Friday, December 13, 1940 - Sheffield blitzed

[Louis]

An attack lasting nearly nine hours was made on the night of the 12th-13th and was concentrated mainly on the centre, north-west and south-east of the City. Although over 200 incidents were reported, the main Steel Valley largely escaped, and onlv four cases of substantial damage have been reported. The attack on the night of the 15th-16th lasted three hours, and was mainly in the east and east centre; many factories were hit, but only nine of these suffered substantial damage. -

 

[Louis]

from southyorkshirethroughtime.org.uk

The Sheffield Blitz was the period when the German air force dropped an estimated of 450 bombs over the nights of 12th – 15th of December, 1940. During these nights, 668 civilians and 25 servicemen were killed. 1,586 people were injured and over 40,000 more were made homeless. A total of 3,000 homes were demolished, another 3,000 were badly damaged and 72,000 properties suffered some damage.

Several precautions were taken against German Bombings, as it was expected before the war began that Sheffield, being the huge industrial centre that it was, would be a key target from German attack. Anderson Shelters, made out of corrugated steel, had been delivered to many houses before the war started. Family and friends would then all help each other dig a large enough hole in the garden to accommodate the shelter.