Blitz and Warfare through time Flashcards
1
Q
Give three reasons why London was targeted in the Blitz
A
-London was the capital city of Great Britain. It was the centre of government and major destruction of government buildings, and the killing of lots of civil servants, would slow down the war effort.
-London was Britain’s most important port. Britain depended on international shipping for food and for military supplies. Destroying the London docks would hinder the British war effort and, if it added to food shortages, might lower civilian morale.
-The Thames and its estuary made a perfect route finder for the bombers as well. Even at night, the Thames helped; because on moonlit nights, the moonlight glinted on the river and was easy to see from the air.
2
Q
How much were families paid for taking in children during the war?
A
they were paid 52.5p a week for the first child they took in, and 42.5p for any others
3
Q
By the 31st of March 1940, what percentage of Londoners were still carrying gas masks?
A
one percent
4
Q
What was the name of the shelter that households with gardens were offered?
A
Anderson shelters
5
Q
Give 2 features of the South Hallsville School disaster
A
- The buses that were sent too the School were sent to Camden town instead of Canning town. This meant that there was a delay in the evacuation of the homeless people in at the school.
- When it was time for the people to be moved there was an air raid siren meaning that it was though to be too dangerous to move them. That night part of the school was hit by a bomb.
6
Q
What was the name of the shop that Mickey Davis constructed his ‘mickey shelter’ under?
A
Spitalfields Fruit and Wool Exchange
7
Q
What were some features of the mickey shelter?
A
-Organised cleaning and beds
-Persuaded a GP to visit and provide free health care
-Persuade M&S to build a canteen for the shelter
-Used profit from the canteen to provide free milk for the children
-Persuaded the local authority to recognise it as a shelter to put in toilets and bunks
8
Q
Why were incendiaries such a problem during the Blitz?
A
Incendiary bombs started fires when they were dropped which often got out of control. The fires had to be put out quickly or they would burn down buildings. Members of the public were advised to keep a bucket of water or a sandbag to smother the fire.
9
Q
In the first six weeks of the Blitz how many people were left homeless?
A
250,000 - only 7,000 were rehoused
10
Q
What Hotel did group of angry East Enders march to on the 15th of September?
A
The Savoy Hotel - The east enders waited for an air raid siren to go off before they raided the 5 star Hotel and demanded to use its luxury underground shelter. It was full of journalists who were there for a Ministry of Information briefing. No English newspaper published the story due to censorship, but the War Cabinet discussed it the next day. After this class tension relaxed as government action began to
help the working-class districts.
11
Q
Why did the government use propaganda?
A
-keep up civilian morale
-encouraged people to act in the way the government wanted
-stress the importance of the ‘war effort’ - e.g. ‘digging for victory’ to grow more food
-to warn the dangers of spies
12
Q
Why was the Balham Tube Disaster (1940) so catastrophic?
A
A 1.4T bomb hit a mains pipe which caused a flood with a 20m diameter. 66 people died.
13
Q
Explain two features of the Bethnal Green disaster (3rd March 1943)
A
- A woman with a baby fell at the bottom of the stairs leading to the station. This created a huge crush in which 173 people died.
- New anti-aircraft rockets were fired for the first time this created a huge panic as people thought they were bombs it caused mass panic.
14
Q
What was the name given to V2 bombs by the British public?
A
Flying Gas mains
15
Q
Why was the Depford V2 attack so catastrophic?
A
The V2 attack struck Woolworths, the areas largest shop, after it had received 144 tin saucepans. A queue had built up with people keen to lay their hands on such scarce items.
16
Q
Give two features of the ‘Second Great Fire of London’
A
- 100,000 incendiary bombs were dropped which caused an area destroyed that was greater than that of the Great Fire of London in 1666.
- After the attack, effective propaganda occurred in which the headline ‘St Paul’s Survives’ was written in the Daily Mail to put a positive spin to the devastation. The Cathedral was saved by 200 volunteer fire watchers.
17
Q
What was the state of professional football during the Blitz?
A
Professional football started again in late September 1939, with regional leagues. Crowds were limited to 8,000, in London (and other main targets) or 16,000 elsewhere. Many professionals had joined the services, and played in exhibition matches around the country.
18
Q
How were V2 rockets different to V1 rockets?
A
-V2 rockets could travel up to 2386mph whilst the V1 could travel just 400mph
-V2s were guided by guide beams and radio signals whilst V1 rockets were steered by a pre-set magnetic compass.
-Both rockets carried a ton of high explosives.
19
Q
In 1250 what was the average size of armies?
A
5000-10000 mean
20
Q
What was the name of the battle in which Prince Edward lost control of his cavalry?
A
Battle of Lewes (1264)
21
Q
State the 4 main ways armies were recruited in 1250 to 1500?
A
- Feudal troops
- Assize of arms (cavalry)
- Royal household
- Assize of arms (infantry)
22
Q
Describe assize of arms for cavalry
A
The king introduced a law that stated ‘all landowners with land worth over £15 (£8000 now days) would be required to provide the king with a mounted knight with a horse, hauberk, iron helmet, a sword and a dagger.
23
Q
Approximately how many troops did King Henry iii employ during his reign as a part of the Royal household?
A
Around 500 troops who were on around £5 per year.
24
Q
What battle did King Henry iii effectively use the assize of arms (infantry) to win a battle?
A
Battle of the Barons (1264-67) - Henry used an army that was composed of assize of arms troops
(assize of arms - compulsory 40 day war service from wealthy individuals (and eventually all men))
25
In 1327, why were feudal troops no longer used?
-their quality was unreliable
-they trained very little
-they were part time soldiers and therefore had poor quality weapons
-they only fought for 40 days for free. Any longer and they expected pay
-there were only a small number of troops available at a single point in time
26
What was unique about Edward iii's army of 1337?
It was the first army to consist of entirely paid troops
27
By the late 1300s what was the most commonly used weapon amongst infantry men and why?
Longbows
-At the correct angle they were capable of piercing armour plate
-A trained longbow archer could shoot 10 to 15 arrows a minute
-Longbows were effective up to 200 metres, twice the range of shorter bows
28
What were chevauchees?
Short raids on horseback by small armies of 2000-3000 intended to terrorise the local population and make it impossible for the French to raise tactics or grow crops.
29
What was the main factor that allowed the Scots to defeat the English at the Battle of Sterling Bridge in 1297?
The use of the Scottish pikemen as an attacking force
-They formed huge circles of up to 2000 men (schiltrons) with pikes directed at the enemy and charged at the enemy. This led to a decline in the use of mounted knights.
30
It what situation were cannons most commonly used in the late 1300s/early 1400s?
-They were often used in sieges in the bringing down of walls.
-They were rarely used on the battlefield as they were extremely difficult to tranport.
30
It what situation were cannons most commonly used in the late 1300s/early 1400s?
-They were often used in sieges in the bringing down of walls.
-They were rarely used on the battlefield as they were extremely difficult to transport.
31
What King was accidently killed due to a cannon exploding near him?
James ii (August 3rd 1460)
32
What triggered the peasants revolt of 1381?
A new poll tax was imposed on the population to help pay for the hundred years war. This triggered the peasants revolt in which some peasants, led by Wat Tyler, meet up with the young king Richard ii at Smithfield.
33
What was requisitioning?
'A formal order from the authorities for private property or goods to be handed over to military forces for their use'
34
In 1346, for the Crécy campaign, how many ships did the crown requisition/seize?
700 privately owned ships were seized
35
Why did England become victorious in the Battle of Agincourt (1415) against France?
-Henry V delivered a motivational speech prior to battle
-King Henry positioned his small group of highly skilled longbowmen of the flanks of the French
-Weather conditions were extremely poor - this caused a bundle of French soldiers
-The French didn't have a plan or good leadership
36
What basic command error did William Wallace make in Scotland's defeat to England in the Battle of Falkirk (1298)?
He failed to protect his flanks
37
Describe some features of Edward i during the Battle of Falkirk
-Despite detailed plans to supply his troops by sea, they were nearly defeated by hunger.
-Despite having superior forces, undisciplined cavalry could have ruined his attack. Against a stronger enemy, it could have been disastrous.
-His bold decision to attack had forced Wallace to fight in a position where his flanks were undefended.
-Edward’s use of his longbows was the turning point of the battle. It became a key part of English strategy in warfare for the next 150 years.
38
How long did it take to fire a matchlock musket?
As matchlocks were extremely slow to load, they could only fire once every two minutes
39
What were four reasons that drove the change from longbows to muskets?
-Developments in technology: Guns got better: by 1550, the matchlock musket fired a 60 gram lead bullet, heavy enough to pierce most armour. Armour had improved. The new high-carbon steel armour developed at the end of the 15th century was almost arrow proof, but musket bullets had more power and could penetrate it.
-New ideas from Europe: Armies found a way of beating the Swiss pike units with the firepower of large numbers of musketeers.
-Cost: The matchlock musket had a standard bore, so bullets could be mass-produced and issued to any soldier in the army. On the other hand, arrows were high-quality crafted objects that were expensive to make.
-Changes in society: Men had less opportunity to practice the longbow. It took years of practice to make a successful bowman.
40
Between 1500-1650, how much did armies increase in size?
Armies did not get much bigger. The typical army was the same size in the Wars of the Roses (1455) as it was in the ECW (1642)
41
Between 1642 and 1692 how much did cannons increase by?
In 1642 there were 20 cannons whereas in 1692 England sent 120 cannons to campaign in the Netherlands.
42
From 1470 onwards, why were the Swiss pikemen an unbeatable force?
-The soldiers wore metal helmets and back and breast armour, with high-carbon steel armour which was almost arrow proof
-They formed a giant hedgehog and were able to move in fast, disciplined fashion
43
How did Pikemen and musketeers work together in combined units?
Pikemen could protect musketeers from cavalry charge, whilst musketeers could protect pikemen from ranged attacks
44
What were some advantages of the matchlock musket?
-A single shot could easily penetrate plate armour from within 100m
-Musket wounds were more debilitating than an arrow wound
-Muskets only required two weeks of basic training whilst it took years to master the longbow
45
What were some disadvantages of the matchlock musket?
-It was difficult to keep the smouldering cord alight in damp weather
-The explosion from the primer didn't always successfully light the gunpowder in the barrel of the gun causing a 'flash in the pan' (this happened 40% of the time)
46
Why did states invest in fortifications?
Because they made those states much safer from cannon attacks making them harder to invade and conquer. Fortification methods included thick, low walls, filled with earth and bastions.
47
What was a bayonet?
First used by French troops in 1647, a bayonet was a short sword or dagger that could be fixed to the end of a musket. It turned the musket into a short pike. This reduced the need for pikemen as musketeers no longer needed pikemen to protect themselves.
48
What were the three types of bayonets used between 1647 and 1700?
-Plug bayonet (1647) - didn't allow a soldier to fire with the bayonet fitted.
-Ring bayonet - allowed soldiers to fire when the bayonet was fitted, but it wasn't very secure and the bayonet often slipped off.
-Socket bayonet (mid 1690s)
49
How much more force did a matchlock musket have compared to a longbow?
Matchlock muskets had 20X more force than longbows.
50
What were trained bands?
A proportion of men from each county who met once a month during the summer to train.
51
What were muster masters and why did some people not like them?
Muster masters were a set of professional soldiers who ran the training. Local gentlemen, who had been in charge before, didn’t like taking orders from these professionals, who were usually from a lower social class. In the 1590s professionals were used much less to train soldiers and local gentlemen were used instead. This shows how social attitudes can affect warfare.
52
In 1625 what percent of the 12000 men who went to fight in Germany were alive the next year.
Only 10% of the men were alive the next year showing how fatal overseas fighting was.
53
What were some features of the new model army?
-Regular pay
-It would give successful soldiers the command and not politicians
-Promotion on merit
54
Why did parliament originally not want a standing army?
-It saw what was happening in Europe, and wanted to protect the balance of power between the monarch, Parliament, the nobles and gentry, and the town councils who ran local government.
- Parliament controlled taxes, and a standing army was very expensive. The monarch could not have one without Parliament voting a massive increase in taxes; and Parliament was as much against higher taxes as it was against losing power to the monarch.
55
Prior to the civil war, Oxfordshire paid £3500 a year in taxes. How much did they pay during the civil war?
£60,000 - an increase of 1700%. This shows the impacts of war on civilians before the civil wars compared to during them.
56
Approximately how many houses were destroyed during the civil war?
It is estimated that 11,000 houses were destroyed which left 55,000 people homeless during the civil war. This shows the impact of war on civilians during the civil war.
57
Who commanded Parliament's new model army during the civil war?
Thomas Fairfax
58
What were some reasons for the new model army becoming victorious in the Battle of Naseby (June 1645)?
-Royalist overconfidence: they thought the New Model Army was weak, so they attacked despite being outnumbered.
-The New Model cavalry, trained by Cromwell, were as good as the Royalists and better disciplined. Rupert wasted the advantage on the west wing, because he could not control his troops. Cromwell turned the advantage on the east wing into a victory by keeping control of his troops; some chasing the Royalist cavalry off the field, while the rest attacked their infantry.
-Parliament had created an army with experienced officers and generals, determined to win the war.
-Fairfax was an inspirational general. He encouraged the New Model infantry, fighting with them when the second line did not break. He then lead the infantry in the counter-attack on the Royalist centre and, finally,
he carefully organised an overwhelming force to attack the king’s reserve.
-Prince Rupert went after a baggage train and cavalry deserted.
59
How did Cromwell help with Parliament's victory in the Battle of Naseby?
-As a politician, he was one of the key leaders in setting up the New Model Army, and in supporting the policy that its officers should be the best soldiers, not just well-born men.
-As a general in 1643 and 1644, he recruited and trained the best cavalry in the war, and these units were the core of the New Model cavalry.
-His arrival the night before the battle was a great boost to the morale of the New Model Army.
60
During peace time, what was the average size of a standing army (1700-1850)?
50,000
61
How were men recruited between 1700-1850?
-Men were often signed up 'under the influence' by recruiters with a bounty of around £3 (£250 today) for lifetime service (21 years).
-During wartime, criminals and debtors were released early from prison if they agreed to join the army. During the War of American Independence (1776–83), three whole regiments (about 7,000 men in total) were raised in this way.
62
What was the Militia Act (1757)?
The militia act meant that all men 18-50 were chosen by a ballot to serve for 5 years in the local militia. The militia protected the country against invasion and could be used to boost the size of the army during war. In 1798, during the war against France, the militia grew to 118,000 men. Also, militia men weren't expected to serve abroad but in 1805-1815 100,000 militiamen joined the army with the offer of a bounty.
63
In 1708, what book did the Duke of Marlborough issue in an attempt to offer tactics for officers?
New Exercise of Firelocks and Bayonets - It was not widely used.
64
What was the main problem that limited change in training and tactics (1700-1850)?
Attitudes in society - Officers thought that weapons training and tactics were simple things that officers could be left to arrange themselves.
65
How many rounds per minute could the Maxim gun fire?
Created in 1884 by Hiram Maxim, the Maxim gun (20kg) could fire up to 500 rpm.
66
What was the scale of direct civilian impacts between 1700-1850?
It was very minor as the English Channel and British Navy protected England for invasion.
67
Between 1700 and 1836 how much did the English population increase by?
6 million (1700) to 26 million (1836)
68
What was the basic weapon used by the infantry in 1750?
The Brown Bess - came into service in 1715 and was used for over 130 years. It was effective up to 100 metres and had a 45 cm bayonet blade. 8 million were made.
69
By how much did Henry Bessemer reduce the cost to produce steel per tonne?
Bessemer brought the price to mass produce cheap steel down from £60 to £7 per tonne.
70
What was the name of the man who pioneered the British iron industry in the 1740s?
John Wilkinson - began to make thinner cannon barrels out of a solid piece of metal.
71
How many men did Britain loose at the Battle of Malplaquet in 1709?
24,000 men
72
What individual invented nitroglycerine, which allowed smokeless powder for rifles and cannons?
Alfred Noble
73
What were Minié bullets?
Minié bullets were invented in 1847. They were small bullets that were dropped individually into the barrel. On firing, the bullets expanded, allowing contact with the rifling. Used with the Minié rifle, this made the bullets fly further; they were effective to 300 metres. The British government paid Claude Minié £20,000, to allow his rifle to be issued to all troops in the infantry.
74
How did magazines lead to improvements in rifles from 1850 onwards?
Magazines of bullets meant that several bullets could be loaded at one time. In 1888, British infantry were issued with the Lee-Metford magazine rifle, which was accurate up to 1.5 km.
75
What two reasons meant that cavalry wasn't completely abandoned from the British Army?
-They were still used for roles such as scouting
-Attitudes in society - Many leaders of the army had been in the cavalry and thus kept the cavalry for emotional, illogical reasons
76
In the 1800s, how much faster could troops travel if they used rail as opposed to marching?
15 times faster on rail than of feet - Wagons had moved supplies around 10 miles a day whilst trains could move them 20 miles per hour.
77
Who was William Howard Russell?
Often referred to as the 'first war reporter', William Russell was able to send short despatches by a series of telegraph links from Crimea to London in only 5 hours. Longer despatches, sent by sea, took about 20 days. He sent reports about Crimea daily for almost two years. Russell was able to report on poor progress in Crimea which caused the Prime Minister, Lord Aberdeen, to resign in 1885.
78
What percent of casualties in Crimea were from the battle field?
Just 8%
79
Who was Roger Fenton?
Roger Fenton was employed by a publisher to take photographs of Crimea in 1855. However he didn't show the battlefields but rather just the daily lives of soldiers. Also, technology was not yet available to publish the photos in newspapers - Photos weren't in newspapers until the 1880s.
80
What was one limitation of photographs taken in the Crimean War?
The photos didn't show the public the reality of war due to technological limitations in early cameras. Also, many photos were portraits of soldiers in studios or behind guns (gave a false idea of war life).
81
How many correspondents were sent to South Africa for the Boer War?
300 correspondents - 20 were from The Times alone.
82
How much money did the Times raise for sick and wounded soldiers from the Boer War within a week?
£5000 (£3 million today)
83
What was something new about war reporting in the Boer War?
The use of cameras that could show basic film footage - This would then be shown as propaganda in music halls.
84
What percent of England could read in 1900?
Only 30-40% of people in England were literate in England in 1900.
85
What were three features of Edward Cardwell's Army Act of 1870?
-Lower ranks enlisted for 12 years - six in the army and six in the reserves
-Reserves were paid a daily rate of 4d (75p in today’s currency) and did annual retraining
-After 12 years, soldiers could resign, without a pension, or sign up again and receive a pension at the end of their service.
86
What were three features of Edward Cardwell's Regularisation of the Forces Act of 1871?
-Regiments were reorganised into regions, with local barracks
-All regiments were to have two ‘linked’ battalions – one serving at home and one abroad. This reduced the period served abroad
-The local militia in each area made up each regiment’s third battalion
87
What did Emily Hobhouse reveal about Britain during the Boer War?
Britain's use of concentration camps
88
What are two examples of the general public helping out with war in the 1800s?
-The mining industry in Leeds sent two locomotives for the railway in Crimea.
-The Reform Club, a gentlemen’s club in London, sent their chef to improve army cooking.
89
What is Jingoism?
an extremely patriotic, even aggressive, form of foreign policy, favouring the use of military force to boost British interests over its competitors.
90
Why was Napoleon unable to ride around the battlefield to survey the battle?
He had piles, making him bad tempered with his generals and unable to ride his horse around the battlefield.
91
What is some evidence that the Duke of Wellington won the battle of Waterloo by tactical brilliance?
-Wellington positioned his troops so they would counter Napoleon's attempt to flank his army. He also sent some troops to reinforce Chateau d'Hougoumont and La Hay Sainte.
-Wellington decisively acted when making a successful decision not to retreat his troops from Chateau d'Hougoumont when it was advanced on.
-Wellington make three crucial decisions in response to 18,000 advancing French infantry (allied artillery fire, allied infantry to stand in a line and fire with fixed bayonets and allied cavalry to charge with swords drawn after the French infantry began to retreat)
92
What is some evidence that the Duke of Wellington won the battle of Waterloo by luck?
-Napoleon had piles
-Wet and damp weather meant uneffective French artillery
93
What was the 'Thin Red Line' (Battle of Balaclava, 1854)?
In response to the on coming 2000 Russian cavalry men, commander Sir Colin Campbell ordered his troops to stand up and face the enemy. At first they fired one round at long distance with little effect. Then at 250m they fired again, causing a number of casualties, this slowed the charge down. Finally a third round of fire caused more casualties. Almost on the Highlanders' (the English troops) bayonets, the Russian cavalry swerved left and retreated. William Howard Russell reported on this and described the clothes that the Highlanders' were wearing made it look like a 'thin red streak, tipped with steel'.
94
What was the charge of the Light Brigade?
In short, the charge of the Light Brigade was a major miscommunication of messages between Lord Raglan and Lord Lucan, (the messages were passed between the two lords by captain Nolan) in which Lord Cardigan followed the order of advancing his 673 men, who were all part of the Light Brigade, towards heavy Russian troops. The incident lasted 20 minutes. They captured no land, no guns and no troops. Of the 673 men, 113 were killed and 134 wounded. Most of the horses had to be destroyed.
95
What is the term given when describing the fighting of wars in which all of the country's manpower and industry is being directed to the war effort?
Total war
96
How many men, ships and vehicles were used in the D-Day landing (June 1944)?
130,000 men, 4,300 sea-going ships and 20,000 vehicles all took part in the biggest amphibious troop landing in history.
97
What was built under the English Channel to provide D-Day vehicles with supplies?
PLUTO - a pipeline underneath the English Channel
98
What was the Army Service Corps in WW1?
The army service corps had 300,000 men (10% of the army) and were used as drivers, planners, railway men and couriers. They had to provide 3 million men with 500,000 horses and 90,000 vehicles.
99
What corps helped plan the British invasion of Iraq in 2003?
Royal Logistics Corps - helped plan for the invasion and transport 45,000 troops with their arms, tents, food, water and even portaloos. This was all transported over 3000 km in 73 ships and 1200 flights.
100
What are some features of the British 'Dragon Runner'?
The British 'Dragon Runner' has pincers, digging arms, cameras and electronic jammers.
101
What gun was used as a defensive weapon in WW1?
Machine guns - they weighed about 50 kg and required 6 men to operate
102
What were used to combat german fighter planes in WW2
-Spitfires - could reach 350 mph and could outmanoeuvre German fighter planes.
-Anti-aircraft guns - shot down enemy planes and had automatic reloading as well as radars to help aiming. Germany had 50,000 anti-aircraft guns.
-Radars were used to detect oncoming aircraft
103
It 1914, what allowed for rapid mobilization?
Railways allowed Germany to outmanoeuvre the French Army and sweep towards the outskirts of Paris in 1914.
104
In the Battle of Cambrai (1917) how many tanks were used?
400 tanks were used to burst through 8 km of German lines.
105
What principle is used to ensure that no country will use nuclear weapons?
Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) - Any state using a nuclear weapon to destroy an enemy, would also be destroyed if their enemy launched a nuclear counter-attack.
106
What are UAVs?
UAVs are pilotless aircraft that can be controlled remotely. They are used for reconnaissance, surveillance and raids.
107
How have moderns tanks allowed for more mobility in warfare?
Modern tanks can travel up to 50 km/h - Modern tanks (such as the Challenger 2) are well protected with chobham armour that can destroy on impact (even armour piercing missiles).
