One of the most important reasons for evacuation was to save civilian life. The defenceless children who provided a face of innocence had nothing to do with the war. The government felt it was their duty to protect them, the children were seen as weak and vulnerable, therefore unable to protect themselves. Also the children were not only physically weak, but also mentally undeveloped, they were not strong enough to withstand the horrors of war, death destruction and famine would be both mentally and physically distressing for them. The British government felt it had to take the responsibility to evacuate them for there own good. The children had done nothing wrong to have to go through the disastrous war and maybe even give their lives for a war which they didn’t cause; this therefore is one of the main causes for evacuation. Also Britain felt that Hitler would target children because they were ‘easy’ targets and would provide huge emotional blows for the British people, this made it even more essential for evacuation.
Also linked with the above point is the fact that children were seen as ‘valuable’ due to the fact that they helped influence attitudes of adults towards the war. If parents had the satisfaction of knowing their children were safe in the countryside then morale would be increased and they would work hard and more resolutely towards the war effort. Also, protecting children would provide a ‘boost’ not only for parents at home but also fathers who were out fighting for Britain, the soldiers on the frontline would be more optimistic knowing their offspring were well and safe. The government saw the evacuation as an investment, the more they did to show they were ‘doing something’ the better they would be seen by the public, the public would feel protected by the government and so this would increase morale.
Also linked to morale was the fact that if children were not evacuated and heavy losses were incurred then morale would be heavily damaged. This would be fatal as morale is very important during war times and without it the war could be lost. The children were seen as the ‘future’ generation, protecting them was the priority; they would continue the generations and keep the country ‘alive’. The issue of morale as a process of evacuation is an important point as it has proven again and again to be very advantageous during war times.
Another major reason for this huge operation of evacuation from the city to countryside was the fact that Britain was in anticipation of heavy aerial military bombardment. The effect of German air warfare and the Luftwaffe had been felt in the Spanish civil war at the ‘Battle of Guernica’ (1937), it had shown western Europe the terrible consequences of aerial bombardment and the damage and destruction which are caused by it. Britain was wary of what might happen if a full on German offensive took place; therefore the British government felt it better for innocent children to be moved out of the target areas and into the safe countryside. Also throughout the 1930’s images of the devastation in Guernica were being shown in cinemas all across Britain, people back at home could actually see what was happening in Spain and they realised this could happen to them too. This raised awareness between the British public and made the threat of war more ‘real’. Displaying images of horror and death throughout Britain showed the British public the scale of devastation; it showed them what ‘could’ happen to them and changed their deception of war greatly.
Also the British government evacuated children because they new Germany would eminently target civilians in order to try and destroy morale, morale as I have discussed is a strong point and is at the core of warfare.
The above point links in with the fact that evacuation took place because of the technological advancement in weaponry. The Germans had new improved aeroplanes which could fly longer distances and carry heavier loads, this posed a threat as this war would differ greatly from the First World War when although some aerial bombardment was experienced, fighting was mainly restricted to trenches and battlefields. The minute amounts of aerial bombardment in world war one also gave Britain an insight into the atrocities of aerial bombardment. The Second World War proved different, realisation occurred that the water surrounding the British island could not stop the aeroplanes which could fly over without much hassle and bomb British cities.
British cities were military targets due to their military production, cities such as Liverpool, London and Coventry were main targets due their numerous motor factories, the Germans were aiming to bombard the factories and try and exhaust British supplies, yet they were also targeting civilians (including children) to destroy morale.
Also, the development of gas as a weapon of war was seen to make it even more necessary for evacuation, all children were issued with gas masks yet it was know that gas could kill in large numbers therefore evacuation occurred not only from the ‘fear’ of bombs but of gas attacks which could also be launched using air raids.
Another factor which could influence Evacuation was the fact that moving children out the cities would ease the responsibilities from the parent’s shoulders; they would no longer have to worry about children and could spend longer preparing the country for war by spending more time creating machinery and other war/industry materials. There was no need for children in the cities so the government felt instead of spending money creating extra air raid shelters for the children it would be better for them to just move out into the countryside were they would be safe and ‘out of the way’. This point also linked with the fact that the less population in the cities the easier and cheaper it would be to control the damage of the war, for example the less people in cities the less they will get hurt and therefore it would be a relief on hospitals, fire-fighters and ambulances.
Overall, in conclusion there are numerous points which led to the British government evacuating children from Britain’s major cities in the early years of the Second World War. In my opinion one of the most import causes for evacuation was the technological development of aerial bombardment from the First World War. I believe this point to be important as it is the ‘core’ factor. If Aerial bombardment had not developed so incredibly than evacuation may not have been as necessary, as the Luftwaffe would not have attacked cities and tried to target civilian children. The advancements were huge for such a huge period; they went from ‘zeppelins’ (used for spying and some bombing during world war one) to new more advanced planes which could fly longer distances with greater loads therefore causing more damage and destruction and providing a much greater risk to civilian life in rural city areas such as London.
Also in my opinion the second most import reason for evacuation was the fact that the children needed to remain safe, this is also a very important point as it ties in with many others. If the children were safe morale would be high, also parents wouldn’t worry about the children and so would concentrate more on the war effort. Also, the children were he future o Britain and so needed protecting. The safety of the children is a very important reason for evacuation; it links up with most of the other reasons.
Many of the other reasons are also important for example more personal aims of the British government that would be more advantageous to them and would make them ‘look’ good and as if they were doing something.
On the whole the actual process of Evacuation, and the moving of children from the countryside to the city was quite successful and the many reasons all interlink to provide factors for the evacuation of children during world war two.