By By Gemma Fox Sep 7, 2010 in World The 70th anniversary of the beginning of the Blitz was marked by a ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral in London this morning. Sept. 7 is the day the Germans switched tactics and began bombing non-military targets. The docks in the Port of London were heavily targeted in the first wave of attacks which began late in the afternoon of September 7 and saw around 360 bombers, escorted by over 500 fighters, bomb targets in the city of London. Over 130 more planes attacked at night. The bombs, aimed at the docks, also landed in residential areas and over 400 people lost their lives that night with over 1,600 being left injured. Bombed buildings in London Wikipedia Commons Londoners slept in the Underground, used as air raid shelters during the war Wikimedia Commons The sustained attacks were not just limited to London. Hilter ordered that ports across the country were to be targeted and beginning on November 14 1940 the Luftwaffe targeted Coventry, Southampton, Birmingham, Liverpool, Clydebank (Glasgow), Bristol, Swindon, Plymouth, Cardiff, Manchester, Sheffield, Swansea, Portsmouth, and Avonmouth. Further cities were attacked the following year under new orders by Hilter. Although many of these cities sustained considerable damage, the destruction in Coventry was significant. Over 500 bombers targeted the city on November 14 1940 and destroyed the city. Factories, houses, hospitals, churches and police stations were damaged or destroyed completely. Around 600 people lost their lives and over a 1,000 were left injured. Most significantly Coventry Cathedral was destroyed in the bombing and remains a ruin. The almost destroyed city centre of Coventry after the Blitz bombing by the Luftwaffe on Nov 14 1940 Imperial War Museum (via Wiki) Churchill visiting the ruins of Coventry Cathedral after the Nov 14 1940 bombings by the Luftwaffe Imperial War Museum (via Wiki) Over 40,000 people lost their lives during the Blitz. The remembrance service at St Paul's in London today was attended by many who survived the Blitz and who, working in various roles such as nursing, fire fighting or driving ambulances, worked through the raids. The service was also attended by pilots from the RAF and many others who helped defend the country throughout the raids. The BBC has compiled The Blitz (German for 'lightening') began on 7 September 1940 and lasted through to May 10 1940. The first city to be bombed was London and the German's sustained attacks on the city for a number of nights sending in waves of bombersThe docks in the Port of London were heavily targeted in the first wave of attacks which began late in the afternoon of September 7 and saw around 360 bombers, escorted by over 500 fighters, bomb targets in the city of London. Over 130 more planes attacked at night. The bombs, aimed at the docks, also landed in residential areas and over 400 people lost their lives that night with over 1,600 being left injured.The sustained attacks were not just limited to London. Hilter ordered that ports across the country were to be targeted and beginning on November 14 1940 the Luftwaffe targeted Coventry, Southampton, Birmingham, Liverpool, Clydebank (Glasgow), Bristol, Swindon, Plymouth, Cardiff, Manchester, Sheffield, Swansea, Portsmouth, and Avonmouth. Further cities were attacked the following year under new orders by Hilter.Although many of these cities sustained considerable damage, the destruction in Coventry was significant. Over 500 bombers targeted the city on November 14 1940 and destroyed the city. Factories, houses, hospitals, churches and police stations were damaged or destroyed completely. Around 600 people lost their lives and over a 1,000 were left injured. Most significantly Coventry Cathedral was destroyed in the bombing and remains a ruin.Over 40,000 people lost their lives during the Blitz.The remembrance service at St Paul's in London today was attended by many who survived the Blitz and who, working in various roles such as nursing, fire fighting or driving ambulances, worked through the raids. The service was also attended by pilots from the RAF and many others who helped defend the country throughout the raids.The BBC has compiled memories which, for many, are still as fresh as they were 70 years ago. More about Blitz, London, Germany, Anniversary bombs, Coventry More news from blitz london germany anniversary bombs coventry