85 years since the Coventry Blitz
On 14 November 1940, Coventry was devastated in the most concentrated raid in World War Two
Today marks 85 years since the Coventry Blitz, the most concentrated attack on a British city in World War Two.
Coventry was targeted by the German Luftwaffe for it's rich manufacturing industry. The attack reduced the city to rubble, killing over 500 people and damaging more than 43,000 homes.
Nearly 500 German bombers took part in the raid, unleashing 500 tonnes of explosives, around 30,000 incendiary bombs, reducing the city to rubble.
Coventry Blitz Museum historian, Adam Neale, gives more details on what happened on the night of the Blitz, 85 years ago.
Adam said: "The whole of the city was hit in some way, we lost a third of the city completely and two thirds of the city were damaged.
"The idea of the operation was very simple for the Germans, they realised they could take out our factories with targeted bombing and if they took out the workers too, the factories couldn't be rebuilt."
Adam continued: "There are very few people around now to tell their first-hand accounts of what happened on the night of the Blitz 85 years ago.
"It now falls on us to share the stories that have been passed down to us and take time to remember, as it's a crucial part of Coventry's history."
Coventry will mark the 85th anniversary of the Blitz today with a civic service at the Cathedral and its ruins. Led by the Dean of Coventry, the event will feature schools, faith leaders, and a two-siren tribute at 19:10, the moment the 1940 raid began.
Canon Nitano Muller from Coventry Cathedral said: "We want to give people in Coventry an opportunity to come together and reflect on the resilience in Coventry."
As part of the commemorations, a 20-metre cardboard installation, inspired by the Cathedral Ruins, by artist Olivier Grossetête will rise in Broadgate this weekend.
Throughout the week members of the community have helped create the project as a symbol of remembrance, resilience, and unity. People in Coventry are invited to see it be constructed on Saturday and taken down on Sunday.