Sheffield retro: 23 black and white photos marking anniversary of Sheffield Blitz

December 12 marks the 85th anniversary of the day Sheffield changed forever. On that same date in 1940, bombs rained down on the Steel City as German bombers targeted the industrial powerhouse during World War II.

When the air raid sirens sounded at approximately 7pm, there was no panic as the sirens had been heard plenty of times before, but just a few minutes later the first German planes were heard and seen moving across the clear sky, lit up by the moon.

What followed was devastation in the city centre and across Sheffield with many buildings destroyed.

The biggest tragedy of the night occurred just before midnight when the Marples Hotel received a direct hit.

Only seven people were brought out alive; a number of victims were never recovered.

These photos from our archive take a look back at the night of the blitz and the wartime spirit that prevailed in the immediate aftermath.

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21. Mistletoe kiss

Christmas after the Blitz in Sheffield in December 1940 and a sprig of mistletoe means dad gets to kiss his favourite girl. This was taken at High Storrs rest centre Photo: Sheffield Newspapers Ltd