1939-45 Flashcards
Nevile Chamberlain [1937-40]
Chamberlain’s War Regret
Chamberlain Regreted Going to war for reasons:
• WW1 losses were Heavy and If they are doing a world war again, more destruction
• The British Army had been neglected since 1918, meaning BRITAIN expeditionary forces were less Equiped and drained than Germany
• Had to rely on the French army for mainland Opposition to Germany
• the USSR had sigmed a Non Aggression Pact with Germany meaning they had no Allies to the east unlike in ww1
• Italy was treatning the Suez Cannal
• Japan was threatning British Asia
• the chances of the USA helping in a european war was slim
Nevile Chamberlain [1937-40]
War outbreak Problems
The outbreak of war bought problems for chamberlain
• Blackouts = lights dimmed
• Road deaths X2
• White lines on pavments and lights
• Dig for Victory
• Have Identity Card always
National registration scheme 30th sept 1939
• Conscription April 1939
• evacuate september 2/3rd 1.5million ppl moved, the public beleived this was organised but it was Chaotic: illdressed, scared Children auctioned off at reception centers
• bad health, vermin infestations, bad behaviour, food problems, money problems
• showed the rich and poor devide and social differences as rich city kids mingled with the down to earth country and town kids (idk)
• this failed as London wasnt blitzed till august 1940 so half returned home
Nevile Chamberlain [1937-40]
The Phoney War
The Phoney War
– was the name given to A Fake war, where Chamberlain was unwilling to be detered by war
– Britian Declared war then did very little
– pretended there was lots going on to make them seem more involved and trying to get peace (wasnt realy much going on tho)
– caried on Day to day life as usual to give the illusion they wern’t panicing and were prepared and strong and the war wasn’t that bad
– keeping moral up
– Maintaining Buissness as Usual
– limited the wars impact on Daily lives: Reoppend cinemas, Spectator sports and Theaters
• was some stuff going on like Economic Blockade of Germany
but not much
• ended when Germany Invaded France
Nevile Chamberlain [1937-40]
The Norway Campagin
• Norway and Swedish iron ore’s foot Germany wanted
• therefore the Norway campaign involved Britain agreeing to put Mines in the North Sea on the 28th of March 1940
• there were also some land operations during the campaign they all failed
• on the 1st of March Hitler agreed that they should invade Norway
– this started an April and was finished by the 28th of May
• the sea mines only broke 12 ships
• it was not very successful
– Germany invaded both Denmark and Norway
Nevile Chamberlain [1937-40]
His Resignation on the 10th May 1940
• there was a two-day debate after the Norway campaign in which Tory MPs criticized Chamberlain a lot
• that was a vote held against Chamberlain:
281:200 for Chamberlain
40 Torys opposed chamberlain and 40 didn’t vote
so chamberlain could stay for now
• Chamberlain was also very ill so the Tories decide if they needed a new leader
• 9th may Churchill decided that they needed a Coalition
– Atlee says labour will only help if Neville Chamberlain has gone away
• this left two contenders for a new leader of the Conservative Party and war cabinet government:
• the first contender was Lord Halifax
– everybody liked him
– everybody wants him to become the new prime minister
– he was also the King’s friend
– however he was videntist therefore he couldn’t go to the Kings meeting
– the king decided to choose Churchill instead
1939-40 Events
1st sept 1939 - Germany invades Poland
3rd Sept 1939:
- Britain declares war on Germany
– has no plans to help Poland
– or how to coordinate with France to strike against Germany
September 1939
– home Front preparations for: evacuation, war work, potential air raids begin in Britain
– Britain sends forces to France to be prepared for Germany
– the dominions in the Empire agree to help Britain
Sept 39- May 40
– the phony war
(a lack of action and involvement in the war from Britain
and not trying to let it effect them or moral, and discuising the lack of involvment as major involvment
to show they were Ok and prepared or smth)
– France doesnt attack Germany
– No British Offensive on Land
Sept 1939 again
– USSR joins Germany in invading poland
– USSR invades Finland
March-May 1940
– Germany Invades Denmark
– Britain puts mines in the North Sea to Stop them Invading Norway for Sweedish Iron
– Germany Invades Norway anyway
– Britain fails to stop this
10th May 1940
– Germany Attacks: Holland, Belgium and Northern France
– Forces Britain and French Forces to Retreat
Sir Winston Churchill [1940-45]
Why Is churchill PM now?
• 10th May Germany invaded Holland And Belgium
• Chamberlain thought it was his duty to stop this
• Substantal no confidence vote in Chamberlain from 40 Backbench torys
• churchill defended the Failure of the Norwegian campaign, somehow increasing his own support
• Labour Refused to Serve in a War Cabinet with Chamberlain
• Lord Halifax couldnt take office (was at the dentist)
• Britain Needed a decisive Leader
• Churchill didnt like appeasement and wanted to distriy nazism
– Torys didnt like him that much (probably cuz he went to the liberals and back to torys in the past)
• Against better Judgment the King appointed Churchill on the 10th May 1940
Churchill then Offerd Blood, Toil, Tears and sweat
Sir Winston Churchill [1940-45]
His War coalition Cabinet
Churchill’s War Coalition Cabinet:
Conservative members:
• John Anderson
(Home Secretary 1940 - did Anderson shelters)
• Anthony Eden
(Foreign Secratery 1940-45)
Labour Members:
• Ernest Bevin
(Minister of Labour, ex-Trade Union Leader, increased Industrial Output and organised workers)
• Clement Atlee
(Lord Privy seal, Deputy PM 1943, Org most Domestic Matters, persuade Churchill to pass some Social Reforms)
• Herbert Morrison
(Minister of Suply and Home Secretary from 1943 (organised the Home front))
Other Members:
• Lord Beaverbrook
(Buisnessman, creator of ‘Daily Express’, Minister of Aircraft Production)
• Lord Woolton
(Buisinessman, Minister of food (1940, org Rationing)
• William Beverage
(Expert on Unemployment and social insurence, employed to consider wealfare changes)
This Cabinet was formed in May 1940
incl Torys libs and Labs to get all the help and support for conservitives he can
Chamberlain stayed as Lord President of the council till October
He didnt put any of his supporters in High possitions as the torys still dont like him and it would make him look bad
(with the exception of his mate Lord Beaverbrook)
Sir Winston Churchill [1940-45]
Evacuation of Dunkirk 26 May– 4 June 1940
The Evacuation of Dunkirk from 26 May - 4 June 1940
involved the evacuation of 338,226 troops from France
Via 800 Vessels
uk, India, canada, france, belgium, french west africa, netherlands and poland all aid evac
39 uk Distroyers
4 Canadian Distroyers
and
3 French distroyers
protected those 800 evac vessels
Churchill said it wasn’t a victory
as wars are not won on evacuations
on the 4th June he made his:
“We will fight them on the beaches, we will fight them on the landing grounds, we will fight them in the fields and in the streets, we will fight them on the hills, we will never surrender”
speech
Sir Winston Churchill [1940-45]
TOTAL WAR WW2
Total war is when everything that is produced in a country goes towards the war effort
• factorys + mines were outdated, under invested and underdeveloped and thus were pushed to their limits under this policy
• Women were important in arms production (same as Ww1)
• Blitz drills and protocal with the ARP (air raid precautions) wardens
• Rations (to try be self sufficient)
• reduced imports due to German Submarines blocking them
so v foods
• even the elderly and young helped in home protection with the Home Guard (Dad’s Army)
• Was more modern than ww1 Total War
Sir Winston Churchill [1940-45]
Impact of Ww2
Housing
Utilitys
Evacuation
Gov?
Air Raids
Women
The Home Guard
• Clothes rationed on a points system
• Utility scheme with clothes and furnishings having specifications to save on Raw materials
EVAC
• cheap travel by gov = Home Evacuation possible
– 1939-40 1.5mill pregnant and Nurishing women and Children (who need Foster parents) evaced
– this was a big task involving: Ed, Transport, Health ministerys
– Poor areas by Docks and Gas works were Evacuated first
• 60 Million changes if adress in a pop of 35 Million
GOV
• A new gov dept for Suply, info, eco, wealfare, town and country planning and civilian aviation created
• Gov forced to witness poverty
– e.g. Bristol 12-15% only on 5s/week for food
AIR RAID PLANNING
• Air raid shelters constructed from a steel cage:
– Morrison invented one for in the home
– Anderson invented one for outside
• Blackout Curtains 1940
– checked by Air Raid Precaution wardens (ARP) so no light could pass through
• APR wardens gave assistence to firefighters after boming raids
• Bombed homes looted in blackouts (crime)
• Blitz = 3.5Mill homes distroyed and damaged
– House building virtualy ceased
– Gardens Dug up to plant veg
WOMEN
• 1943 1 in 4 Cival Deffence workers ( ARW, fire, Guards, emergancy messangers, first aiders)= women
• 1942 Women’s home deffence corps = taught how to handle Rifels and Grenades
HOME DEFENCE
• Local Defence volenteers 1940
– ¼ Mill volenteers day 1
– 1.5 Mill by June
– No women
– Ages 17–65 (officialy)
– ages extended later on
– also ex militarys
– They were the Home Guard (Dad’s Army)
– to prepare German Invasion defences
– so the real army could have time to regroup
– so don’t panic
Sir Winston Churchill [1940-45]
Emergancy powers Act 1939
The Emergancy powers act 1939
• Gov do whatever it can for defence
• if someone does smth at the extent of public saftey
– the secratary of state can detain them
• The Minister of Labour can get anyone in the UK to do Anything, Anywhere AND choose how much pay + hours they get
Minister of Labour + National Service can:
– Conscript men and Women to the Armed Forces
– Direct workers to Jobs in Specific areas
– control rates of pay and hours of employment
Sir Winston Churchill [1940-45]
impact of Ww2
Industrial Impact
INDUSTRIAL IMPACT
• Some industries converted to war work
– some closed and sent their machines to war work
• TRADE UNION MEMBERSHIP 1.5M > 8M
• Improved production techniques
• salvage campains for alluminium + other metals, pots for planes (they were usless but atleast it was an attempt)
• Ministry of Aircraft Production was created
• ministry for production 1942
• Bevin industrial Conscription for men and Women
• 1943: ‘Bevin boys’ conscripted by Bevin to work in Coal Mines
• 1000 illegal strikes in 1941
• women employed in Munitions, enginering and shipbuilding
• Total workforce expanded by 2 Million despite 4.5 million people being sent to the Military
• Bevin made 300 speeches for workers moral
• Restriction on Illegal strikes increased
• Wages increased
– avg wage in 1939: equivelant £2.65
– avg wage by 1945: equivelant £3.80
• machines were outdated and there was an overall lack of skilled workers so the fact this all worked was incredible
• 1939= 1.3Mill unemployed
1943= 0.1 mill
Bevin shows how Labour Ministers can be trusted with power
Sir Winston Churchill [1940-45]
Impact of ww2
Economic impact
ECONOMIC IMPACT
• exports v 70% 1938-43 due to German Subs
• Treasury Responsible for finance
• Bevin (who has experience in Trade union affairs) is Minister of Labour
– got 1 mill Unemployed, employed in 1940
• Britain relyed heavily in Oil imports so U-Boats were a pain
• income tax =10s to pay for war
– Blocked non war related investments
– tax on goods and services ^
– Pay as you earn schemes on tax
• Persuaded Public to pay war bonds ( Public lent £8,500Mill)
• 18 Mill tonnes of shipping lost, only ⅔ replaced
• To help pay for this war
– earnings from exports were cut
– overseas investments were sold off (£1,300 Mill worth)
– The war cost £15 mill/day
– The gold reserves were all spent by 1941
– Dependend on Empire and USA loans
– USA lease lend £27,000 Million in Aid
– Canada sent $1000Mill gift
– Empire sent loans for I.O.Us
Sir Winston Churchill [1940-45]
Impact of WW2
Food
FOOD
• despite national milk scheme
– milk still in short suply
– used dried milk as a substitute
• Ernst Bevin was Minister of Labour
– oversaw demabds of Agraculture and more
• Minister of food was Lord Woolton
– made recipys:
– woolton pie
– Carrot tart ect
– Food subsidies and Priced controled + orices changed when wages were too
• EPA 1949 Ministry of Suplies oversee food distribution
• 3000 Calories/day allowence was deemed healthy
• After the Battle of Britain and Uboats blocking the suplies
– in 1941 Rationing got Severe:
– weekly adult: 8oz Meat, 2oz Tea, 1 Egg and 4oz Bacon
• Self sufficency (goal):
• Farmers plough pastures for food (millions of acers ploughed)
DIG FOR VICTORY
• shifts focus from meat to cereals
– Gov supplies farmers with tractors
• Dig up gardens for veg
– even the tower of London’s moat was dug up and planted
• Basic Rations start in 1940 Jan
– End in 1955
• fertilisers and Tractors increased use
• by 1943 1.4 Millin Allotments in Britain (for food)