c1900 - Present - Modern Warfare And Civilians

Question 1

What was the impact of active fighting on recruitment?

Answer 1

Civilians were forced to take up arms in the total warfare of the 20th century

Question 2

Features of organisation of the home front (impact of active fighting)

Answer 2

• the home guard - A part time volunteers force formed in 1940 to defend against invasion. By 1940, 1.6 million civilians had joined
• the civil defence - Volunteers defended the country from air raids from 1941. By 1945 1.4 mil wardens served and 7000 staff were killed in duty
• the women’s voluntary service

Question 3

Impact of living on the home front

Answer 3

• Rationing - Britain only had a few weeks of wheat supplies left as the germans cut off food supplies. So rationing was introduced in 1918 and 1940
• The blitz - Between 1940 and 41, two million british homes were destroyed and 1.5 million civilians evacuated due to german bombing + threat of air raids
• Government powers - The goverment censored information to control key industries. The government gained unlimited powers due to the emergency powers act of 1940 and workers could be forced to move to job roles more vital to war effort
• Air-raid precautions

Question 4

Air-raid precautions

Answer 4

• During ww2, gas masks were issued to every civilian and air-raid shelters were set up in public spaces and family gardens.
• Children were evacuated from major cities
• blackouts and curfews were enforced to prevent targets from being visible to bombers

Question 5

What was enforced as a fear of potential nuclear attack?

Answer 5

• nuclear defence booklets were issued to the public to prepare them
• air-raid sirens were regularly tested
• civil defence arms shown in schools

Question 6

Why was there fear of nuclear attack?

Answer 6

-The two ‘superpowers’ of usa and ussr had nuclear weapons
- there was constant tension and rivalry

Question 7

Benefits of warfare

Answer 7

• major medical advances
• advancements in equality