Source A4 is a pictorial source stating “Business open as usual” this shows an example of people who refused to be cowed by the Blitz and wanted to continue everyday processes as normal. The source shows Hitler as something to be mocked and not afraid of. The photograph was taken after the raid in Cardiff during 1941. However, it is hard to assess the reliability of this source, as it is pictorial evidence it could be staged. There is a possibility that it could have been used as a piece of propaganda by the government. Therefore the source is a primary piece of evidence, showing us that it is real therefore it could not be set up. However it is possible to suggest this source isn’t reliable as not everyone felt they could continue as normal. The source is only one persons attitude, other people may have reacted differently and felt less emotional during this period of time.
As a response to the Blitz the British Government introduced a variety of methods to try and overcome the situation including propaganda, evacuation, improving the women’s working environment as women were now occupying the typical male job in factories etc, shelters were set up for protection. Despite attempting many solutions, the lives of the British people still changed dramatically.
Source B2 shows how the lives of the British people changed from a normal life, many young children from large cities were forced to move to the countryside this resulted in friends and family being spilt up.
The source described how evacuees were transported by train it describes how there was a language barrier between the evacuees and their new families, causing dislocation. Source B1 describes the feeling of the writer during evacuation it shows her host attempting to make her feel homely by having tinned fruit for tea, which was considered a luxury at the time. The source does give a good insight into the thoughts and feelings of people at the time. The source is a first hand account therefore they are remembering what happened from a long time ago therefore it could be exaggerated or she could have remembered something incorrectly.
Rationing was introduced by the government as there was a worry that food shortages may occur due to the bombing on the ships transporting food to Britain. British people had a limit on their consumption of food and were told to grow fruit and vegetables.
Source B5 gives information about rationing during the blitz. The statistics show people were limited to the amount of food they could consume per week, such as 4 oz of butter per week.
The source is not really that useful in explaining dislocation although it is very reliable as the information comes from a very well researched textbook specific to the war years. The statistics given can be verified by government records.
It was not only people’s home lives but people’s careers were also dislocated. Men were forced to join armed forces and women soon entered the work place in factories in order to maintain the production of goods. Source C tells us how new jobs were created during the war, especially for women who had opportunities to take up jobs in order to help organise the war effort such as joining the WAAF or the women’s voluntary services for civil defence. Women were also drafted jobs, which were previously drafted by men such as working in factories
Source C1 shows how women were required to work during the blitz. Women were compelled to do work due to a shortage of labour (as men were in battle) The source shows women played a vital role in keeping the economy stable. The statistics show more than half of workers in Wales were female during the blitz, this indicates the correspondent must want to know this information.
The source describes how women made themselves available and how women wanted to contribute to the war effort. Both full and part time. The employers changed to suit women.
Source C1 is a primary source published in a Newspaper therefore you would expect what is printed to be positive to try and boost moral. A female correspondent also wrote the source therefore it is more likely to have a positive attitude towards women working therefore it could be biased. However the reporter is simply reporting what had been happening the article is not designed to misinform.
The blitz opened up a number of opportunities for women in the workplace. Source C4 shows some women chose to join a service organisation. This describes how women would survive in the conditions of the Land Army, the women were based in St Faggons in Wales. The source describes a women’s everyday life and the hours she worked during her time in the land army. The source is presented clearly. The writers memory does not seem to be faulty as the account is very detailed . therefore the source is reliable.
The Blitz caused disruptions in the social lives and education of the British civilians. Many citizens experienced a dramatic change in their daily routines and were brainwashed and restricted in their freedom of speech by propaganda
During the war the government worked hard to protect sensitive information. Source D3 is a propaganda poster which shows two women talking and a written description “careless talk, cost lives” this source is telling people they shouldn’t discus war issues as there could be spies anywhere. The slogan “walls have ears” also hints here could be spies anywhere.
The poster also shows Hitler’s face in the background this shows the Government was concerned about Hitler retrieving any private information about the war issues in Britain.
The source is useful as it shows what the Government was doing to protect information. However we don’t know how many people took this message on board despite the fact that the slogans are so hard hitting . The source is useful as it indicates another element of restriction to the lives of normal people.
Source D4 shows people still managed to entertain themselves despite an impact on their social lives. The source shows the people of Cardiff tried to carry on as normal. The source describes how three sisters entertained themselves by going to the cinema and taking walks. The three sisters seem to continue as normal. The girls explain they were happy as they could stay out longer and later, so despite the war, people were determined to continue to have fun. However despite this positive effect, sometimes the bombing raids still had an impact as the sisters were told to leave the cinema due to an air raid, so they missed the end of the film making the girls annoyed.
The source is a first hand account therefore some details could be missing or exaggerated. This is unlikely though as the source is very detailed.
In conclusion I think that World war two dislocated peoples lives in south Wales. Many people had to change their patterns of behaviour such as going to an air raid shelter when they heard sirens.
People lives were also affected in ways beyond their control such as loss of sleep and being unable to attend school due to buildings being destroyed. People had to work harder during the war to support war effort. Many women had to contribute to new jobs other than household duties during the war, women were working factories because the men were in battle and production was now even more important.
The government also made changes to people lives during the war, the government had introduced food rationing and used propaganda campaigns to try and influence the things people did, for example the government used a form of propaganda to try and prevent people discussing war issues, which is limiting their freedom of speech.
British citizens lives had dramatically changed, not only were people effected socially but many children were placed in a new environment with unusual surroundings and were traumatised during their new surroundings.
Despite the ways their lives were changed by the effect of the war, people were still keen to carry on as normal, shops were open, people attended social events such as dances. The government used forms of propaganda to try and boost moral. It seemed that people lives were dislocated in a variety of ways but people were determined not to let the war affect them.
