The bombing raids by Britain on Berlin were the key factor that had caused the German switch in bombing tactics. Although Britain had not planned to cause this switch in tactic, it was this tactical error that allowed Britain to build more aircraft and so to ultimately hold out in the Battle of Britain. The Battle of Britain also boosted Britain’s morale greatly as it convinced the British public that Germany could be defeated.
The Blitz
The bombing of British cities, or the Blitz began on 7th September 1940. Although the Blitz was used as an act of retaliation against the British bombing of Berlin, Hitler’s aim was to bomb Britain into submission. This would destroy Britain’s military capacity and shatter the British public’s morale and so eventually Britain would either be defeated or it would have to negotiate peace terms. For the next 76 nights (except 2nd November) London and other major cities were bombed continuously. The worst single air raid was on 14th November against Coventry, which lasted 10 hours. 4000 people were killed and the Cathedral was destroyed. Germany deliberately aimed to destroy public morale as well as industrial areas and approximately 2.5 million people had been left homeless and 43,000 were killed.
In my opinion, it was the effective organisation of the people and country that enabled Britain to survive the Blitz. A national government had been set up that involved talents from all parties and so there where no domestic political arguments to hold back the country. The Prime Minister, Churchill (Prime Minister from May 1940) was one of the greatest inspirations for ordinary people. His determination not to give in enabled the country to keep going despite being so close to defeat and he gave the country an important moral boast. He regularly gave radio broadcasts to inspire the nation and make it feel their efforts were valued and so they would be more determined to continue with the war effort. He visited bombed areas to give a sense of unity between the government and its citizens and even turned Dunkirk, a military defeat, into a victory, which helped psychologically (“Dunkirk Spirit”).
The Emergency Powers Act passed in 1940 gave the government almost unlimitless power over its citizens, which enabled it to make effective use of them. To protect its citizens, the government recruited air-raid precautious wardens (ARP) to help people survive bombing raids and issued leaflets to help its citizens. The government enforced blackouts so that the enemy would find it harder to bomb industrial targets as well as minimising the number of people killed and encouraged people to build shelters to defend them from the blast of the bombs. Barrage balloons were placed to stop bombers flying low. Searchlights, and radar were used to locate enemy aircrafts so they could be shot down using the newly installed anti-aircraft batteries and the RAF. Gas masks had been issued to protect the public from gas attacks (but none came) and sirens were installed to warn people of air attacks. The more damage was minimised, the more public morale would remain and so be determined to hold out rather than surrender. Evacuation was introduced to minimise in particular the number of children killed by the bombing of major cities. Approximately 1.5 million children and young mothers were evacuated to the countryside throughout the war.
The government also took direct control of 75% of Industry and by 1943 production was 8.5 times greater than in 1939. Women were conscripted in 1941 to fill in vacant jobs in industry that conscripted men held, which was vital to enabling Britain to continue the war effort. Women also joined sections of the armed forces to do important jobs and some joined the Woman's Land Army, which did everyday farming jobs, making more food available. The government used propaganda to make people inspired to help out in the war effort e.g. in factories and censored pictures of dead soldiers or destroyed houses to keep people's morale. Churchill introduced "Bulldog Spirit" to boost morale and claimed that "Dunkirk Spirit" would keep the country going. Bombed shops put signs saying "more open than usual" and people were determined to carry on with their normal lives e.g. in Coventry production rose despite suffering the worst single air raid in Britain. The king and queen visited bombed cites and made radio broadcasts, which the public were inspired by. Entertainment was organised every night to maintain public morale. Churchill encouraged original class barriers to be broken and insisted that everyone was “in it” together. In May 1940, the Home Guards were set up to act as a second line of defence against a German invasion and consisted of men too old or young to fight, numbering nearly 1.5 million by June 1940. The Home Guards trained after work with any weapons they could get and although the Home Guards did not help in military terms, it had huge psychological impact on the public. It made them feel more involved and committed to the war effort and therefore willing to keep going throughout the war.
Rationing was introduced as there were food shortages because German U-boats were destroying British merchant ships carrying food and other essentials. It was meant to distribute food and other essentials in a fair way so that everyone felt that they were in the war together equally suffering and so morale kept high. The “Dig for Victory” campaign, which encouraged people to grow food, was also highly successful in that more food was available and it made everyone feel involved with the war effort and therefore they would feel that they had “done their duty” and so would be inspired to help with the war effort.
The Battle of the Atlantic
Gemmy attempted to starve Britain into submission by destroying its merchant ships. Britain was a small island and couldn't provide for all her needs and it had a system of ships sailing worldwide to meet her needs. The government took control of all merchant ships and made them sail in convoys (most of which went to the USA) with escort “destroyer” ships. However, there were not enough destroyers for every group of convoys and the German U-boats hunted in “Wolf packs” of up to 12 for added protection. By 1942, 30 U-boats were being produced a month, and the U-boats had little difficulty in destroying the convoys. In 1941, 1299 allied ships were shot down (six times the replacement rate) compared to only 87 U-boats and by 1942 the allies had lost almost 1700 ships, whilst the Germans had over 400 U boats. Soon Britain would be starved of food and essential raw materials and would be forced to sue for peace.
However on 7th December 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbour, which led to USA joining the war. The USA was a huge industrial power and was producing ‘Liberty’ ships faster than that U-boats could sink them and so these Liberty ships were able to escort the convoys. The Royal Navy began received new ships that had been ordered in 1940 and so there were more ships able to escort the convoys. “Hunter-Killer” groups of ships went with the convoys to destroy the U-boats, which resulted in increased protection for the convoys. The convoys also received more protection from the increased air cover that the USA provided in addition to the RAF. This left a comparatively small area of the Atlantic uncovered by air cover. The aircrafts could also radio positions of located U-boats and this allowed the escort ships to locate them easier and sink them. Now that the Atlantic wasn't the sole responsibility of Britain helped Britain enormously and by 1943 many more convoys brought supplies back to Britain. In 1943, 247 U boats were sunk (mainly by aircraft) and the allies built four times as many boats as were sunk. Britain also benefited psychologically as it not only did it overcome its enemy, but it was no longer alone. It had the USA, a huge industrial power, as its ally and through lend-lease schemes, Britain received many more goods to help the war effort.
The war on other fronts
On 22nd June 1941 Germany invaded the USSR (Operation Barbarossa) and was defeated at Stalingrad. In July Britain and the USSR became allies. This had a big psychological impact on Britain as Britain now benefited from another ally and she no longer felt alone (important as the USA at this time wasn’t yet a “direct” ally). The weight of the German attack was now no longer on Britain and Britain had a "breathing space" to strengthen her position, helping her to hold out and although the USSR didn’t provide direct military support, it still benefited Britain.
In the Far East, Japan had built herself up an empire and had captured Hong Kong and Singapore (Britain's colonies) as well as most of South East Asia. Britain had declared war against Japan on 8th December and as did the USA in retaliation for the attack on Pearl Harbour. The USA prevented a Japanese invasion into Australia, which occurred in the Battle of Midway in June 1942 and Japan had to concentrate its efforts on defending itself. This helped Britain psychologically as one of its enemies was being defeated by one of its allies, making Britain more determined to continue with the war, as ultimate victory seemed nearer.
The war in North Africa was important for Britain in that it was the only way Britain could attack Germany directly and it is often seen as a “Theatre of Warfare.” In October 1942, Britain had defeated Germany in the battle of El-Almein. This was a major victory as it prevented Egypt and the Suez Canal from falling to German and was a serious drain on German resources as well as allowing the allies to become well placed for an invasion of Italy. It helped to keep hopes of ultimate victory alive.
• • •
Overall many factors were involved in enabling Britain to hold out but in my opinion, there are some major factors that without them being present, Britain could have not held out. Hitler's tactical errors are extremely important and allowed Britain to hold out in the Battle of Britain as well as allowing the USSR to defeat Germany in 1942. Had Germany not shifted tactics in the Battle of Britain, then Britain would have probably been defeated and a German invasion would have occurred.
The USA was also vital in helping Britain to survive as it was a huge industrial power. It had allowed Britain to hold out in the Battle of the Atlantic even when Britain was at the point of defeat and it also helped in Africa. Without the intervention of the USA, it is very questionable as to whether Britain would have held out between June 1940 and the end of 1943.