WW2 Smitten City The Story Of Portsmouth Under Blitz Publication 1944

For sale is a WW2 Smitten City The Story Of Portsmouth Under Blitz Publication 1944 Dated.

The introduction states;

“THE official figures show that there were 67 German air raids Portsmouth between. July 11, 1940, and the end of May, 1944. Three of these were major attacks, on August 24, 1940, January 10, 1941, and March 10, 1941. The rest were sometimes destructive, and at other times not so heavy-many of them "hit and run" raids by small forces or lone raiders. There were 1,581 alerts and the numbers of bombs dropped were: High explosive, 1,320; incendiaries, 38,000; parachute mines, 38. The number of incendiaries can only be given approximately, but the high explosive bombs were carefully counted and the total given is that which fell on the City and does not include some hundreds which fell into the sea and the foreshore mudlands. The parachute mines, "land mines," as they were called at one time, were the most destructive of all the enemy's efforts, though British bombs have since far excelled them in size and power.

The casualties caused numbered 930 civilians killed, 1,216 admitted to hospital, and 1,621 injured, but not seriously. The death roll is comparatively light, and is attributed to the good protection provided by private and public shelters, the readiness of the population to avail themselves of the safety measures, and the admirable state of the City's Civil Defence ser- vices. In addition to the civilian deaths there were Service casualties in the Royal Dockyard and naval and military establishments, but the story of the real "military objectives" is a different one from that of the City, and has yet to be revealed by the Service authorities. It may be noted that in Plymouth there were 1,172 casualties, in Hull nearly 1,200, and in Coventry (in 43 raids) 1,252 were killed.

As to material damage, it has to be put on record that this has been both severe and wide-

spread. Our principal shopping centres have been almost obliterated; there is not a part of the City which does not show hideous scars, in some places completely devastated areas. Our beautiful Guildhall has been burnt out and many of its treasures, such as paintings, lost, though the priceless Corporation plate was saved. Thirty churches and mission halls were destroyed or very badly damaged, and ten were slightly damaged. Eight schools were destroyed, nine seriously damaged and 11 slightly damaged. One hospital was destroyed, another badly damaged. Four cinemas and one music-hall were destroyed and one damaged. Licensed premises that have ceased to operate owing to destruction or damage number 150-61 public houses and 49 beer houses and 40 off licences.

The damage to shops and houses is a remark- able feature of the record. The assessment list shows that Portsmouth had in 1939 nearly 70,000 properties. Raid damage was reported to over 80,000 properties, some being damaged two, three and even four times. The premises totally destroyed number 6,625; those seriously damaged number 6,549 and 68,886 were slightly damaged. The problem of repair has been, and remains, enormous. There will have to be extensive rebuilding and the City can only be restored with Government help and by an intensive and sustained effort. At present large areas, where many people lived and business flourished, are simply open spaces, cleared of the wreckage and debris and awaiting the coming of the builders.

Such have been the results of nearly four years' bombing, much of it ostensibly aimed against what the Germans called Portsmouth's "military installations," but actually including the purely residential suburbs and many non- military objectives. Details of the damage in the City are depicted in the following pages.”

This is in good condition. 

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