During the blitz Britain would shelter. A shelter was a big chamber built underground to fit a group of people and this would keep the safe from the Germans bombardment outside the shelters. The tube stations were the main shelters where hundreds of people would gather with quilts and wait for the heavy bombing to finish. If the people were facing the blitz with courage and unity they would not be coward and go hiding in the shelters provided.
Source F describes how the people in the East End were so fed up with all the bombing ‘that even the King and Queen were booed’ (this is from Harold Nicholson’s diary therefore a primary source). If the king and queen were booed it criticises the myth as the people follow the king and queen so if they were booed the people were obviously upset loss of hope etc and like the source clearly states fed up. After bombing the British were upset collecting there belongings distressed probably thinking the worlds come to an end but source D takes it a further step it shows town men fighting and that does not show any courage or unity it shows low morale.
After the blitz was over years later historians did research and bought different books about the blitz some supporting myth some criticising myth from waiting for the all clear a book published in 1990 (note:50years later) to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the blitz. This book was bought out 50 years after the blitz and was also bought out to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary since it is to celebrate the anniversary it is going to be bias and more to the point is not going to say how they were losing help but probably going to tell us how they worked together. We can take a look at source A to see what was written inside this book, “out of terror and tragedy came unshakeable determination. Those at home in the most appalling circumstances kept their sins of humour.” That sentence goes against myth totally.
During the blitz the government used proper gander this is when something terrible is happening but the government don’t want people to get worried so tell them a lie in order to cover up the real truth. So away of using proper gander was to stage photographs this is when they gather a group of people tell them what to do and the government have photos taken of the act and publish them in the paper. We if we look at source C it shows a whole neighbourhood gathered together outside there bombed homes all happy. Showing there grit. The bombed houses in source look like they have been severely damaged and people were killed no human being could stand out side their bombed homes probably children have been killed looking all happy therefore this is a prime example of a staged photograph.
Overall I agree that the statement “British faced the blitz with courage and unity” is a myth. However looking at some of the sources I have reason to believe there is some truth in the statement.
Agree
When the siren goes people run madly for shelters” this is from source E. there is no courage and unity there because people are running madly this means they are confused not thinking about anyone else but themselves. Therefore this sentence agrees that the statement is a myth. Like I said before later historian bought out books.
Disagreeing
Even though there were buildings/houses being bombed by the Germans the people still managed to work together 21st of January 1943 catford girl’s high school was hit by the Germans. Source B shows the photograph of that school after it was bombed. This photo was censored and banned by the government (note: propaganda). The photo shows men and woman putting bodies into sacks the men and woman were working together there fore this disagrees with myth.
However even though the people didn’t face it with courage and unity the ones that did were rewarded by the victory of Britain over Germany.
A top answer should bring together all of the 12 sources and show discrimination between them; there must also be a well supported conclusion; you can agree, disagree, or to an extent say yes and no, but the conclusion must be supported by examples and supporting material from the sources. For a top-level answer (10-12 marks) you must also display your own knowledge of the topic and balance your judgement.
s
