Sheffield Blitz, 1940
In December 1940, the Germans carried out a series of bombing raids (Operation Crucible) aimed at destroying Sheffield’s steel industry. The River Don Works (Sheffield Forgemasters) was a priority target as it was the only forge in the UK producing crankshafts for the Merlin engine, which powered the Spitfire and the Lancaster bomber. However, most of the bombs fell in the city centre rather than the Don Valley, and although nearly 700 people were killed steel production continued.