Coventry Blitz: 80th anniversary commemorations taking place
The city was badly damaged on 14th November 1940
Last updated 14th Nov 2020
Commemorations are taking place online today, to mark the 80th anniversary of the Coventry Blitz.
Around two-thirds of the city's buildings were damaged in the World War Two raids on the 14th November 1940 .
Despite the lockdown meaning physical events had to be cancelled, many organisations in the city will be broadcasting virtual services to commemorate the event.
The Luftwaffe dropped 500 tons of high explosive, 30,000 incendiaries and 50 landmines. It was also trying out a new weapon, the exploding incendiary.
The aim was to knock out Coventry as a major centre for war production.
The medieval cathedral was almost completely destroyed during the raids. The ruins were never rebuilt and stands as a memorial to the Blitz to this day.
More than 43,000 homes were damaged or destroyed with over 500 people dead.
Coventry Cathedral will be broadcasting a live service later today.
Residents will be able to watch the service, which features a special message from the Lord Mayor of Coventry Cllr Ann Lucas, online on the Cathedral’s website.
The Belgrade Theatre will be showcasing a filmed performance of their wartime play ‘One Night in November.
The screening is from the last staging of the play which took place in 2013 and will be available to view from home between today and the end of the month
Also later today, the Lord Mayor’s Committee for Peace and Reconciliation will be premiering their new video the ‘Blitz Relived’.
The video features the words of Coventry people who lived through the Blitz, spoken by Coventry people.
The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, in partnership with the Coventry Transport Museum, will also be showcasing a film about the Blitz called ‘Remembering the Coventry Blitz'.
The film, features oral history records, diary entries and photographs from Coventry Archives, led by Curators from the Herbert and Coventry Transport Museum.