The Blitz Flashcards
Why did the government start evacuating people before the war?
They were sure that the Germans would bomb British cities, especially London.
Who were evacuees?
Evacuees were mainly children, but the government also evacuated some pregnant women and blind people.
When did the evacuation start?
On September 1st, 1939.
What was the Blitz?
The name given to the bombing of British cities by the Luftwaffe.
When was the Blitz?
From September 7th 1940 to May 1941.
Where did bombing happen during the Blitz?
Mainly in London, but also in other cities such as Coventry and Liverpool.
What were the 4 main effects of the Blitz?
- Over 43,000 civilians were killed.
- Over 2 million people were made homeless by the bombing.
- Water, gas and electricity supplies were affected.
- However, the Blitz failed in its main objective as people didn’t turn against the war in large numbers.
Why did the Luftwaffe bomb Coventry?
On November 8th, the RAF bombed Munich and the Luftwaffe bombed Coventry in retaliation.
When did the Blitz in Coventry begin?
At 7:20 pm on November 14th.
What were the key features of the Blitz on Coventry?
- Bombs were dropped in the city centre to start fires to guide later bombers. Hours later, the city was burning so violently that it was visible from 150 miles away.
- The bombing went on all night and 500 bombers dropped thousands of bombs.
- The ‘all-clear didn’t go until 6:15 the next morning.
What was a V1 bomber?
A bomb driven by a motor that was supposed to cut over the target. They were launched from the French coast and were first launched on June 12th 1944.
What was a V2 bomber?
A bomb that was rocket powered.
What was the blackout?
The stopping of lights showing after dark. Street lights were turned off. People covered their windows with cloth or paper. This aimed to hide people from bombers overhead.
What was the air-raid siren?
A siren sounded by ARP wardens to warn of an air raid.
What was the ARP?
The Air Raid Precautions service, which was set up in 1937 with voluntary ARP wardens. They checked that people went to shelters.
