Postcard image of London under an airship raid. In the distance, a fire burns near Tower Bridge, another to the east, south of the Thames. The Schütte-Lanz was a competitor to the Zeppelin, and used a wooden rather than metal frame. After an original painting, 'Schütte-Lanz' over London by Jo. Ruep.
Reverse:Luftfahrerdank o.m.b.h. Charlottenburg 2. "Schütte-Lanz" über LondonNach einem Original-Gemälde von Jos. Ruep.Thanks to Airmen o.m.b.h. Charlottenburg 2."Schütte-Lanz" over LondonAfter an original painting by Jo. Ruep.
London was the United Kingdom's governmental seat and financial center. A communications hub, soldiers passed through its train stations traveling to and from the battlefronts. Sited on both banks of the Thames River, London was a major port accessible to the North Sea.Germany struck London by air, first with airships (Zeppelins and Schütte-Lanz), then airplanes. It was first hit in a May 31, 1915 Zeppelin raid that killed six, a raid followed by anti-German rioting, looting, and vandalism.By an October 13, 1915 raid that killed 71 and injured 128, London's defenses included a new French antiaircraft weapon that fired a shell capable of exploding at a predetermined height.When Zeppelins returned on April 1, 1916, London was blacked out. But the Thames itself could guide attackers to the city where searchlights picked out LZ.15 which was hit by anti-aircraft and a B.E.2c before going down at sea. On September 2–3, 16 airships targeted London in a raid that killed four and in which SL.11 was shot down.On November 28, 1916 a single German plane dropped six bombs on Kensington, injuring six, in the first such attack on the city.On June 13, 1917 14 Gotha G IVs flying three miles high in daylight killed 162 and wounded 432 in the deadliest raid on Britain. The next Gotha raid on July 7 precipitated extensive anti-German riots.From September 24 to October 1, 1917, ninety-two bombers took part in the Autumn Moon Offensive. Before its end, over 300,000 people had taken shelter in the London Underground.The Whit-Sunday Raid, the night of May 19–20, 1918, was the largest and last raid of the war on London. Thirty-eight Gotha bombers; two small planes, and three Staaken Giants dropped an estimated eleven tons of bombs on London and the counties of Essex and Kent leaving 49 dead and 177 injured.
London is a city in Great Britain.
