Why were the major cities of Britain bombed by Germans in 1940-41

2) Describe the effects of the Blitz on everyday life in Britain.

        Over 1 million shelters had been given to families before the war started and another 1and a half million were built the next year. Families had to carry gas masks in boxes. People used the tube station for shelter during the blitz. About 80 stations sheltered 177 000 people every night.

        When it was dark lights could not be visible so bombers could not see their targets. The men who had not been recruited or had not signed up for the army would become ARP wardens (Air Raid Precaution). They would help the voluntary fire services, help civilians during air raids and instruct people on what to do during blackouts e.g. turn all the lights. Heavy fines were regulated for disobeying them.                                                  When German bombers were in the air, sirens would go off alerting people to take shelter. Wardens were responsible for ensuring that everyone got to safety during a raid. The air raid wardens would often come round to make sure that all the lights were out and because of their strict regimes they sometimes grew to be quite despised among the community. Usually there would be six wardens at each post covering about five hundred people.                                                        Food rationing began in January 1940. Sweets, Meat, Butter, Jam, Cheese, Fats, Bacon, Tea, Eggs, Dried milk and Dried eggs were rationed. Vegetables, bread, potatoes, fish and milk weren’t. Rationing helped the population stay healthy so the population was fit and would therefore need less medical care. Rationing also prevented Britain’s population from being starved as Germany had attempted to stave Britain. By 1939 over half of Britain’s food was imported. School meals were provided for every child so mothers could work during the day. During the war peoples diets actually improved as poorer people could now afford to buy better food.                                                                                                         The Second World War was a revolution for women as it provided a chance for liberation. Women that were able to help with the war effort were called “mobile”. “Immobile” women had children or were caring for old family members. By 1943 17 million women aged between 14 and 64 were either in the forces or in vital war work. Attitudes to women changed as they began to play more important roles. By the end of the war, some factories were run entirely by women.                                                                                                  Evacuation began before the blitz had started. The government planned to move 3 and a half million. Only 1,500,000 mothers, children and babies were evacuated from the industrial and built-up areas and sent to the countryside, to ensure their safety during the bombing. Small rural towns and villages were put under enormous strain, as local resources were unprepared and unable to cope with the sudden arrival of such vast numbers of people. Evacuees were treated diversely depending on their social status and whether they had siblings or not.                         The whole experience created a desire for a new better society. The Beveridge Report was published in 1942 recommending that the government should take responsibility and a welfare state should be set up. The welfare state was put into place in 1944 named The Butler Education Act. It gave all children a right to secondary education free of charge.  Some say the impact of the war did more good than bad.