Shelters For People At Their Homes example essay topic

1939-1945 1. How was everyday life in Britain affected by the wartime conditions with challenges like "the blitz"? "Blitzkrieg"- lightning war, a swift intensive attack designed to defeat the opposition quickly. "You must not be taken by surprise", warned a Ministry of Information leaflet issued as the threat of invasion loomed in Britain. Long before the war broke out families were introduced to gas masks, air-raid drill and bomb shelters, and mass evacuations were planned. The blitz affected the lives of men, women and children.

Preparations for the war were stepped up in august 1939. Upon the declaration of war, the BBC broadcasted on the radio that Britain is now in the state of war as the Germans are invading Poland, even though having been given an ultimatum. On the 3rd September at 11.00 the British declared war. Britain was once more at war.

Evacuations soon took place thereafter. Over three million people had left their homes even before the war was declared. In September alone, at least a quarter of the population also moved, they included up to 25,000 civil servants. All these people had to be housed, they were either sent abroad or to the countryside.

This war was going to affect everyone. Some of the first to suffer were the TV viewers. Watching a Mickey Mouse cartoon on September 1st. The service suddenly shut down and stayed off the air until 1946. The blackout which began the same evening did affect everyone. No one was allowed to have light shining from a house.

The aim was to make it more difficult for the German bombers to spot their targets. Street lights were turned off; so were neon signs and shop lights. Everybody had to travel in darkness, all windows had to be blacked out with thick curtains, or anything else that people could get hold of. People disliked the blackout, with good reason. A survey showed that nearly one in five million people had an accident in the first four months.

Everybody was also expected to carry a gas mask at all times. Along side the gas mask you also had to carry your identity cards, which had to be shown on demand. Some children wore numbered metal bracelets. Incomes were cut, in 1939; people could still buy as much food as they wanted as long as they could afford it. Britain imported a lot of food in 1939, less got in during the war. German submarines attacked ships bringing in food from America.

Some food were in short supply, as the rationing began, it made sure everybody had equal amounts and that a fair share of the food was distributed amongst the people. Due to the air-raids the government issued shelters for people at their homes. First the Anderson shelter was "born", you needed to have a garden for this and less than 25% had one. Nearly 1.5 million shelters were distributed for free in September 1939. As this didn't work that well, they introduced the Morrison shelter, which was a steel mesh box, accommodating 2 adults and 2 children. Over a million were issued.

ARP (Air Raid Precautions) was set up to cope with the problem that bombing caused. They went off when the sir raid sirens went off. They wore helmets with a white "W" on the front and went to check everybody's lights were dimmed, and that they were off the streets. Slogans like "make-do-and mend", and "dig for victory" were used to help people be cautious with the way they live, and to try and help themselves.

The lives of everybody was rapidly changed, although the war had it's downsides, it bought communities together helping them to help themselves and each other. Everyday life was dearly affected; men, women and children all helped with the war efforts. 2. What role did the media play in the war effort on the home front? Bombing raids, petrol shortages and blacked-out streets all meant that people spent a lot of their evenings at home. The radio served as a lifeline and just about everyone crowded round their set to listen to the nine o'clock news on the BBC Home Service.

There were many children's programmes, helping them to get through the chaos of life during the blitz. For the adults the humorous comedy ITM A (Its That Man Again) - was a true phenomenon of wartime entertainment. Fast-moving, packed with wise-cracks and dottily British, the show proved more of a morale booster than any government propaganda. To escape the claustrophobic atmosphere at home, people went to the movies. They were prepared to queue for hours to get in every week and in wartime Britain some 25-30 million cinema tickets were sold each week. The big picture houses with their grandiose names - Majestic, Palace, Alhambra - created dream worlds where for a few pence the dark streets and bombs could be forgotten.

The propaganda targeted the newspapers, news was censored and papers only published what government wanted them to. The same was true on radio and cinema newsreels. Sometimes the news was kept secret because it might help the enemy. Weather reports; stopped during the war. Propaganda also involved drumming a message home; the government had lots of these for the British people. Many appeared as newspaper adverts or on cinema screens.

But, most of all, it was achieved by posters. Hoardings were everywhere, filled with government posters. Each one had its slogan; each had something to do with the war effort. Perhaps the most famous was "careless talk costs lives". The government was worried that there might be enemy agents living secretly in britain. Sp people were told not to talk about anything in public which might help the enemy..