What did the government do to help in the Battle of Britain dates 1940-41? (with sources)
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Introduction
Coral Hall History Coursework 3/02/08 During the World War Two Blitz, The British government attempted to hide the effects of the Blitz from the British people in many ways. The most common was censorship. The government banned anything that would demoralise the public. They did not want to print anything that would make people feel as if they were being defeated. Many photographs and stories were not published until after the Blitz had ended. These actions were put into use when the Government established its Ministry of Information in 1940, the day after the war was declared. It gave the government the right to imprison anyone who seemed likely to threaten the safety of the country. Therefore, anyone who did something that may demoralise people was imprisoned as a demoralised country was more likely to surrender. This act stopped radio and newspapers revealing the full story of incidents. ...read more.
Middle
Men who were fighting in war needed to know that they were fighting with hope from British citizens everywhere, and that morale was being kept at home. The government also believed that the men would not fight if they did not know that their friends and loved ones were safe. War leaders told soldiers that at home everything was ok and morale was high. At home, many stories and pictures were submitted to be put in newspapers, magazines and television, and broadcasts were sent on the radio that the soldiers were doing very well and we were winning, when we were far from it. Source C is a very clear example of what was being published to keep morale high, it's a photograph which shows British civilians who have had there homes destroyed still smiling, showing the British grit, they look as if they are getting on like everything is normal. ...read more.
Conclusion
Women and children are hysterical, it gives the impression that the war needs to end. If this was printed in the press then people would start to push and push and the Government to surrender and this was far from what they wanted to do. In the Press the papers were being closely controlled, only publishing positive articles and photographs of the Blitz. Censors did not have to force this issue as they censored those selves; newspapers soon became very small and thin. The radio sent out broadcasts giving instructions throughout raids, it played a key role to lives throughout the Blitz. It wasn't controlled by the Government so it censored itself. To conclude, I think that censorship and propaganda were the main things that kept morale high throughout the war. It was good that the Government did hide the effects of the war away from the British people and they didn't show how much the Germans were having an impact to everyday life in Britain, otherwise we would have been defeated. ...read more.
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