Life during World War II

The Blackout
 
The blackout began two days before the war began. Under blackout rules, everyone had to cover up their windows at night with black material. This was to make it difficult for german bombers to find their target in the dark.
    The street lamps were turned off and often people bumped into one another. Traffic accidents were common because car headlights had to be blacked out, and deaths from drowning increased as people fell off bridges or walked into ponds.
The Blitz
 During 1939 and the start of 1940 hardly any bombs were dropped on Britain. But Hitler planned to invade Britain. In September 1940 the germans started to bomb Britain's cities instead of RAF air bases hoping that Britons would panic and surrender. This period was known as The Blitz. As soon as the aircraft were spotted in the night sky, air raid sirens sounded to warn everyone that an air raid was coming. Some families would run down to a communal brick or concrete shelter in their street. Others sheltered from the bombs at home in their cellars or underneath a table or the stairs. Families with shelters in their gardens could hide in there. These were usually damp and dark and made from corrugated iron. they were known as Anderson shelters.
 In London they could shelter in the underground railway stations. At first this was very uncomfortable but as time went on bunk beds, toilets and snacks were provided.
    These stations were not totally safe in January 1941, a bomb fell above Bank underground station killing over 100 people who were sheltering below.
    Each street had an Air Raid Warden. Their job was to send for fire engines and ambulances, and  to check for casualties or unexploded bombs.
 
After the Raids
    As soon as the raid was over a siren sounded the "all clear" and people went outside to  survey the damage.
Some found their homes flattened. Others found dead or injured relatives and friends. The Germans showered Britain with bombs, fire bombs and delayed action bombs. This kept the police, the fire fighters, bomb disposal  men, ambulance drivers and ARP wardens very busy.
    As the war continued people became used to this carnage and adjusted their lives where possible continuing "Business as Usual".
Evacuation
Being an Evacuee must have been horrible at first. You were sent off to some strange place and might never see your parents again!
    The evacuation begun on Friday 1 February the day German troops invaded Poland.Most children were evacuated in school groups with their teachers. Children and their teachers met in the school grounds. They wore name tags and carried their gas masks in cardboard boxes over their shoulders.
    Many children were sometimes sent to farms and worked. Some were sent to big country houses. Many of these children had never been out into the country before. Some were afraid of the farm animals and others were surprised to see that apples grew on trees. Lots of them from the slums were surprised to find themselves staying in houses with inside toilets and carpets.
    Also some well off country families were horrified to find that some of the children had head lice and skin disease.
    Some children stayed in danger areas because their parents refused to have them evacuated.
Women's Lives
In most countries women worked in war factories to make war materials. 75,00 women joined the Land Army in Britain to help grow more food.
    In 1941 women between the age of 19-30 had to register for war work Women who joined the forces were mostly secretaries, drivers, cooks and mechanics. Lots of them also joined the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (W.R.V.S.). They provided meals and clothing etc. for survivors and rescue workers. 


 

 Men's Lives
All fit young men were "called up" and had to leave home and join the army, navy or air force. At first they had to be between 20-22 but this was changed to between 18 and 41. British men were sent to Africa, the far East and Europe. Some of them were away so long that their families did not recognise them when they came back.
 
 
 

 Men like scientists and engineers did not join the forces because their jobs were important in wartime. 
    Also some men were not fit enough to join they sometimes volunteered as fire fighters or ARP wardens. They could also join the "Home Guard".
    Home Guard units had to protect Britain from German parachute attacks. They kept a look out for spies, guarded factories and airfields. Their nickname was "Dad's Army" because some of them were quite old. They sometimes wore tin helmets to protect their heads.

  

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