Exhibition marks Blitz and Dresden bombings

An exhibition marking the Blitz and the Dresden bombings, which took place 70 years and 65 years ago respectively, opens at the London Transport Museum today.

Exploring the role of public transport during the Second World War, the exhibition includes photographs of gutted train stations, working buses, tube stations-turned-air-raid-shelters and a host of informative and morale boosting posters.

“[The exhibition will] explore the areas of commonality, as well as differences, to convey the experiences of staff and passenger alike [during the bombings], irrespective of nationality,” a museum spokesperson said.

The display objects have been split into four categories: Preparation – how transport companies readied themselves for war; Sheltering – stations used as deep-level shelters; Passenger and staff experiences; and rehabilitation post-war.

A WW2 era LT-Type bus will be on display in the museum’s ground floor gallery to compliment the images and artefacts, many of which were donated by Coventry Transport Museum and the Verkehrsmuseum Dresden.

‘Under Attack – London, Coventry and Dresden’ opens today until 31 March 2011, London Transport Museum, Covent Garden, London ltmuseum.co.uk