Keeping Thingd Going: The Government Flashcards
What where the cabinet war rooms ?
Shortly before the war the government created an underground headquarter for the Cabinet and the military
Why where the war rooms important ?
Allowed for the the country to still be run even during the Blitz
What building was chosen for the cabinet war rooms and why ?
New public offices busking in Whitehall was the HQ
Had steel frame and a basement which could be reinforced
What where two features of the basement ?
- layer of concrete placed on top to reinforce the basement and to act as a shield
- gas proofed and protected against flooding in case bombs should cause the river to flood into the underground tunnels
Why did the cabinet war rooms become crowded ?
-Chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force worked there and operations for the whole war where coordinated in the Map room
- Churchill spent most of the war here as 10 Downing Street was too vulnerable
What where two features of the flat at the New public office ?
- not bomb proof But reinforced
- had steel shutters that could be fitted over the windows to protect from bombs blasts
What where the rooms designed for ?
Give the prime minister and key members of staff a place to work and sleep
However the war rooms themselves where not bullet proof partially due to the concrete not being thick enough and the war rooms constantly expanding
Why was the Map room important ?
- senior government officials and military officers met here to discuss the war
- contained telephone consecrations to the Army, Navy and airforce HQ’s which helped to update the map
- after 1944 broadcasting equipment and a connection to the BBC meant broadcasts could be made
What where some other rooms and features ?
- bedrooms and offices
- kitchen and mess rooms
- very secret meaning soldiers cleaned rooms to avoid civilians seeing any secrets
