Impact of the Second World War on Society

Impact of the Second World War on Society

The Blitz: n. An intensive air raid or series of air raids. The blitz

started on the 7th November, 1940. It happened largely by accident. On

the night of August 24th, 1940, Luftwaffe bombers aiming or military

targets on the outskirts of London flew off course and dropped their

bombs on the centre of London destroying several homes and killing

civilians. Churchill, believing it to be a deliberate attack, ordered

the bombing of Berlin the following night.

About 40 British planes made it to Berlin and inflicted minimal

property damage, but the Germans were stunned by the attack. It was

the first time Bombs had fallen on Berlin, and they had been assured

this couldn't happen by the Luftwaffe Chief, Hermann GØring that this

could never happen.

Two more British attacks followed, resulting in Germans killed on the

ground. German nerves were frayed, the Nazis outraged. Hitler

threatened "…When the British Air Force drops two or three or four

thousand kilograms of bombs, then we will in one night drop 150-,

230-, 300- or 400,000 kilograms." They were not going to take this

lying down, and beginning September 7th London was bombed for 57

consecutive nights, but the blitz continued until May 1941. During

this time other cities were also bombed including Portsmouth, Exeter,

Bath, Manchester and Belfast.

However, this decision to bomb London and other major cities proved to

be the most fateful decision of the war. Up to that point, the

Luftwaffe had targeted RAF (Royal Air Force) airfields and support

installations and had nearly destroyed the entire British air defence

system. Swi...

... middle of paper ...

...the like. Rationing began on the 8th of January,

1940 because of the imports being sunk by German U-boats. Most people

liked it because it was fair and everyone got the same. Clothes were

also rationed from May 1941.

Typical weekly food ration

--------------------------

Bacon 6oz

Cheese 4oz

Butter 4oz

Eggs 2

Milk 1pint

Tea 3oz

Sugar 12oz

Sweets 3oz

Dried milk 4pints

Dried eggs 12 (every 8 weeks)

Points were given every 4 weeks for luxury items, 16 points a week..

[IMAGE]

Bibliography: www.british-forces.com

www.historyplace.com

www.danshistory.comwww.danshistory.com

www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org

Peace and war (John Murry)

The era of the second world war - Tony and Steve Lancaster (Causway)

" - Philip Sauvain (Stanley Thorns)