5.1.2
Preparations for War
How did London Prepare for War?
How did London Prepare for War?
London was a focal point in WWII, as Hitler and the Axis of power tried to force Britain to surrender. Civilians were heavily affected but came together in what became known as the ‘Blitz Spirit’.
Evacuations
Evacuations
- Began on 1 September 1939.
- 1.3m people were evacuated on trains and 600,000 on London buses.
- The 'Phoney War' led many to return (by March 1940 only 300,000 people were still evacuated).
Shelters
Shelters
- Anderson shelters:
- Built in back gardens made out of corrugated iron sheets.
- Could protect from shrapnel but not direct hits.
- Given out free to many in 1938, but wealthy had to pay £7.
Shelters cont.
Shelters cont.
- Morrison shelters:
- Large steel tables with wire netting sides.
- Stopped people being crushed if building collapsed.
Gas masks
Gas masks
- 1938 - government issued all adults with gas masks.
- March 1940 - fewer than 5% of people carried theirs.
Blackouts
Blackouts
- The idea was that if light was blacked-out, it would be harder for German bombers to identify cities in night raids.
- Use of bed sheets and old curtains to blackout windows.
- ARP Wardens (air raid precaution) were responsible for checking the quality of blackouts.
1Medieval Warfare c.1250-1500
2Early Modern Warfare c.1500-1700
3Industrial Warfare c.1700-1900
4Modern Warfare c.1900-present
5The Historic Environment
5.1London & the Second World War, 1939-45
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1Medieval Warfare c.1250-1500
2Early Modern Warfare c.1500-1700
3Industrial Warfare c.1700-1900
4Modern Warfare c.1900-present
5The Historic Environment
5.1London & the Second World War, 1939-45
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