The words we use to describe things can change over time – and sometimes, for example, when there’s a war, new expressions and “slang” can appear.
Here’s some words (and names) you might have heard in our series the Blitz Kids and which you might not understand – and what they mean!
ARP
An ARP (Air Raid Precautions) officer in WWII Britain was responsible for coordinating civilian defence measures, enforcing blackout regulations, assisting during air raids, and ensuring public safety by managing shelters, firefighting, and first aid.
Embed from Getty ImagesBarrage Balloons
A large tethered balloon used as an aerial defence measure to deter low-flying enemy aircraft by forcing them to fly higher, making them easier targets for anti-aircraft guns.
Embed from Getty ImagesChurchill
He was the Prime Minister in the UK who led us to Victory in 1945.
Embed from Getty ImagesClark Gable and Katherine Hepburn
They were two of the most famous American movie stars of the time, perhaps of all time. The Blitz Kids would have seen him in them cinema or the “pictures.”
Embed from Getty ImagesCoup De Main
“A blow with the hand” – describing a unexpected attack. The invasion of the Channel Islands happened very suddenly.
Crazy Gang
The Crazy Gang was a British comedy troupe, popular from the 1930s to the 1960s, known for their slapstick humour and anarchic performances, featuring entertainers like Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen, and Jimmy Nervo.
Demob
Short for “Demobilisation” – meaning the time when soldiers were stood down and could go home. Simple suits known as “Demob suits” were handed out to the soldiers, to help them return to everyday life – many would have often only had their uniforms to wear.
Eisenhower
An American General who during World War II, he was Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe. He would later become the President of the United States.
Embed from Getty ImagesGoebbels
Joseph Goebbels was a man who helped spread propaganda to control what people in Germany saw and heard during World War II. He used newspapers, radio, and movies to make people believe wrong and unfair things – things we might call “fake news” today.
Embed from Getty ImagesHitler
He was the leader in Germany who launched invasions against his neighbours, starting the war in Europe which we would join to oppose his plans, in 1939.
Embed from Getty ImagesJerry
A slang term for the Germans. Today it would be considered a slur and so not a word we use now.
Lord Haw Haw
He was one of several German agents who pretended to be British radio presenters on fake British radio stations, sending out false news to make the British people think they were losing the war. “Haw Haw” was because they had put on distinct “posh” British accents to try to fool people.
Lyons Tea House
A popular venue in London for afternoon tea consisting of sandwiches cakes and pastries, served by their famous waitresses in black uniform and white pinafores, known as “Nippies.”
Embed from Getty ImagesMontgomery
Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, nicknamed “Monty”, was a senior British Army officer who served in the First World War, the Irish War of Independence and the Second World War.
Oxford Bags
The type of trousers that were fashionable in the 1920s but would have looked rather out of date during the war. They used more cloth to create a baggy floppy style.
Embed from Getty ImagesPictures
This is what people called the cinema at this time and it was a very popular thing to do, not least as news films were shown too, about the war or government advice.
Embed from Getty ImagesPill Boxes
A pillbox in WWII was a small, reinforced concrete bunker used as a defensive fortification, typically equipped with loopholes for soldiers to fire from while being protected from enemy attacks.
Embed from Getty ImagesPopeye
Popeye The Sailor was a funny cartoon character who grew enormous muscles when he ate spinach. His girlfriend was Olive Oyl, who he often saved from danger at the hands of his enemies such as Brutus and the Sea Hag.
Propaganda
What people today sometimes call “fake news.”
The Hun
Another slang term for the Germans. Today it would be considered a slur and so not a word we use now.
Wireless
This is the old term for a radio. Radio became popular before WW2 because it provided more up to the minute news than the newspapers.
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