History Unit 1.4

• The lives of British civilians and soldiers changed dramatically following the outbreak of war in September 1939
• This period is often called the ‘Phoney War’
• German military concentrated on their invasion and campaign in Poland


  There was little fighting in the West
• In April 1940, the German military invaded Norway and Denmark
• Blitzkrieg


  A military offensive used by the German army in WW2, characterized by speed, surprise air attacks, and overwhelming land forces
• The German tactic of Blitzkrieg was extremely difficult to defend against
• In May 1940, Neville Chamberlain resigned as Prime Minister
• Winston Churchill led a coalition government for the rest of the war
• The evacuation of British forces from Dunkirk showed the strength of the Nazi war machine
• The fact so many were saved to fight another day meant the defeat was actually seen as an important victory
• France surrendered


  22 June 1940
• Hitler then turned his attention to invading Britain which now stood alone fighting against Germany
• The Battle of Britain took place in the skies as Hitler attempted to gain air supremacy before launching an invasion
• The Royal Air Force (RAF) resisted the Luftwaffe


  Because of its use of radar, the superiority of the British aircrafts, and some German mistakes
• Winston Churchill: 'Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few'
• In September 1940, the Luftwaffe began bombing British cities, particularly London
• The Blitz


  The bombing campaign by the Luftwaffe aimed to break morale and destroy industry to force Britain to surrender
• By the autumn of 1940 it was clear that the war would affect all civilians, not just those involved in combat
• The bombing of Swansea, Belfast and Glasgow occurred during the Second World War
• Total war


  A war that affects all civilians, not just those involved in combat
• Following the outbreak of war in September 1939, the lives of British civilians and soldiers were about to change dramatically
• Gas masks


  Issued to civilians before the war to protect against gas attacks
• Anderson shelters


  Structures encouraged to be built in gardens for protection from bombs
• Gas was not used in the Second World War
• People took to the underground in London to seek safety from bombing attacks
• In Cardiff, people used the cellars of the castle for protection
• Winston Churchill was the British Prime Minister during the war
• Wartime propaganda praised the spirit of the Blitz
• Bombed cities


  • London
  • Coventry
  • Swansea
  • Belfast
  • Glasgow
• London was bombed every night from 7 September to 2 November


  13,500 tons of high-explosive bombs were dropped in 57 raids
• Over 15,000 people were killed in London


  250,000 made homeless
• Important buildings such as St Paul's Cathedral, the House of Commons and Buckingham Palace were bombed in London
• The raids in London continued into 1941
• Coventry was raided for the first time on 14 November 1940


  Over 30,000 incendiary bombs were dropped that night
• In Coventry, 554 people were killed


  50,000 houses were destroyed
• Swansea was bombed on 19–21 February 1941


  230 people were killed and 397 injured
• The Belfast Blitz consisted of four attacks in April and May 1941


  Approximately 900 people died on Easter Tuesday
• In Belfast, 1,500 were injured and many houses were seriously damaged


  150,000 people were made homeless
• Glasgow's industrial areas were key targets of the German bombers
• Following the outbreak of war in September 1939, the lives of British civilians and soldiers were about to change dramatically