Part of The Student Room Group

  • Join over 1.2 million students every month
  • Accelerate your learning by 29%
  • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month

Why Were The Major Cities of Britain Bombed by the Germans in 1940-41?

Extracts from this document...

Introduction

Why Were The Major Cities of Britain Bombed by the Germans in 1940-41? During the summer of 1940, British civilians were involved for the first time in a full scale war since the English Civil War. Ludendorf's theory of total war saw every civilian opposed to your side as a potential soldier and therefore, a target. This, along with the fact that precision bombs (e.g.:- laser guided smart bombs) hadn't been invented, meant that there was a large amount of civilian casualties on the British home front. By 1940, the German forces had quickly swept through Europe. Within a few months of the start of the war, they dominated Europe. Surely the British would see that they had no chance and would surrender to the Nazis. However, Churchill's speech stating that Britain would never surrender and would fight the Nazis to the last man put paid to any notions Hitler had of making peace. If Britain wouldn't surrender, Hitler had no choice but to try and take Britain by force. ...read more.

Middle

The RAF was now on the verge of destruction; some say only twenty-four hours away from being completely wiped out. However, the German Air Marshal Herman Goering did not realise this and switched the bombing target to the English capital city London. This gave the RAF time to rest and to repair it's radar stations and aircraft. Had Goering not made this mistake, Britain would surely have been conquered like the rest of Europe. Hitler guessed that the British workers were poised on the brink of revolution as they were fed up with the war and the prospect of being bombed into submission by the German Luftwaffe night after night. He thought that to push them over the edge, he'd mount a huge air assault on the populous worker cities of Coventry and Birmingham. Although in times of war, strikes were made illegal, if the British Government didn't have it's workers on it's side, they might as well admit defeat. The German attack on the cities of Coventry and Birmingham was codenamed 'Operation Moonlight Sonata'. ...read more.

Conclusion

To raise their morale, the Home Secretary, the Minister of Aircraft Production and even King George VI visited the town, encouraging the citizens to rebuild the city as quickly as possible and announced that arrangements had been made to evacuate 10,000 people from the city. However, morale was raised so much that in the end, only 300 people had left. While many people had been killed and injured, this was a huge psychological victory over Hitler as it proved that he could not crush the British civilians' spirits. His attack had achieved the opposite of what he had endeavoured to do by raising the morale of the workers who, by now, were nowhere near the brink of revolution. To conclude with, the four main reasons behind the German bombing of British cities in 1940 were firstly, to destroy the British industry that was keeping the British Army, Navy and Air Force in play. Secondly, to destroy British dockyards to tie in with the second phase of Operation Sea Lion. Thirdly, to frighten and demoralise the people of Britain (hence the phrase 'Terror Bombing'), particularly the workers, into not working or even rebellion. Finally, as a means of revenge for the British bombing of Berlin. ...read more.

The above preview is unformatted text

This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our AS and A Level Modern European History, 1789-1945 section.

Found what you're looking for?

  • Start learning 29% faster today
  • 150,000+ documents available
  • Just £6.99 a month

or


Not the one? Search for your essay title...
  • Join over 1.2 million students every month
  • Accelerate your learning by 29%
  • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month

See related essaysSee related essays

Related AS and A Level Modern European History, 1789-1945 essays

  1. Why were the major cities of Britain bombed by the Germansin 1940-1941?

    They city of Liverpool was first raided on the 28th of November. It was the country's most important port on the West coast. It had very important installations stretching over 6 miles: oil yards, power stations, gas installations, docks and granaries.

  2. Why were the major cities of Britain bombed by the Germans in 1940-41

    After, the Battle of Britain, however, did not end quickly, as German bombers continued bombing raids on British cities. This was aiming for Britain to surrender, but using a number of ideas to get them to do this. In a war, high morale keeps a country together, letting people get on with their lives and continue fighting the war.

  1. Why were the Major Cities of Britain bombed by the Germans in 1940-41

    to its knees, and that the bombing should continue until Britain submits under the strain". This supports what I have said. With Economic Warfare they wanted to disrupt and destroy Britain's industry, largely so that Britain can stop making weapons and tools that prevent Germany's plans.

  2. Why were the major cities of Britain bombed by the Germans 1940-41?

    This was the trigger to the Blitz. Hitler was preparing for Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the USSR, and so he became impatient and called off the attacks on the RAF to reduce the loss of German life and aircraft.

  1. Why were the major cities of Britain bombed by the Germans in 1940-41?

    If the people of Britain saw their lives being destroyed to rubble, Hitler hoped that the spirit to fight against the Nazis would die, resulting in a German victory. The German bombing raids were centred on industrial centres such as London and Manchester.

  2. "The RAF was responsible for preventing an invasion of Britain in 1940". How far ...

    A German pilot once said when asked how they were going to win the Battle of Britain, " Give me a squadron of Spitfires". The RAF's only role in the Battle of Britain was to dogfight. This suited the capabilities of the Spitfire and Hurricane perfectly.

  1. 'It was the strength and efficiency of the RAF which frustrated the German attempts ...

    This preparation in order to defend Britain suggests that German attack, for the British at least, was eminent. The only truly modern fighters available to the Allies, the Hurricane Squadrons were based in France during what Weyguard called the Battle of France.

  2. 1798 Irish Rebellion notes

    deprived Tone of his main supporter in revolutionary France. 2. With the help of an augmented militia and the mobilization in October 1796 of an overwhelmingly Protestant yeomanry the government was able to undermine the organizational coherence of the United Irish system in North and South alike.

  • Over 160,000 pieces
    of student written work
  • Annotated by
    experienced teachers
  • Ideas and feedback to
    improve your own work