Key Topic 3 Flashcards
Why did Germany launch the Blitz?
- To destroy industry
- To break the morale of the British people
Effects of the First Blitz 1940-41?
-Damage to industry was little- this is because bombing was at night and indiscriminate
Most factories were able to resume work within 2/3 days and it didn’t mostly didn’t stop production
-3 million homes were destroyed and 60,000 people died
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Key features of Second Blitz (1944-45)
- V1 and V2 rockets were used
- V1s flew at about 350mph but they could be shot down
- V2s were a lot more serious threat as they couldn’t be shot down and they didn’t make any noises so they exploded without warning
- These attacks only stopped when the launch sites in Holland were overran
- 20,000 people died in these attacks
What measures were taken to deal with the Blitz?
-Air raid shelters, 400,000 Anderson air raid shelters were distributed
In September 1940, undergrounds were used as air raid shelters also
-In July 1940, The Home Guard aka Dad’s Army was set up. They took over the duties of the regular British army for example they patrolled beaches
What was the blackout?
- People had to ensure no light was visible from their homes
- Streetlights were not lit and car lights were not allowed
- In December 1939, 1500 people died from falling into canals or railway station platforms
Key features of evacuation?
- Began 1st September 1939
- Many teachers fled with their students to carry on teaching them
- The first wave of evacuations saw 1 million children evacuated
- However, due to ‘Phoney War’ where there was no fighting going on, many children from the cities returned home by Christmas.
Negative aspects of evacuation process?
- Children were put in village halls to be ‘chosen’ by host families. Strong/clean boys and girls were chosen over the unattractive/dirty children
- There was often a strong clash between city and country values- many children didn’t have toilet and table manners which shocked some families
- Many children became homesick as they weren’t used to the way of life
- Many children were treated poorly by host families
Positive aspects of evacuation?
- It saved many lives
- It exposed many children to a better standard of living, eg fresh air, healthier diet, walks in the country side
What was the Emergency Powers Defence Act?
-Passed on 24th August 1939 Allowed British government to pass emergency laws to: -secure public safety -defend the realm -carry out the war effectively
To carry out the act, what did the PM Chamberlain introduce?
5 whole ministries
- Information
- Home security
- Shipping
- Economic Warfare
- Food
Key features of censorship and propaganda
- posters were used to encourage people to to conserve food or fuel
- newspapers were controlled and censored
- BBC censored themselves
- propaganda was used to boost moral and maintain support for war effort
Causes of rationing
- food supplies to Britain were threatened by German u boat campaign which sank many allied ships
- To make sure everyone was healthy- to reduce use of medical and they were fit for war
- To boost morale to make sure everyone received the same
- To make sure there was enough food for everyone
How the did the role of women change?
- women began to work to aid the war effort
- women were employed in aircraft factories
- some women worked as mechanics, lorry drivers and engineers
- By 1943, 17 million aged 14-64 were either in forces or essential work work
- in April 1941, all women were forced to register for work
Key features of women in factories
- In 1943, women occupied 57% of the jobs in factories
- however they were usually paid 75 percent of a mans wage
- the Equal Pay Commission was set up in 1943 but it had no real effects
Key features of women in the home
- government provided women with recipes
- this was to make sure women could provide her family with a healthy diet with limited resources
- women were also instructed to avoid as much waste as possible
