London docklands air raid. Aerial photograph of a bombing raid carried out by Nazi Germany on London's docklands during World War II. This was part of the Blitz, Germany's bombing campaign against the UK that lasted from 7 September 1940 to 21 May 1941. Thousands were killed and damage caused, but it was a strategic failure as British war production was not halted. This raid took place at the start of the Blitz. The area seen here is in Woolwich, with the Thames at top and the Royal Artillery Barracks at bottom centre. This image is from 'Grossdeutschland im Weltgeschehen' (1940), published in Berlin by the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda.