worst Attacks: Southampton's Blitz
Out of all 57 air raids, the worst ones happened on November 23, November 30, and December 1, 1940. These attacks are often called "Southampton's Blitz." The first major attack started at 6:15 P.M. on November 23. It lasted until midnight. Seventy-seven people were killed and over 300 were injured. The Civic Centre was hit hard again. The bombing damaged the city's water supply. Many fires had to burn out on their own.
People reported that the bright glow of the fires could be seen from Cherbourg, a city on the coast of France. German news even claimed that Southampton was left as a "smoking ruin."
A week later, on November 30, 120 German bombers returned. They attacked for another six hours. They dropped 800 bombs on the city. This raid killed 137 people, with 96 of them dying in their air raid shelters. Important buildings like the Pirelli Cable Works and the Daily Echo newspaper office were badly damaged. The General Motors factory was also destroyed. Many churches were lost, including All Saints', Holyrood, and St. Mary's. However, St. Michael's Church only had minor damage. It is said that German pilots used its tall spire as a landmark. They were told not to hit it. In total, Southampton lost seven churches during the Blitz. Many shops, factories, and homes were also destroyed.
The last people killed by air raids in Southampton were in May 1941. Three people died in a small raid in Millbrook on July 8, 1941. The last big raid with over 50 bombers was in June 1942. After that, there were only occasional quick raids. In July 1944, two V1 flying bombs were the last enemy weapons to fall on the city.
Notable Victims
Among those who died in the bombing was Edgar L. Perry. He had worked on the famous ship RMS Titanic in 1912. Perry had survived the sinking of the Titanic. Sadly, he and his wife died on November 23, 1940. They were seeking shelter from the bombing when they were killed.
Images for kids
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Damage in Southampton following the Blitz
