Q3 - In what ways did the British government attempt to hide the effects of the Blitz from the people of Britain? (20 Marks)

Censors were encouraged to only publish information that showed the British smiling and showing victory signs. They were shown as they had high morale to boost the morale of the rest of country; this was done to help keep support for the war effort. The public was shown as very calm and carrying on with normal life even in bombed areas. The media showed heroics of the air raid precaution wardens and the emergency services while they were helping and rescuing people in the bombed areas. Reports showed how people had helped each other to survive in terrible conditions and danger; they also published information on how many Luftwaffe planes had been shot down by the RAF and left out the damage and destruction they left in order to retain morale and also not to give any useful information away to the Germans. By only showing the good bits of the Blitz the government hoped to inspire and uplift the public with the stories of heroics and courage. Consequently these stories were aimed to help the war effort to continue.

The government actually used propaganda to encourage people to keep supporting the war effort. The Ministry of Information used filmmakers such as Humphrey Jennings to make films that would uplift morale. These films described how life would be after they won the war; these films inevitably raised spirit and informed the public. The government actually faked some photos to make people to carry on opposing the Germans. A dramatic picture of St Paul’s Cathedral was doctored in order to show clouds of smoke and flames coming from it. This reminded people that Britain was truly under attack and had to defend heroically. St Paul’s Cathedral was used as it was a national monument and portrayed high morale. All aspects of the media were used to support the war effort rather than showing the effects of the Blitz. Articles were written by the Ministry of Information to encourage people, radio programs such as “It’s That Man Again” was made to make fun off Hitler; millions listened. By producing stories they hoped to hide the effects of the Blitz and to build morale. Their propaganda campaign was particularly aimed to prevent the Germans propaganda campaign of “Lord Haw Haw” from affecting the British. Consequently it was made to retain the precious morale needed.

Inevitably the British government had to lie or hide information if they were to win the war. They were wrong to hide this information from the public but it was done in a good manner and for a good reason. In conclusion the British government had to employ censors to cut out negative information, only let positive information to be published and to create propaganda as they had to protect information from the enemy that could give them an advantage and they also had to protect public morale and to keep the British population supporting the war effort; eventually they had to succeed in these ways to have a chance to winning the war.