Life on the Home Front Flashcards
What did Hitler do between 1934 and 1935?
He introduced conscription which pushed the army size over the 100,000 cap introduced by the Treaty of Versailles. The allies did not respond.
What did Hitler do in 1935?
They signed an agreement with Britain to allow them to build a navy - which was forbidden under the Treaty of Versailles.
Why did the Anglo-German naval agreement annoy France?
Because they were not consulted.
What did Hitler do in 1936?
He remilitarised the Rhineland which was against the Treaty of Versailles. It was actually a bluff and the German army had orders to retreat if they met any resistance but they never had to.
What did Hitler do in 1938?
- He took over Austria to no resistance
- He took the Sudetenland with the blessing of Britain and France as long as he didn’t go on to take the rest of Czechoslovakia
What did Hitler do in 1939?
- He took the rest of Czechoslovakia.
* Hitler seized the Polish Corridor. Britain declared war two days later.
What was appeasement?
Baldwin and Chamberlain’s foreign policy between 1935 and 1939. It was intended to avoid war and confrontation by discussion, negotiation and compromise.
Why was appeasement popular at the time?
People were keen to avoid another war
Some sympathy for the Germans after the Treaty of Versailles
Seen by some politicians as a way of stopping the spread of communism
Fears that new wealth would go towards armaments
Why was there opposition to appeasement?
Some people said that war was inevitable if Hitler was not stopped
People didn’t want to associate with Hitler
At the beginning of the war, what was the only service ready for action?
The Navy
What was the problem with the RAF at the beginning of the war?
It was too small despite being very well trained
What were three problems with the army at the beginning of the war?
It was small
It was poorly equipped
The soldiers were poorly trained
What measure did the government introduce to try and increase the size of the army?
Conscription - by the end of 1939, 1.3 million people had be conscripted
What was the EPDA?
The Emergency Powers (Defense) Act was passed in 1939 and gave the government the power to take
certain measures to defend the nation and to maintain public order.
What was the ARP?
The Air Raid Precautions was an organisation set up to help people during the air raids.
What were the major responsibilities of the ARP wardens?
ARP wardens were to patrol the streets and
warn householders against showing any lights. ARP wardens were also expected to advise
householders and co-ordinate the emergency services.
How many casualties a week did the Air Ministry predict in 1938?
65,000
When the Air Ministry revised its figures in 1939, what did it predict?
In the first month of war the government could expect a million casualties, three million refugees, and the destruction of over half of Britain’s cities.
How did the government react to the Air Ministry’s predictions?
They ordered 1 million coffins
What did the government distribute to protect people against bombing?
Air raid shelters (most commonly Andersen shelters) which homeowners had to build themselves.
How did the government use trenches during air raids?
The government already has concrete-lined trenches dug after the Sudetenland crisis so the government kept them and allowed civilians to shelter in them.
How many people are estimated to have volunteered with the ARP?
500,000
What was RADAR?
An object-detection system that used radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction and speed of objects.