Source B is more useful in allowing me to understand the effects of the Blitz on people in Britain. The reason for this is because source B shows an unbiased and reliable photograph on people who suffered the Blitz. The photograph in B shows ARP wardens looking depressed at doing the job of cleaning up the bodies of dead school girls. I therefore believe that unlike what the newspapers portray of determined and courageous society as in Source C, people were actually very depressed by the effects of the Blitz.
3. Study sources B, C and D.
Does source D support the evidence of B and C about the damage done during the air raids?
During the Blitz, the German Luftwaffe bombed Britain extensively and caused extensive damage to buildings and affected people’s lives which risked lowering the nation’s morale and resolve to continue the war.
Source D is a photograph of the after effects of an air raid in Coventry, taken on 15th of November 1940 (at the peak of the Blitz). Coventry was extensively bombed during the war and had its medieval cathedral destroyed (the shell of which has been kept to serve as a reminder. It was chosen as a target because the town was a main area for the production of guns and ammunitions for the British and allied forces. The photograph was not published until February 1941(three months after the picture was taken). With its publication the photograph was captioned, “sorting personal property”. The caption does not tell us how many people were killed and injured and had their lives and business devastated, so reduces the impact. The reason for the delay in publishing was to reduce the impact on the public even further at a time when maintaining morale was vital.
Source B is a photograph of the after effects of an air raid in Catford south east London, an area which was also subject to extensive bombing because it was near the docks. The picture shows the dead bodies of school girls who had been killed when a bomb had exploded on their school. It’s dated 21st January 1943 (22 months after photograph D). The picture was banned by the government from being published. There is a connection between the two pictures in that both were censored. However, whilst the impact of source D could be reduced by its caption and could therefore be published, the impact of source B could not be reduced and was banned as a result. Given that the picture in source B appears to be in a cordoned area, it would seem that was taken by an official (government) photographer as a true record of events. Given the caption for source D it would seem the photograph was taken by a newspaper photographer, which nonetheless was still subject to the government censor. The content of the picture in source D shows the rubble of destroyed buildings as in B and people apparently helping each other in the middle of the ruins, although without the caption they could also be arguing or accusing each of looting. The picture in source B graphically shows air raid wardens (ARW) picking up the bodies of dead schoolgirls and cannot be softened as it is in source D where it doesn’t show any negative pictures. The image shows the ARW continuing with their work regardless of the upset they must have felt. Therefore, it could be construed that Londoners were continuing to fulfill their roles throughout the war with grit and grim determination, which was in no way artificial or idealistic.
Source C is a photograph published on 15th September 1940 (start of the Blitz), with its original caption “During raids on London last night some North London houses were bombed. Their houses are wrecked but the tenants of the buildings still showed the British “grit”. Like source D, Source C is used for government propaganda in showing that Britain showed “grit” during this time.
Although the caption in source C does say that some houses were “bombed” and “wrecked”, there isn’t actually any photograph showing rubble unlike source D. The reason for this is because the government would want to lessen the impact of the fact that their houses have been wrecked as they wanted to keep morale high. There is also a sense of a gathered and close community as it shows a massive group all together and smiling even though their houses may have been wrecked. Also, it shows lots of furniture in organized rows suggesting that the community is gathered together. Source D is also the same as source B in that judging by the caption people are helping each other to sort their property.
Source D supports the evidence given in source B about the damage done during the Blitz by showing damaged buildings caused by the bombings. Source D (judging by the caption) also suggests that as in B, the British people affected by bombing show “grit”. Although, this aspect is open to interpretation. Both sources were subject to censorship although source D was allowed after the Press found a suitable caption. Source D does not support the evidence given in C about the damage done during air raids. However, at the period in time, it would seem that source D and C support each other as they both show a sorting of personal property although now we can see that this isn’t the case as it is believed that the picture in D shows people arguing.
4. Study Sources E, F and G, and use your own knowledge.
Use sources E, F and G, and your own knowledge, to explain why the government was concerned about the morale (spirit and attitude) of the British people in the autumn of 1940?
During autumn 1940, the British government was very concerned about the morale of its people. The reason for this is because at this point in time were worried at the amount of bombs being dropped on towns and cities as autumn 1940 was at the start of the Blitz therefore people weren’t used these big changes in their lives and morale at first certainly dropped. It is also known that Britain’s Prime Minister, Winston Churchill was under pressure from parts of his government into surrendering to the Germans as they feared a German invasion as Germany had invaded other European countries with considerable ease. Morale was also low in autumn 1940 as people weren’t used to rationing on items such as food and clothes.
Source E is a secret report to the British government by the ministry of Information. The report is dated at being on the 10th September 1940 which is at the start of the Blitz. The report is describing the East End of London. The source describes the East End as chaos as people are said to be running around “madly”. Source E also says things that contribute into thinking that the East End is disorderedly as phrases are used such as; “Citizen’s Advice Bureau is inundated (swamped) with mothers and young children hysterical”, “Exodus (flight) from the East End growing rapidly”. These phrases describe the East End as being hysterical and people with low morale unlike propaganda pictures shown of the East End where it shows pictures of a gathered community. Since the report is secret and was by the Ministry of Information, it’s likely the source is a reliable account on what happened during the Blitz as the Ministry of Information is in a strong position to know what is going on. The reason why the government wanted this information is because they wanted to find out what people’s morale was like at the time so they could think of reasons to try and boost morale. People were frantic in the East End because it was the start of the Blitz and people had never experienced bombs being dropped to the degree they were being dropped now. They also weren’t used to the air raid sirens and therefore everybody went frantic when they heard one as with the amount of people dying in the East End, they really feared for their lives. People were also killed however by the frantic situation of an air raid such as the Bethnal Green Tube Disaster. The Bethnal Green Tube station had room for 10,000 people and was often used by East Londoners. However, on the night of March 1943, an air aid alarm had sounded and by about 8:30pm, 2100 people were inside the tube station. However, also at this time, one of the new anti-aircraft rocket batteries fired its salvo of 60 rockets which made a frightening roar. The crowd at the entrance were not used to this sound and panicked to get inside the tube station by pushing and shoving anyone. Inside, a woman had slipped, a man then tripped over her and within 15 seconds, the stairs were jammed with hundreds of fallen people. The pressure of the crowd had prevented rescue therefore leaving a total of 173 people that suffocated to death. 84 of who were women, 62 children and 27 men.
Source F is an extract from Harold Nicholson’s diary, 17th September 1940. According t the source, Nicholson knew several members of the government Nicholson describes tin his diary that everyone is “worried about the feeling in the East End of London where there is much bitterness. It is said that even the King and Queen were booed the other day when they visited the destroyed areas”. It is noted that Nicholson has mentioned that even the King and Queen were booed when they visited the East End. At this time, the King and Queen were seen as patriots and so it was only under the worst circumstances where they booed. Nicholson is described as also knowing a few MP’s therefore he is likely to know that his happened. Source F is also useful in that it’s Nicholson’s own opinion and he was someone that lived through the Blitz. He was also secretary to the Ministry of Information therefore he would a lot of secret information. To try and boost morale, especially in places like the East End the government introduced comedy celebrities such as Charlie Chaplin who made films such as “the great dictator” which made fun of Hitler therefore making the British public believe that Hitler was nothing worth considering other than a joke. Because of this, Hitler made a list that included Charlie Chaplin’s name of to be killed should they invade and take over Britain.
At the end of 1940 and the start of 1941, because of fears of a German invasion, Britain set up the Home Guard. The Home Guard was formed because Germany were thought to be getting ready to invade Britain after they had easily defeated other countries, I also believe that the government formed the Home Guard so that it could give the remaining men in Britain, who couldn’t fight because of their age or health issues a position that would make them feel responsible and therefore to try and boost morale. However the Nazi propaganda minister described the Home Guard as a “mob of amateurs armed with broom-sticks” despite these comments I believe that the Home Guard was an effective force not so much because it was a strong army but because it helped boost morale and made people feel wanted. It also put the Germans off invading Britain as they were about to until Britain formed the Home Guard.
Britain in 1940-41were still very much alone in fighting the Germans as America hadn’t joined in the war yet. Although the public didn’t know that at this time Britain was losing the war, the MP’s did and many of them believed that Britain should surrender. However, Germany had planned a certain day to invade Britain but because of the weather, had to postpone it to another date which by the other date, they became more heavily engaged in taking over Russia and so retreated many of the German army that was going to invade Britain to fight in Russia.
Source G is from the book “Don’t you know there’s a War on?” The book was published in 1988 and is a secondary source meaning that it’s likely to have been well researched and is less likely to be biased. Source G describes that the economy in Britain stayed strong and that people still attended work everyday. It was very important that British people attended work everyday as they were needed to make ammunition for the war. The source doesn’t deny that people were afraid of the Blitz and also mentions that many communities moved to Epping Forrest during the bombing of the East End. The source also tries to portray the image that morale was high by saying that people still turned up for work therefore giving the impression that people continued to work to show spirit and patriotism at working to beat Hitler. Source G has been written in a gentle tone without any words that emphasize the effects of the Blitz on the British people as the person isn’t writing at the time and so will not understand the fear many people must have had. The source in general gives the reader a view that although morale was high, times were hard.
The British government was concerned about the morale in Britain in autumn 1940 because of reasons such as; according to source E people weren’t used to the Blitz therefore they were hysterical when bombs landed, the German army who were very strong at this point of time were planning to invade Britain and Britain didn’t have a proper army to defend itself, patriots such as the King and Queen were even booed, people didn’t like the rationing system and because MP’s believed that Britain would lose as they were the only strong force that opposed the German army and were therefore considering surrendering to the German’s.
However, the British Government tried to boost morale by making comedy films with Charlie Chaplin, making it seem as if though you are helping to win the war by doing small things such as keeping to the rationing and not using the black market and also by using campaigns such as the “Make do and Mend” campaign which tried to encourage people to get as much wear as possible out of the clothes they already had. They also tried to boost morale by introducing the Home Guard with proper uniforms and equipment that made people feel important and responsible.
5. Study all sources and use your own knowledge.
The impression that the British face the Blitz with courage and unity is a myth.
Use the sources and your own knowledge, to explain whether you agree with this statement.
I disagree with the statement ‘The impression Britain faced the Blitz with courage and unity is a myth’, because although all pictures can be manipulated to present a distorted impression. I believe that many of the pictures used for propaganda purposes also give an indication of what life was like for some people. However, I believe that the people who endured the Blitz didn’t think at the time that they were being courageous, as they were probably upset by the war as rationing was a harsh system, people weren’t used to being constantly bombed, many family members were away at war and also because women, who weren’t used to working at all let alone full time were now doing jobs that men would have done.
It is important to remember, that whilst the Blitz did cause huge damage and lead to many personal tragedies and loss, at other times people by necessity went about their daily business, met for social occasions and did their shopping and many other areas of activities they would have done in peace time. The difference was there was a war going on around them and they had to get on with their lives. It is the interpretations of others which suggest their actions were ‘heroic’.
One example is found in source A in the extract from the book “Waiting for the All Clear’. The book is written in a positive tone as it’s written to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Blitz. Words describing the people such as: “heroes”, “courage”, “unshakeable”, “determination”, all contribute into making the reader think that British people at the time did all the work in good humour. The author of this book Ben Wicks was born in London (source-www.nlc-bnc.ca) in 1926, which means he was a teenager during the war. Therefore the book is useful in presenting a first hand viewpoint on the Blitz from someone who was actually there making him more reliable to believe than someone who wasn’t there at the time. Wicks doesn’t deny that life was hard at this particular time but indicates that because it was a hard life, communities were brought together and worked together resolutely without necessarily being aware of whether or not they were they were facing the Blitz with courage and unity.
Source B shows a photograph that was censored. The source was censored because it contained pictures of dead schoolgirl’s bodies being sacked into bags and the government didn’t want any negative pictures in the newspapers for fear of a decrease in morale. However, the photograph shows a determination of ARP wardens doing their work no matter how hard their job is. The men in the picture though, although their work does seem courageous and that they are doing it for the good of Britain, they probably don’t see it like that but see it as a job that needs to be done. Source B is therefore another example of how courageous the men were even though they probably didn’t see it like that.
Many photographs like in source C were taken by the press to try and convince the public that everyone is working together through the Blitz no matter under what circumstances. If a newspaper was found to have published any negative photographs then the editor/photographer could be sent to court for treason where they then would be hung. That law (for treason only in a time of war) is still in place today in Britain including the death sentence for treason. Even if the caption wasn’t appropriate, the person who wrote it could still be sent to court for committing treason. Such harsh penalties were made for committing the offence of treason to try and stop any spy’s or people purposely going against the country they live in to an enemy. I do however believe that although the people would be obviously upset, I believe that they probably did still show “British Grit” as they would have realised that there is no point on feeling upset about their misfortunes as they would have still wanted to win the war. I also believe this because of the fact that Britain during the First and Second World War had the lowest suicide rate and that after the wars, it rapidly increased. Although it is true that propaganda pictures like the one in source C do emphasize that Britain were courageous however, because it’s a propaganda photograph it doesn’t mean that it wasn’t true.
Many of the people in the photograph in source C are also women, and many women during World War Two were extremely happy at the chance for them to work in the same jobs that men were doing. Organizations such as the women’s land army ( WLA started by the government in 1939) did jobs such as hoeing, ploughing, hedging, turning hay, lifting potatoes, threshing, lambing and looking after poultry. Other work in the city such as driving buses and healthcare were also done by the WLA. Most of the work however was done by women in working in the chemical and explosive and the engineering industry were women made bombs, shells, electrical cable and wire, uniforms, clothing, barrage balloons, tents, parachutes and flying suites. By 1939, the government realised that more men were needed to fight and so recruited women for services such as domestic work in the Army, Navy and Air Force. However, they were soon allowed to do military work and although were not allowed to fight, around 5000 women were doing top secret work such as using radar’s or code-breaking messages using very basic computers to read the enemy’s messages. Many people were actually very pleased to be doing the same sort of work of men and so happily managed to live through the Blitz and trying to lead a normal life everyday. If it wasn’t for women’s effort in the war then the consequences of the outcome of the war could have been very different.
Also, around this time a big evacuation was going to take place and so young mothers and children were still in London. Many people that did stay in London used the underground stations. For people that had land, shelters were built such as the Anderson and Morrison shelters. Anderson shelters were very common with over 1.5 million being distributed in 1939 and the total reaching 6 million in 1940. Ditches were dug in any spare land to be filled with these shelters and earth was then thrown on top to hide them. Morrison shelters weren’t as common to everyone although as they were very expensive.
Evacuation plans were actually made before the war but war was avoided and so evacuation plans were abandoned. In 1939 many people had evacuated but returned home and when war was avoided many people returned home. After Brittan had declared war on Germany, many people were evacuated on June 1940 as France had just been taken over and people thought that bombing raids were inevitable to occur now that Germany had a strong army and also outnumbered Britain in the air war. Also referring to source D, many evacuations were taking place around the 10th of September so many children would still be in London. Therefore although the source is portraying an image that people weren’t courageous and organised during the Blitz it doesn’t state that it the East End was heavily bombed because of the docks, also that many evacuations had yet to take place and also due to the fact that the report was done on the early Blitz at a time when people were scared.
I believe that Britain did face the Blitz with courage and unity and that it isn’t a myth as sources such as E and F especially try to describe. Both of these sources are written at the start of the Blitz at a time when Britain had never experienced a war like this and had never any previous experience of the Blitz. Therefore, people would be “hysterical” as is mentioned in source E. Also, both sources only the effects of the Blitz in the east end of London. This particular area was severely bombed because of the docks which Germans mainly targeted at the start of the war because this was where munitions were deported for the allies (Britain, America and France at the time). Because of these circumstances, this place may well have been particularly bad but it’s just a tiny part of Britain. Furthermore, many people after the Blitz said that there was a sense of community during the Blitz as everybody realised that in order to win the war they had to keep together as a unit and care for each other.