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Damage to Canterbury during WW2 - Baedeker Blitz
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Damage to Canterbury during WW2 - Baedeker Blitz
" Canterbury under fire" - Damage sustained by bombing on the city by German planes of the luftwaffe during WW2. The Baedeker Blitz (or Baedeker raids) were targetted raids, chosen for hitting sites of cultural or historical significance, rather than for any military value. The raid on Canterbury (which coincided with the RAFs 1, 000 bomber raid on Cologne), involved 77 bombers, dropping 40 tons of bombs, resulting in 43 deaths. The raids hit Canterbury in May, June and October 1942. Date: 1942
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Media ID 11588069
© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection
1942 Airraid Blitz Bombs Canterbury Damage Destroyed Destruction Incendiary Raid Raids Ruin Baedeker
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EDITORS COMMENTS
Canterbury under Fire: The Devastating Impact of the Baedeker Blitz on this Historic English City This evocative photograph captures the aftermath of the Baedeker Blitz, a series of targeted air raids carried out by the German Luftwaffe during World War II. The raids, named after the Baedeker travel guides that the German air force used to identify culturally and historically significant cities, struck Canterbury in May, June, and October 1942. In this image, the once-proud city of Canterbury lies in ruins, its historic buildings reduced to smoldering wreckage. The damage inflicted during the raids was significant, with 43 lives lost and an estimated 40 tons of bombs dropped. The cathedral, a symbol of Canterbury's rich history and a major tourist attraction, was among the structures hit hardest. The photograph shows the extent of the destruction wrought by the incendiary bombs, with flames consuming what remains of the buildings. Smoke rises from the ruins, filling the sky with a thick, ominous pall. The scene is one of desolation and loss, a stark reminder of the devastating impact of war on historic cities and their people. The Baedeker Blitz raids on Canterbury coincided with the RAF's 1,000 bomber raid on Cologne, making it a significant moment in the conflict. This photograph serves as a poignant testament to the past, a reminder of the destruction and loss that war brings in its wake.
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