Leeds Blitz

Directions to an ARP shelter at the University of Leeds

Date	1940–42
Location	United Kingdom
Result	Damage to Leeds infrastructure, main industrial targets remain intact

Belligerents

United Kingdom

Germany

The Leeds Blitz comprised nine air raids on the city of Leeds, the largest of which took place on the night of 14/15 March 1941. The raid affected the city centre, Beeston,Bramley and Armley. The city was affected by other raids during the Second World War, but they were relatively minor; only the March 1941 raid caused widespread damage, including significant damage to the city's museum and its artefacts.

Leeds is a large city in the industrial heartland of the West Riding of Yorkshire. The county's largest city, much of the region's economic, administrative and industrial activities were centred on Leeds which was also an important rail hub. Many industrial manufacturers around the city such as Avro at RAF Yeadon (now Leeds Bradford Airport) which produced Lancaster bombers,Kirkstall Forge,Barnbow munitions works and ROF Thorp Arch near Wetherby adapted their output for war work providing likely raid targets. Leeds had taken precautions, including building many public air raid shelters and large water tanks to be used for fire-fighting in the event of incendiary devices being dropped.

Beginning just after 9 pm on Friday 14 March 1941, around 40 bombers took part in the raid on Leeds; in all 451 were over Britain that night.Incendiary bombs were first dropped onto the city on the Friday night, later high explosive bombs were dropped on the Saturday. Targets hit in the city centre included the Town Hall, the city's museum (then on Park Row), Leeds New station (now Leeds City station), the Kirkgate Markets, the Central Post Office, the Quarry Hill flats, the Hotel Metropole and the area now occupied by the Inner Ring Road. Around 100 houses were destroyed, 4,600 sustained damage, and around 65 people were killed.

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