London During The 2nd World War

Question 1

Context of the War 39-40

Answer 1

• Sep 39- April 40, phoney war
• Spring- autumn 40, Germany through West + Battle of Britain
• Autumn- winter 40, blitz
• spring/ summer 41, lull in bombing, Germany invade USSR

Question 2

Why was London a target?

Answer 2

• capital city
• important port
• industrial centre
• biggest population
• geography

Question 3

Key Act (prep pre 1939)

Answer 3

• government air raid precaution act
• london county council (different services)
• 28 boroughs (first aid)

Question 4

Evacuations (prep pre 1939)

Answer 4

• all children, most mothers, some teachers
• reduce bombing casualties in the countryside
• by 1940 had returned

Question 5

Gas Masks (prep pre 1939)

Answer 5

• everyone had one for expected gas attacks

- even though false alarm, good preparation

Question 6

Air raid shelters (prep pre 1939)

Answer 6

• dispersal
• Anderson shelter
• others: public surface, basements, Morrison (cage), train stations, Mickey’s shelter

Question 7

Impact of the first Blitz

Answer 7

• test raid 25th Aug 40, started 7th Sep 40
• soften up London
• targeted Military instalments, communications, homes, east end docks

Question 8

Sources to study Blitz attacks

Answer 8

• memories of survivors
• mass observation diaries
• official records
• radio
• physical damage

Question 9

Black Saturday 7th sep 40

Answer 9

• surprise
• havoc
• severe damage (cloud of dust)
• people didn’t know full measure

Question 10

South Hallsville School disaster 1940

Answer 10

• school temp shelter
• planned to evacuate but delayed and 700 people dies from bomb
• confusion in the media

Question 11

Life of Londoners

Answer 11

• transport destruction
• blackout
• no gas/ electrics
• morale poor
• tension rose, East end felt rejected
• unhygienic shelters

Question 12

Bethnal Green disaster 1943

Answer 12

• people gathered at station
• big crush false alarm, anti aircraft
• censorship

Question 13

Effectiveness of Propaganda

Answer 13

• keep up morale
• keep control, follow orders
• ‘wad effort’ win support of USA

Question 14

Impact of V1 & V2 attacks

Answer 14

• V1 flying bomb, V2 rocket
• decreased morale
• houses destroyed
• censorship
• deptford 44, daytime bombing
• didn’t trigger air raid sirens

Question 15

Destruction of work/ leisure

Answer 15

• business, transport, hour cuts to get home

- cinema sometimes closed, pub glass shortages

Question 16

Continued leisure

Answer 16

• dancing
• theatres during lunch break
• football exhibition games
• cinema (propaganda)

Question 17

London’s response

Answer 17

• kept Royal Family in London for morale
• underground headquarters, Cabinet War Rooms
• Dig for Victory, Tower of London grow and encouraged people go grow food + posters for inspiration that home making difference