I’m delighted to announce that to mark the 81st anniversary of the 1941 Belfast Blitz, I will lead 4 walking tours will be held in April & May 2022 to tell Belfast’s story of raids. Tickets can be booked for the walks here:
During the Easter and Spring of 1941, the German air force launched a series of devastating raids against Belfast, causing widespread damage, death and destruction. On the 81st anniversary of these events, I will lead a series of walking tours will be held in April and May 2022. They will be held on days to mark the anniversary of each of the four raids:
• Thursday, 7 April 2022, start at 18.00.
• Friday, 15 April 2022, start at 11.00 (Good Friday)
• Wednesday, 4 May 2022, start at 18.30
• Thursday, 5 May 2022, start at 18.30
The Belfast Blitz is one of the unhappiest elements of modern Belfast history is that almost everyone forgets that the city suffered dreadfully during the Second World War.
Between 7-8 April to 5-6 May 1941, the German air force launched four aerial bombing raids against Belfast to attack its war factories and shipbuilding facilities.
As a result of the raids, over 900 lives were lost, 1,500 people were injured, 400 of them seriously. Fifty thousand houses, more than half the homes in the city, were damaged. Eleven churches, two hospitals and two schools were destroyed.
Belfast endured some of the most damaging bombing experienced by any city in the UK. Over 100,000 Belfast residents were left homeless and the city’s industrial contribution to the war effort was temporarily crippled.
On the tour you, will hear the personal stories of those who suffered, lost love ones and lived through the bombings. You will also learn why the city was such a key German target and why it had been left so badly defended. Finally, we shall consider the legacy of the aerial bombardment that affected both the Catholic nationalist and Protestant unionist communities and brought them, briefly, closer together.
Tickets can be booked for the walks here:
If you have any queries, email me at contact@drtomstours.com.