Just 70 years ago, Britain experienced its darkest hour after Germany unleashed “totaler krieg” - total war - on Britain with the bombing of its cities by the Luftwaffe.
Hitler thought, wrongly, that by destroying British cities - which he most certainly did - British morale would sink so low that Britain would surrender.
It wasn't just London that was hit but EVERY major British city, and some not very major towns, and it's not too hard to find the scars of the Blitz, with many buildings that were standing during the bombing campaign still displaying the tell-tale pockmarks caused by exploding bombs.
But most photos of the Blitz are in black and white.
But now, thanks to some techno wizadry, one man has made the Blitz more true to life by turning black and white photos of the bombing campaign which set British cities alight into glorious colour ones - as, of course, the witnesses of the Blitz actually saw it.
Graphic artist Jon Wilkinson, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, takes up to four hours to colour just one photo before he is completely satisfied.
Amongst the photos he has brought to life is of a burning building in Piccadilly Gardens in central Manchester, the ruins of Coventry Cathedral (which is still an empty shell today), and a man being rescued from rubble.
43,000 British civilans perished in the Blitz, which lasted from 6th September 1940 to 10th May 1941. London was bombed for 76 consecutive nights. Unfortunately for Adolf, though, no surrender was forthcoming, and the RAF got revenge later by bombing German cities.
World War II as a Blitz of Colour
By Nigel Blundell
31/10/2010
The Sunday Mirror
MANCHESTER - The Shell of Piccadilly Gardens in the heart of the city after being hit by incendiary bombs
COVENTRY - City's magnificent medieval cathedral is reduced to a shell, which it remains to this day
LONDON - A man is rescued after being trapped for three hours
LONDON - Police Sergeant Robinson takes in the devastation of another raid
THE THAMES - German bombers follow river to the heart of the city
LONDON - Families shelter from a raid in Aldwych Underground station
The blazing centre of Manchester is lit up against the night sky as dazed men and women take in the damage inflicted by Nazi Germany’s new creed of “totaler krieg” – total war on Britain.
Elsewhere Coventry’s medieval cathedral is reduced to a ghostly shell while a police sergeant with his hands jammed into his pockets draws breath as he wonders who he should help next.
November 70 years ago marked a turning point in the Blitz when the Nazis decided not just London, but every city in Britain, would be a target with devastating raids on Coventry and later Manchester on Christmas Eve.
Now the devastation they caused has been brought to life in vibrant colour by top graphic artist Jon Wilkinson, using original black and white photographs.
Even with computer wizardry it can take Jon, 42 from Barnsley, South Yorks, up to four hours to colour one picture until he is satisfied.
The stunning collection of photographs from 1940 have now been put together in two new book on the Blitz published by military experts Pen & Sword Books.
“Jon is amazing the way he brings the past back to life,” said Pen & Sword’s Jonathan Wright. “Sometimes colour is the only way to bring home the horror of war. Many people have told us, ‘That was how it was – you’ve brought history back to life’.”
Blitz: The Attacks on Britain 70 Years Ago and Britain Under Fire: The Bombing of Britain’s Cities are published by Pen & Sword Books.
scoops@sundaymirror.co.uk
sundaymirror.co.uk
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