The civil defence act called for the provision of air raid shelters in all building where 50 or more people were employed. Source (B8) shows a public air raid shelter. To qualify for the government grant the shelters had to be usable by the 30th of September. Private shelters were to be provided for people not entitled to receive free shelters. All this is shown in Source (B7)
From the construction of communal shelters came many problems. They were far behind schedule due to union disputes and an underestimate of building materials required. Even the supply of Morrison and Anderson shelters fell far short.
Source (B4) shows an Anderson shelter. Many civilians that could afford these shelters did purchase one. Even thought they were a masterpiece of cheep and simple engineering made from corrugated steel some people preferred to use the public shelters provided by the government.
Some civilians had no choice whether to use a public shelter or not-if you were caught in an air raid attack you were ushered into the nearest public shelter by the A.R.P.
The other type of air raid shelter, which was also popular, was the Morrison shelter. Unlike other air raid shelter these were placed in the home. They fitted in out of the way e.g. under a table, and were easy for people who didn’t have gardens.
You could fit up to five people in a Morrison shelter but they were manufactured to protect only two. Source (B6) shows a photo of a Morrison shelter.
The main German targets in South Wales were transmitting stations and docks. Source (B9) shows the transmitting stations bombed during the air raids. The places largely hit included Birmingham, London and Cardiff.
Many civilians died or were Seriously injured during the bombing of the docks. Source (B10) shows the total casualties in all air raids, the greatest amount of people were killed in areas around the docks.
The docks (in Cardiff and Swansea) were the main German targets as they wished to stop the production of armaments and also the import/export industry.
Most civilian lives were lost during air raid attacks in town’s and cities. People’s houses and businesses were destroyed. The severest attack on Swansea was on the 16th February 1943. Nine planes flew over Swansea and in the space of just half an hour 34 people were killed. This is shown in the air raid calendar, Source (B11)
Source (B13) shows the success of Nazi bombers on the 16th February. Swansea was one of the most important ports for re-shipment of supplies and material to British troops fighting overseas and was also one of the most significant oil ports in South Wales, shown in an Arial view of Swansea, source (B12)
Source (B13) was taken from a Nazi German newspaper, whereas Source (B14) was taken from a local Swansea newspaper. They both talk of the same air raid, which had such dramatic effects on civilians in Swansea. Source (B13) would have been used to boost German morale and it used to show success. Source (B14) it a very emotional piece and emphasises the deaths. Both are very biased reports and were used to keep up the war effort.
Civilians also had to help the Authorities put out the fires after the three night blitz of Swansea. Many civilians also become trapped in air raid shelters and would have to be rescued by the authorities Source (B15)
They also had to stop people looting after bombing. People would steal things from houses in bombed areas – these people if caught were charged as shown in Source (B17).
Overall the effects on civilians in South Wales due to bombing were devastating. Peoples’ houses and worldly possessions were destroyed. They would emerge from air raid shelters not knowing what to expect Source (B16). Houses were virtually flattened. Bombs hit houses and managed to destroy whole streets. Devastation was extensive.
