With the war well under way. Including the invasion of Poland and the use of aircraft and bombing attacks, the children were hurried to the country as soon as possible. They were taken by train. Train was the only useful means of transport at the time and it paved sufficient requirement for what was needed which was to transport the children from danger to safety.
There were a great number of people involved during the Second World War. Each person’s role was vital to ensure that every procedure ran smoothly. One of the main roles of these involved was in the Civil Defence Forces. Their view on the evacuation of children was a very firm one. They were all too eager for the children too be moved as the stress on the Civil Defence Forces would be far much less than what it currently was. The issued stress would be reduced as the children would after all be in a safer place out of danger. The Civil Defence Forces would then be able to concentrate on other important aspects dominating the war.
Others that had an important yet firm view were the hosts in the countryside. It can be said that not all the hosts were happy with the arrival of the children, however the majority of the hosts were more in shock then un-satisfaction. They were known to be disgusted with the state of which the children from the cities were in. They simply could not believe how deprived and bad mannered they were. The children would urinate against the walls, as this was the way of which they had been brought up. The hosts had explained the new living conditions to them yet the children chose to disobey them. This shows how bad mannered they were yet it only seemed natural to them, so perhaps their bad manners were not intended.
The main focus of this essay – the children, played the most important part in this procedure. The general feelings of the children were of shock, confusion or amazement.
Many children where unaware of who was controlling them or where they were going. They couldn’t understand why their mothers were in such an unpleasant state. Some children were completely oblivious to what was actually happening. In some cases the children thought they were on a Sunday school outing where they were off to the seaside. However the majority of the children were in a state of mixed feelings, several children were crying whilst others put on a brave face. The children were left to carry their belongings and make their way to the train station. The last image they viewed of their mother is of her clasping the iron gates declaring her love for her child. Its not a sight a child should ever have to view.
When the children arrived at the countryside, greeted by the host families and taken to their new home they were surprised too see how clean their new lifestyle was to be. Some children explained that they were given toothbrushes yet had never brushed their teeth before. So the children, although they may have been scared at first they were kept safe and out of danger. This new comfortable living they had adjusted too helped them to forget about their troubles.
And finally I shall explain the reaction of the children’s parents. The mothers although uneasy of having to sacrifice her child or children, felt comfortable knowing that their children were safe, healthy and well. They felt that by doing this they were giving a contribution to the war. This contribution proved sufficient satisfaction for them too hand over their child.
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