The summer-long exhibition opened this month and features stories, artefacts and images from the wartime community that bore a Nazi Luftwaffe attack in February, 1941, which claimed the lives of 230 people and destroyed much of the town centre.
The exhibition includes rarely-seen photographs from a Swansea City Council album of the destruction caused by the raids. Also featured are bomb fragments as well as glass bottles and metal boxes re-shared by the intensity of the heat from the fires which broke out.
The exhibition is just one part of a range of events and commemorations being supported by Swansea Council, following discussions with local groups and organisations, including veterans and the local branch of the Royal British Legion.
Elliot King, Cabinet member for culture, human rights and equalities, said: “It’s an understatement to say a whole generation of the community of Swansea was shaped and influenced by what happened in the Three Nights Blitz.
“Somehow the Brangwyn Hall was missed by a bomb by just a few feet. But much of the town centre was lost, taking 230 lives and injuring around 400 more.
“The museum exhibition commemorates the sacrifice of those who died not just during the blitz, but through the whole wartime period.
“It also seeks to tell the wider story of life in wartime South Wales – from a rare example of a leaflet dropped on Swansea during the war of ‘A Last Appeal to Reason by Adolf Hitler’, to photographs of American soldiers billeted in Swansea and images of VE Day street parties.”
He added: “Our communities could not celebrate the 75th anniversary of D-Day because it happened at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. But this time anyone who wants to stage a street party can apply to have their street closed by the council for free.”
“With its maritime links to the Merchant Navy, the Three Day Blitz endured on the home front and the many thousands from our area who served in the armed services, VE Day is a crucial part of our heritage.
“As well as waiving road closure fees for street parties, we’ll be supporting the Royal British Legion with their commemorations and events for this historic occasion.”
The official UK VE Day 80 commemorations take place from Bank Holiday, May 5, and go on until May 8, VE Day.
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