Effects Of The Blackout And Air Raid Precautions

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Blackout and Air Raid Precaution The intense blackouts starting in 1920 when the Blitz began in Britain during World War II were extremely dangerous due to the lack of light, but they were strictly enforced by the Air Raid Precautions (ARP) and the Air Raid Wardens’ Services. Even before World War II, there was a presence of bombing in Britain. According to the article “World War II Air Raid Campaign” in histclo.com:
Britain was bombed by the Germans in World War I, by both bombers and Zephins. The attacks had been of no strategic importance, but the civilians were terrified. Britain was building a strategic bombing force to prepare a massive aerial assault on Germany in 1919. The war ended (1918), however, before the Allied bombing campaign was launched …show more content…

Douhet came up with the phrase, “the bomber will always get through”, which reached out to many. As a result, the British government came up with the Air Raid Precautions organization. The Air Raid Precautions, better known as ARP, was established to protect the British citizens from the dangerous air raids. Stanley Baldwin, British prime minister, published the Air Raids Precautions (ARP) in September of 1935. Baldwin did this in an effort to invite local authorities to join in to protect the British people during war. Two years later, in April 1937, the British government created the Air Raid Wardens’ Services. In the year following, the government recruited up to 200,000 volunteers. The 200,000 volunteers were called Air Raid Precaution Wardens. These ARP Wardens had many jobs. “The main purpose of ARP Wardens was to patrol the streets during the blackout and to ensure that no light was visible” (APR Wardens during World War 2, Page 1-2). Also, “Wardens were responsible for arranged for the sounding of air raid sirens” (Spartacus Educational-Air Raid Wardens). When the air raid sirens would sound, everyone would be expected to take shelter as fast as possible before

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