the blitz

Another attempt to hide the effects was Private Mail. Government mail was written in code so that if it leaked, it could not be read. If one piece of government mail was read it was believed it could lead to terror and hysteria, in actual fact a piece of government mail read “ open signs of hysteria and terror…feeling of helplessness” of which if leaked, could lead to panic in the nation.

A lifestyle changing measure was made, when government in with film and music. Happy movies were made to be used a distraction, from the Blitz, and the demonising of the Germans and Hitler e.g. movie accounts of Hitler being shot down. Films such as “In which we serve” and “ Went the day well” were the motives to display British people to get on with things. This was most evidently in “ the Heart of Britain” of which, showed a group were merrily away right until the last minute of the air raid siren. A

Also for the first time in a non-communist the state was heavy censorship by the MOI (ministry of information) which was given so much power, to hide thing from the public.  Disasters such as the Balham underground station were totally censored. What happened was that a water pipe burst and 60 people died. This was censored because I would of but public trust into jeopardy because a place that meant to protect them destroyed them. Another devastating disaster was in London Crawford Girls School, of which, on the 21st of January 1943 a bomb dropped on the school. Pictures of the girls being put into the body bags were taken but never shown, this was because it is disheartens people to see young girls die.

A method that was often used was distraction. Schemes such as “music as you work” were designed to lift the workers sprits and encourage them to give 100% to their work.

In conclusion, I believe that the Blitz was covered up in many different ways. Poster campaigns were to boos morale, educate, distract and demonise Hitler and Germany. Exaggerations were made and were used to show British heroism. Private mail was used to send coded messages, the prevent the nation realising there was a crisis. The MOI kept secrets and also exaggerated British victories. Government advice was given to distract people from the true pains of war. All in all the distraction were successful in hiding the effects of the Blitz.