London And WW2 (topic Under Medieval Warfare)

Question 1

Why was london a target in the second world war

Answer 1

Capital city - government buildings/important individuals targeted
Docks - destroying docks impacts supplies to the whole country
Industrial centres - destroying factories damages war effort

Question 2

Context of London at the start of WW2

Answer 2

September 1939 - April 1940
Phoney war not much fighting

Spring - Autumn 1940
German forces sweep through Western Europe to the Battle of Britian

Autumn - Winter 1940
Germans change tactics. They decide to bomb cities. Blitz

Question 3

When was the first Blitz? Targets? Reason?

Answer 3

First raid: 25 August 1940
Real Blitz: 7 September 1940 (black saturday) lasted until 10 May 1941
Reasons for bombing: Weaken london before government invasion
Targets: Civilians in homes, essential services & national treasures

Question 4

How did london prep itself for war in 1939

Answer 4

Air raids precautions act
First aid wardens in every borough
Gas masks for everyone

Question 5

Evacuation efforts of London

Answer 5

Plan: take all children/as many mothers out of london to reduce casualities
Evacuate to: The countryside far from London
First evacuated: September 1st 1939

Question 6

What type of bombs were used

Answer 6

1. Incendiaries - started fires. Dropped in first wave of bombs
2. High explosives - exploded later than other bombs as result of delayed action fuses. dropped in later waves of bombs
3. Mines - very powerful. Dropped like parachute to make them silent

Question 7

Why was the South Hallsville School bombing a disaster

Answer 7

• 1,000 moved to South Hallsville School (crowding)
• Plan to evacuate them on 9 Sep 1940 failed
• 10 Sep it was thought it was too sangerous to bring coaches.

Question 8

features of the Aldwych station Shelter and Mickey’s shelter

Answer 8

Aldwych
Toilets fitted
Ticket system so people didn’t need to queue
- Bunk Beds
- Wardens

Mickey
- Bunk beds
- Marshalls
- Set up a canteen
- Toilets