In the eight months of attacks, some 43,000 civilians were killed. This amounted to nearly half of Britain’s total civilian deaths for the whole war. One of every six Londoners was made homeless at some point during the Blitz, and at least 1.1 million houses and flats were damaged or destroyed.
What was life like in Britain during the Blitz?
During the six years Britain was at war, 1939–45, life was frequently hard for Londoners. Food and clothing were rationed and in short supply. Bombing caused fear, injury, death and destruction. Families were often separated due to evacuation and fathers going away to fight.
How did the Blitz effect daily life?
Over a million were evacuated from towns and cities and had to adjust to separation from family and friends. Many of those who stayed, endured bombing raids and were injured or made homeless. All had to deal with the threat of gas attack, air raid precautions (ARP), rationing, changes at school and in their daily life.
How did ww2 affect people’s lives in Britain?
In all 60,595 civilians were killed and 86,182 seriously injured. Rationing of food began in January 1940 and clothes in June 1941. By 1943, virtually every household item was either in short supply and had to be queued for, or was unobtainable.
Which areas of Britain were most affected by the Blitz?
During 1940, Liverpool and the rest of Merseyside was the most bombed area outside London. On 28-29 November it was hit by 350 tons of high explosive bombs. From 20-23 December, Merseyside was hit on consecutive nights.
What was life like for people in the Blitz?
Life was very hard during the Blitz and frightening too. London, in particular was very bad as it was bombed nearly every night. People in London spent most nights sleeping in Air Raid Shelters. No one within any distance of a likely target such as a big city could sleep entirely easy in their beds.
How did Britain react to the Blitz?
In light of the destruction and terror inflicted on Londoners by a succession of German bombing raids, called “the Blitz,” the British War Cabinet instructs British bombers over Germany to drop their bombs “anywhere” if unable to reach their targets.
What happened to children during the Blitz?
Fear that German bombing would cause civilian deaths prompted the government to evacuate children, mothers with infants and the infirm from British towns and cities during the Second World War. Evacuation took place in several waves.
What impact did the Blitz have on London?
The Blitz changed the landscape of the city. Many famous landmarks were hit, including Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London and the Imperial War Museum. Some areas, such as Stepney, were so badly damaged that they had to be almost entirely rebuilt after the war.
What did the Blitz lead to?
The Blitz ended with the last major attack on London on 11th May 1941. It had done little to dent British morale or hamper industrial output and so the Luftwaffe was eventually directed eastwards in preparation for Operation Barbarossa – the invasion of Russia.
How did ww2 affect the British economy?
The war had stripped Britain of virtually all its foreign financial resources, and the country had built up “sterling credits”—debts owed to other countries that would have to be paid in foreign currencies—amounting to several billion pounds. Moreover, the economy was in disarray.
How did the war change the social face of Britain?
New families were created as women married servicemen of other nations and moved overseas; children were born in fatherless homes as a result of demobilised troops leaving the UK to return to the US or Canada or due to a death as a result of the war; and the divorce rate spiked as many families struggled to re-adjust
How did the British public feel about ww2?
The Second World War came a clear first in terms of historical endorsement, with 83% describing the country’s involvement as justified. This was even higher than the 73% overall who said the same about the First World War.
What did the British eat during the Blitz?
Meat (March 1940) was first, followed by fat and eggs, cheese, tinned tomatoes, rice, peas, canned fruit and breakfast cereals. Remember this was a world where even in the pre-war days of plenty, olive oil was sold as a medical aid and dried pasta was confined to a few Italian shops. Rice was mainly for puddings.
What did people do during the London Blitz?
The Germans conducted mass air attacks against industrial targets, towns, and cities, beginning with raids on London towards the end of the Battle of Britain in 1940 (a battle for daylight air superiority between the Luftwaffe and the Royal Air Force over the United Kingdom).
How did Britain protect themselves during the Blitz?
People carried gas masks to protect themselves against a possible gas attack. People built air raid shelters in their gardens. All windows and doors were blacked out to make it harder for the enemy planes to spot where they lived.
What was London like in the Blitz?
The Blitz changed the landscape of the city. Many famous landmarks were hit, including Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London and the Imperial War Museum. Some areas, such as Stepney, were so badly damaged that they had to be almost entirely rebuilt after the war.
Did children go to school during the Blitz?
Children’s education suffered during the war. One in five of the country’s schools were damaged by bombing and many others were requisitioned by the government. Children were crammed into large classes and stationery and books were often in short supply.
What was it like for a child in the Blitz?
Children lived in fear from the constant threat of air raids. They spent some nights living in air raid shelters just in case German planes dropped bombs on their houses. Their fears came true during the blitz. One in ten of the deaths during the Blitz of London from 1940 to 1941 were children.