Arms and Armour

German bombing of Britain, 1914–1918

The German Empire conducted a strategic bombing campaign against the United Kingdom throughout the First World War. After some initial attacks by seaplanes, the main campaign began in January 1915 with airships. Until the Armistice of 11 November 1918, the Marine-Fliegerabteilung (Navy Aviation Department) and Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches (Imperial German Flying Corps) mounted over fifty bombing raids. The raids were generally referred to in Britain as Zeppelin raids but Schütte-Lanz airships were also used. In the autumn of 1916 the Flying Corps abandoned airship raids in favour of bomber aircraft, although the Navy persisted with airships until the end of the war. Although London was the main focus for the raids, many other towns were hit, either as secondary targets or as the result of navigation errors. In all, more than 1,400 people were killed in the raids with almost 3,500 people injured and causing damage amounting to nearly £3 million, for the loss of thirty airships and sixty-two large aeroplanes.

Also on this shelf

See also

• ▸Great Moravia
• ▸Daily Al-Fazl
• ▸Carabinieri

Uncatalogued shelf

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