London and WW2 Flashcards
Why was London a bombing target?
East End - factories, warehouses, docks,
Westminster - Buckingham Palace, Parliament,
The City of London - Bank of England, stock and telephone exchange
The suburbs - densely populated
Preparations for War
The LCC organised Fire, Ambulance and heavy rescue services for the poor,
Gas masks were given to all Londoners,
ARP wardens,
Civil Defence volunteers (Jan 1939),
Ministry of Information created to control propaganda (Sep 1939),
Blackout (1st Sep 1939)
Types of Shelter
Anderson shelter,
Morrison shelter,
Surface shelter,
Tube stations,
Basements
Features of Anderson Shelters
1.5 million, cost £7, free for those earning <£250, made of corrugated iron and steel
Features of Morrison Shelters
for people without gardens, protected people from collapsing houses
Features of Surface Shelters
was very vulnerable to bombs
When did evacuation begin?
1st September 1939
Why were people evacuated
Germany was capable of killing 58,000 in a first attack
Number of evacuees
1.3 million on special trains, 600,000 on buses
Why was London was not a target before Sep 1940
Hitler attacked RAF bases before, both sides were avoiding targeting civilians because of retribution
Black Saturday (7 Sep 1940)
began 57 consecutive nights of bombing in the East End
West End and Buckingham Palace hit (13 Sep 1940)
This had the adverse effect of increasing morale, as Londoners felt united
Second Great Fire of London (29 Dec 1940)
over 1,500 fires caused by incendiaries
May Raids (10-11 May 1941)
Most destructive raid on London, 1436 people died, 1792 injured
Overall effects of the First Blitz
28,556 killed,
over 25,500 wounded,
1.15 million houses damaged,
1/6 Londoners were homeless for at least 1 day
Impact of the First Blitz on Civilian life
rationing, blackout, disrupted supplies and communications, lack of sleep, new jobs (ARPs, firewatchers, WRVS)
Mickey’s shelter
Mickey Davis raised money to improve the shelter in the Stepney Fruit and Wool Exchange. The shelter had a medical service, a canteen, beds and a library
South Hallsville School disaster (11 Sep 1940)
About 1,000 homeless people from East London sheltered in the School in West Ham. After evacuation was delayed for 2 days, 600 people were killed by a bomb. The government censored out the fact that most of the deaths were children
Balham Tube disaster (14 Sep 1940)
The roof of the tube station collapsed due to a powerful mine; ruptured gas and flooding led to 66 deaths
Censorship during the Blitz
certain figures, such as deaths, might have been altered to maintain morale; it was also used to prevent the Germans from gaining confidential information
Propaganda during the Blitz
posters, leaflets, newsreels, encouraged evacuation and the following of government guidelines, increased morale, prepared people against bombs
‘The Lull’ (May 1941 - Jan 1944)
The period of less intense bombing
Bethnal Green Tube disaster (3 March 1943)
A-A rockets panicked people outside of the station, who rushed down the staircase, causing 173 people to die in the crush
The ‘Baby Blitz’ (Jan - Apr 1944)
Increase in monthly deaths from 58 to 948, but few raids got through
