What material was released to the public?
The most important material that was released to the public was the newspaper, which would include things like pictures and stories. These were controlled by the press and were censored by the government workers who would censor images and articles that appeared in the newspapers. The government-censored radio broadcasts and films too. Propaganda was posed to show people looking cheerful and working together as a community during the war. Campaign slogans were put round the country to encourage people to do something during the war to prevent Germany defeating them. They were important for helping to get serious messages across.
What was not released and why?
The Ministry of information distributed official news and information about the war throughout Britain. They produced propaganda in the form of posters, leaflets, and films and radiobroadcast. The government workers had jobs of going around the country to gage public opinion and to prevent bad news being spread. If this had happened this would show the huge strength of the Germans, and show the negative side of Britain.
Entertainment kept people’s morale up during the war. Some sport continued, and films were popular as were music and dancing. The Entertainments National Service Association (E.N.S.A) was formed to bring entertainment to the people on the radio. The government used propaganda and censorship to keep people focused and to keep their spirits up.
This extract is from Harold Nicolson’s diary, 17 September 1940. “Everyone is worried about the feeling in the East End of London. It is said that the King and the Queen were booed when they visited the destroyed areas.” This shows that the King and Queen shouldn’t visit the area also shows how nasty the people are during the war.
Another account is from a secret report to the government by the Ministry of information, 10 September 1940. People are running madly for shelters. Taxi drivers report taking group after group to Euston and Paddington station with belongings. This shows the people are frightened and want to escape from the war, but proved to be troublesome.
There were some negative events that were suppressed during the war. On the 20 of January a girl’s school was hit by an air raid in London. Some of the shocking photos had to be approved before they could be published. Also many photos had to be banned by the censors because dead bodies were put in sacks. Another event was suppressed, people fled into the countryside. Londoners escaped to Epping Forest during the bombing of the East End. This extract was from the book “ don’t you know there’s a war on?”
Conclusion
The Blitz started with a devastating affect on the people. This caused many problems for Britain. Materials such as newspapers and films had to be censored before showing it to the public. Photographs too were censored. The Ministry of Information showed propaganda through leaflets and posters. Entertainment kept people’s morale up during the war. Sports and films were used to pass the time during the war. There were some shocking news about the war and death that had happened in Britain.