“It’s 8 o’clock. Jerries late tonight. The search lights are in position. The guns are ready. The army of volunteers are waiting. They’re the ones who are really fighting this war… the firemen, the air raid wardens and the ambulance drivers. The nightly siege of London has begun.”
It’s January 1941, and the Blitz is in full swing. The Blitz was a big bombing campaign that Germany launched against Britain in 1940. It lasted 8 months and German airplanes dropped bombs on London, Birmingham and other strategic cities where factories and important industries were based. It was called the Blitz after the German word “blitzkrieg” meaning “lightning war.”
George and his family are facing their biggest air raid yet. The air raid sirens blare, and they rush to their Anderson Shelter – a cold, damp and cramped and half buried iron shelter that, like many families, they built in their garden. By September 1940, over 2.3 million Anderson Shelters had been issued for burying in people’s back gardens.
Even though George’s father has made it as comfortable as possible, it’s still tough to spend hours there with explosions going off nearby. As the bombs fall and the air raid continues, George and his family try to stay calm.
Embed from Getty ImagesGeorge’s mother is concerned about their neighbours who have a Morrison shelter – a table-like solid structure with a cage around it which people had inside their homes. Whilst they took up space, they were more convenient for some than going to an outside shelter. People kept blankets and clothes in them for quick use.
Peter and his family have a different experience. They head to the Underground station for shelter, where there’s a crowd of people. They find people sitting all over the place – on bunks against the wall and on the floor. Peter sees a lady selling cups of tea and sausage rolls, whilst someone had a banjo and people were singing to hide the noise of the bombs and anti-aircraft guns.
The next morning, George sees the aftermath of the raid… houses destroyed, fires burning, and families carrying whatever belongings they can. But the people of London keep going, determined not to let the enemy win. Peter, out helping with the Scouts, even finds a lost teddy bear in the rubble.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhile sheltering in the Underground stations becomes a regular part of life for may people, it’s not easy. The air is thick, it’s crowded, and there’s little privacy. But with all the danger, the kids know it’s safer than being above ground.
George writes in his journal…
“The blitz went on for months. It wasn’t just in London but also Birmingham, Coventry, Sheffield, Liverpool, Plymouth, Southampton, Portsmouth and Manchester – places where factories and other important industries are based. By the end, 60,000 people were killed, 87,000 seriously injured and 2 million homes were destroyed. Many children were orphaned or lost brothers and sisters. But like Peter, many youngsters pitched in to put things right – the Scouts and the Guides and older kids – many who’d lost their families, helped pump water, raise alarms, take messages and clear things up so we could get back to “Business as Usual” – even though life was anything but…”
Next time… the Blitz Kids are finding it harder to get everyday things that they want – not just food but fuel and clothes, and they’re having to spend more and more time in queues with their ration books.
More facts about the Blitz:
Britain used several methods to help defend the country against the German air force – the Luftwaffe:
- Radar: We built a series of radar stations on the south coast, which could detect German planes up to 80 miles away. This gave the RAF time to scramble its fighters and be ready to fight the Luftwaffe when they arrived.
- Observer corps: 30,000 civilian volunteers tracked and reported on German planes when they were over Britain. Their information helped the RAF to plan their tactics.
- Fighter Command: Part of the RAF responsible for fighter planes. Information collected from radar stations, along with reports from Observer Corps was put together and used to plan air defences.
- Barrage balloons: These were large balloons held in the air by steel cables and were designed to force enemy aircraft to fly higher so they would find it harder to hit their targets.
The Blitz between September 1940 and May 1941 was when the Germans targeted civilians as well as key landmarks. The aim was force the British to surrender. The Germans used incendiary devices to start fires and light up targets on the ground, before bomber planes attacked populated areas. The Blitz caused huge loss of life.
Do this…
During the Blitz, families faced nightly air raids, took shelter underground and lived with constant fear of bombing. This activity helps you understand how people protected themselves and stayed hopeful during frightening times. Click here.
Can you spot this?
A Blitz remembrance sign at Bank Station.
