World War 2
World War II in Europe began in September 1939 because
Germany invaded Poland in an unprovoked attack. As a result
of this Great Britain and France declared war on Germany.
The war ended in May 1945, and it is estimated that 50 million
people lost their lives during the war.
The first German air attack took place in London on the evening
of 7 September 1940. Within months, Liverpool, Birmingham,
Coventry and other cities were hit too.
Children and some women were evacuated from the big cities
into the countryside.
People carried
gas masks to protect
themselves and
built air raid shelters. All
windows and
doors were blacked out .
For almost six years from
Britain fought the toughest
experienced. World War II
every person, every
service was involved.
1939 to 1945
war it had ever
was total war business, every
Britain did not fight alone,
involved many countries.
involved 61 countries with
the war also
World War II
1.7 billion people
Air Raid Shelters
People needed to protect themselves from bombs being
dropped by the German bombers. As the night raids became so
frequent, people were tired of interrupted sleep, going back and
forth to the shelters, virtually took up residence in a shelter.
Anderson Shelters
Air raid shelters were half buried in the ground with earth
headed on top to protect them from bomb blasts. They were
made from six iron sheets bolted together at the top, with steel
plates at either end. The entrance was protected by a steel
shield and an earthen blast wall.
The government gave out Anderson shelters free to people
who earned below £5 per week. By September 1939 one and a
half million Anderson shelters had been put up in gardens.
The Anderson Shelters were dark and damp and people were
reluctant to use them at night. People needed to protect themselves from bomb blasts being dropped by German aircrafts.
In low-lying areas the shelters tended to flood and sleeping was
difficult as they did not keep out the sound of the bombings.
Morrison Shelters
The Morrison Shelter was introduced in March 1941, for people
without gardens. The shelter, made from heavy steel, could
also be used as a table. People sheltered underneath it during
a raid. The Morrison shelter was named after the Minister for
Home Security, Mr. Herbert Morrison.
Places used as shelters
What other places w ere used
as air raid shelters?
By the autumn of 1940 the government
realised that air-raid shelters on the surface
did not offer very good protection from high
explosive bombs. Deeper shelters were
used.
Caves were used in many parts of Britain.
On September 21, 1940 the London Underground started to be
used as an air raid shelter. On the busiest night in 1940,
177,000 people slept on platforms. Many bought sandwiches,
thermos flasks, pillows and blankets+
How were they
evacuated?
By train and road
Where were they
evacuated to?
To smaller towns and villages in
the countryside. Some children were sent to stay with relatives
outside in the countryside, but others were sent to live with
complete strangers.
Billeting officers were responsible for helping to find homes
for the evacuees. Householders in the country who billeted
(housed) city children were given money by the government.
How do you think the children are feeling in the photo above?
What do you think they have packed in their bags?
What is evacuation?
Evacuation means leaving a place. During the
Second World War, many children living in big
cities and towns were moved temporarily from
their homes to places considered safer, usually
out in the countryside.
When did evacuations take
place in Britain?
The British evacuation began on Friday 1
September 1939. It was called 'Operation Pied
Piper'.
Between 1939 - 1945 there were three major
evacuations in preparation of the German
Luftwaffe bombing 0Britain.
1. The first official evacuations began on September 1 1939,
two days before the declaration of war. By January 1940
almost 60% had returned to their homes.
2. A second evacuation effort was started after the Germans
had taken over most of France. From June 13 to June
18, 1940, around 100,000 children were evacuated (in
many cases re-evacuated). When the Blitz began on 7
September 1940, children who had returned home or had
not been evacuated were evacuated. By the end of 1941,
city centres, especially London, became safer.
3. From June 1944, the Germans attacked again by firing V1
rockets on Britain, followed later by also V2 rockets.
1,000,000 women, children, elderly and disabled people
were evacuate from London.
This new way of attacking Britain carried on until the end
of the war in Europe in May 1945.