Belfast Blitz Events

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Mind Map on Belfast Blitz Events, created by Miriam Ftzgerakd on 05/17/2015.
Miriam Ftzgerakd
Mind Map by Miriam Ftzgerakd , updated more than 1 year ago
Miriam Ftzgerakd
Created by Miriam Ftzgerakd over 10 years ago
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Resource summary

Belfast Blitz Events
  1. Preparations for War
    1. Inadequate
      1. Believe Belfast was too far to bomb
        1. After fall of France, London warned the Unionist government that Germany might bomb Belfast
          1. John MacDermott as Minister for Public Security
            1. Air raids shelters were built but only enough for 25% of the pop.
              1. Above Ground, gave little protection if a bomb landed nearby
                1. 4'000 homes had private shelters
                2. Blackouts weren't strictly enforced
                  1. They was little done to prepare fire services or hospitals for a bomb attack
                    1. Hurricane fighters were stationed nearby the harbour but couldn't fly at night
                      1. There were no searchlights and only a few barrage ballons
                      2. First Attack , 7-8 April '41
                        1. Sense of security shattered
                          1. 7 German planes dropped bombs in the harbour area
                            1. 13 people killed
                              1. Shipyards and docks weren't badly hit
                                1. Newspaper reports tried to reassure people by stressing how little damage was done
                                  1. Smoke Screens installed in the habour
                                  2. Second Attack, 15-16 April
                                    1. Worst Attack
                                      1. 90 German Bombers
                                        1. Bombs used
                                          1. High Explosives
                                            1. 674 Dropped
                                              1. Devastating effect when exploded
                                              2. Incendiaries
                                                1. Blew up targets
                                                  1. 29'000 Dropped
                                                  2. Parachute Mines
                                                    1. Floated Gently down
                                                      1. Exploded with extraordinary force when they touched the ground
                                                    2. Most missed the harbour and the docks but fell instead on the densely packed working-class houses around it
                                                    3. Third Raid, 5th May
                                                      1. Just after midnight
                                                        1. Visibility was wonderful
                                                          1. Target was the docks
                                                            1. Bombing lasted 3 hours
                                                              1. 95'000 incendiaries
                                                                1. 237 tonnes of high explosives
                                                                  1. Damage
                                                                    1. two-thirds of Harland & Wolff destroyed
                                                                      1. H & W closed for 6 months
                                                                        1. Death toll was lower than the 2nd
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