The First Blitz tells the story of Germany's strategic air offensive against Britain, and how it came to be neutralized.The first Zeppelin attack on London came in May 1915 - and with it came the birth of a new arena of warfare, the 'home front'. German airships attempted to raid London on 26 separate occasions between May 1915 and October 1917, but only reached the capital and bombed successfully on nine occasions. From May 1917 onwards, this theatre of war entered a new phase as German Gotha bombers set out to attack London in the first bomber raid. London's defences were again overhauled to face this new threat, providing the basis for Britain's defence during World War II.This comprehensive volume tells the story of the first aerial campaign in history, as the famed Zeppelins, and then the Gotha and the massive Staaken 'Giant' bombers waged war against the civilian population of London in the first ever 'Blitz'.

IntroductionThe Growing Aerial Threat to LondonThe Zeppelin Raids - The Men That MatteredPreparing for the Zeppelin WarThe 1915 Zeppelin RaidsThe 1916 Zeppelin RaidsThe 1917 Zeppelin RaidsThe End of the Zeppelin WarThe Coming of the BombersThe Bomber Raids - The Men That MatteredPreparing for the Bomber BlitzThe 1917 Bomber RaidsThe 1918 Bomber RaidsThe Aftermath of the First BlitzSelect BibliographyAppendix 1: In Touch With London's First BlitzAppendix 2: ChronologyAppendix 3: The Forces Engaged in London's First BlitzIndex