The Effects of the Blitz on Everyday Life in Britain
For the first time in modern days war had literally come home. All
over cites in Europe, as the Nazis advanced, the Luftwaffe spread its
wings and flew only ever intending to cause terror on the land below.
France was taken, now even the far edges of Britain were in reach of
the German bombers. No one was safe, so the government warned people
in cities and implemented certain regulations to make people as safe
as possible and reduce the chance of getting bombed by the Luftwaffe.
Britain was prepared for the worst. But no one was prepared for the
full and devastating effects of The Blitz.
From the beginning of the war a regulation that was imposed across
cities throughout the UK, was The Blackout that was part of the ARP
regulations, which intended to hinder the German bombers in the air.
Houses, businesses and all buildings had to cover their windows so as
to not allow any light to be shown. This caused claustrophobia in the
dark homes but a far worst problem was the fact that there were no
lights in open areas. So there were no streetlights, no crossing
lights and all vehicles travelled with one dimmed light, which was
facing downward. Due to all these safety precautions there was a large
number of people who sustained broken bones from mishaps in the dark
as well as many people who had major injuries caused by serious
traffic accidents. Although once the Germans started using incendiary
bombs The Blackout became far less effective.
The Blitz did not only lower the morale of the British people by
destroying their homes, flattening their streets and separating
families but the effects of the bombing caused major disruption to
everyday life. Civilians who returned to the surface, from the air
raid shelters and underground, after the nightly bombings found heaps
of rubble from the buildings that were hit and smoke which rised from
the fires that burnt through the city. People carried on their daily