Cardiff Blitz
Encyclopedia
The Cardiff Blitz refers to the bombing of Cardiff
, Wales
during World War II
.
At the time, Cardiff Docks
was the biggest coal port in the world and, for a few years before World War I
, it handled a greater tonnage of cargo than either London or Liverpool.
Consequently it was heavily bombed
by the Nazi German Luftwaffe
due to its industrial importance
and was one of the cities affected by the mass civilian evacuation
. Llandaff Cathedral
, amongst many other civilian buildings caught in the raids, was damaged by the bombing in 1941.
More than 2,100 bombs fell in the Cardiff district in nearly four years until the final air raid in March 1944. In total 355 were killed and 502 injured.
Cork
in Ireland
was mistaken for Cardiff due to a night flying navigational error and consequently bombed.
, in 1941 New Year raids occurred on 2 January, 3 January, 10 January then sustained raids developed on 27 February, through 1 March, 4 March, 12 March, 20 March, 3 April, 12 April, 29 April, 30 April, 4 May, to 11 May.
In 1942 fewer raids occurred but two occurred on 30 June and 2 July. In 1943 some of the last raids occurred on 7 May and 17-18 May, the raid on 17 May believed by the British press to be in retaliation for the Dambusters raid hit the station, and a 1200lb unexploded bomb threatened to stop rail traffic.
The bombers used included Dornier Do17 and later Dornier Do 217
, Junkers Ju 88
and Messerschmitt Bf 110
.
West Cardiff was the worst hit area, particularly Canton
and Riverside
, where 116 people were killed, an estimated 50 of which were killed in one street in Riverside, De Burgh Street. The 10 hour air-raid had started at 18:37 and Grangetown
was the first area to be hit by 100 German aircraft.
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
At the time, Cardiff Docks
Cardiff Docks
Cardiff Docks is a port in south Cardiff, Wales. At its peak, the port was one of the largest dock systems in the world with a total quayage of almost...
was the biggest coal port in the world and, for a few years before World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, it handled a greater tonnage of cargo than either London or Liverpool.
Consequently it was heavily bombed
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
by the Nazi German Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
due to its industrial importance
Strategic bombing during World War II
Strategic bombing during World War II is a term which refers to all aerial bombardment of a strategic nature between 1939 and 1945 involving any nations engaged in World War II...
and was one of the cities affected by the mass civilian evacuation
Evacuations of civilians in Britain during World War II
Evacuation of civilians in Britain during the Second World War was designed to save the population of urban or military areas in the United Kingdom from aerial bombing of cities and military targets such as docks. Civilians, particularly children, were moved to areas thought to be less at risk....
. Llandaff Cathedral
Llandaff Cathedral
Llandaff Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Llandaff, head of the Church in Wales Diocese of Llandaff. It is situated in the district of Llandaff in the city of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The current building was constructed in the 12th century over the site of an earlier church...
, amongst many other civilian buildings caught in the raids, was damaged by the bombing in 1941.
More than 2,100 bombs fell in the Cardiff district in nearly four years until the final air raid in March 1944. In total 355 were killed and 502 injured.
Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
was mistaken for Cardiff due to a night flying navigational error and consequently bombed.
Bombing Raids
In 1940 Luftwaffe raids occurred on 3 July, 10 July, 12 July and 7 August. Despite the Battle of BritainBattle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
, in 1941 New Year raids occurred on 2 January, 3 January, 10 January then sustained raids developed on 27 February, through 1 March, 4 March, 12 March, 20 March, 3 April, 12 April, 29 April, 30 April, 4 May, to 11 May.
In 1942 fewer raids occurred but two occurred on 30 June and 2 July. In 1943 some of the last raids occurred on 7 May and 17-18 May, the raid on 17 May believed by the British press to be in retaliation for the Dambusters raid hit the station, and a 1200lb unexploded bomb threatened to stop rail traffic.
The bombers used included Dornier Do17 and later Dornier Do 217
Dornier Do 217
The Dornier Do 217 was a bomber used by German Luftwaffe during World War II as a more powerful version of the Dornier Do 17, known as the Fliegender Bleistift . Designed in 1937 and 1938 as a heavy bomber, its design was refined during 1939 and production began in late 1940...
, Junkers Ju 88
Junkers Ju 88
The Junkers Ju 88 was a World War II German Luftwaffe twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. Designed by Hugo Junkers' company through the services of two American aviation engineers in the mid-1930s, it suffered from a number of technical problems during the later stages of its development and early...
and Messerschmitt Bf 110
Messerschmitt Bf 110
The Messerschmitt Bf 110, often called Me 110, was a twin-engine heavy fighter in the service of the Luftwaffe during World War II. Hermann Göring was a proponent of the Bf 110, and nicknamed it his Eisenseiten...
.
Worst night
The toll on the night of 2 January 1941 saw 165 people killed and 427 more injured, while nearly 350 homes were destroyed or had to be demolished. Chapels and the knave of Llandaff Cathedral were also damaged.West Cardiff was the worst hit area, particularly Canton
Canton, Cardiff
Canton is an inner-city district and community in the west of Cardiff, capital of Wales, lying west of the city's civic centre. One of the most ethnically diverse of Cardiff's suburbs, with a significant Asian population such as Pakistanis and Indians, Canton has a population just in excess of...
and Riverside
Riverside, Cardiff
Riverside is an inner-city southern area of Cardiff, capital of Wales. Riverside is also the name of the electoral ward, which can be split into two very different parts, Riverside and Pontcanna...
, where 116 people were killed, an estimated 50 of which were killed in one street in Riverside, De Burgh Street. The 10 hour air-raid had started at 18:37 and Grangetown
Grangetown, Cardiff
Grangetown is a community in the south of Cardiff, capital of Wales. It is one of the largest districts in the south of the city and is bordered by Riverside, Canton and Butetown. The River Taff winds its way through the area...
was the first area to be hit by 100 German aircraft.