The Blitz
The Blitz was the name given to the heavy bombing of Britain by the Luftwaffe (the German air force) between 1940 and 1941.
The British government tried to keep people safe by introducing new laws and building air raid shelters.
The fear of bombing also led to the evacuation (moving people away from somewhere dangerous to a safer area) of thousands of children to the countryside.
The Blitz changed the daily lives of everybody but also brought the community together.
Important words
Important words on the Blitz and why people were evacuated.
| Keyword | Definition |
|---|---|
| Blitz | The name given to the heavy bombing of Britain. |
| Blitz spirit | A collective feeling of being brave, strong and helpful when things were difficult during the Blitz. |
| Evacuation | The movement of people away from a dangerous area to a safer area. |
| Host family | Families who looked after evacuee children from industrial cities. |
| Industrial areas | An area of land were factories and businesses are built. |
| Luftwaffe | The German air force. |
| Port | A place where ships can pick up or drop off different items. |
| RAF | The British Royal Air Force. |
What was the Blitz?
The Blitz was the name given to heavy bombing attacks across Britain.
It lasted from September 1940 until May 1941 when the Luftwaffe (German air force) attacked cities, ports (a place where ships can pick up or drop off different items) and industrial areas (an area of land were factories and businesses are built) in Britain.
It began after the end of the Battle of Britain when the Luftwaffe changed its target from trying to destroy the Royal Air Force (RAF) to bombing London.
On the first night of the Blitz in London, the attack killed 430 people and injured 1600 people. This night became known as 'Black Saturday'.
Many other cities in Britain were also attacked, such as Cardiff, Birmingham, Liverpool and Coventry.
How did people stay safe in the Blitz?
Protecting the people of Britain and keeping morale (people’s happiness) high was very important for the British government.
Air raid sirens were used to warn people that a nighttime bombing raid was going to happen.
Many people worked as messengers, ambulance drivers, rescue teams or firefighters to help people when the nighttime bombing raids happened.
From 1st September 1940, the government introduced a new law called the ‘Blackout’. People had to use curtains, cardboard or paint to cover their windows to stop any light escaping to stop enemy bombers from seeing anything.
What were air raid shelters?
In March 1940, the Government started to build communal air raid shelters where people could gather when the air raid siren sounded. Many people and communities used these shelters throughout the Blitz.
Some shelters were built above ground using house bricks and a concrete roof.
In London, the underground train stations were used as large shelters for the public.
Families would often spend the entire night underground with their friends and neighbours for protection, singing songs, playing games and talking to each other. This became known as the ‘Blitz Spirit’
What other types of shelters could people use?
Click to reveal the different kinds of shelters people used to stay safe in The Blitz.
Anderson shelters
Anderson shelters were small shelters that people could build in their gardens.
They had curved roofs and were partially buried and covered with earth.
This shelter helped keep people safe who couldn’t get to a communal air raid shelter.
By the start of the Second World War, 1.5 million Anderson shelters were sold and built.
Morrison shelters
Morrison shelters were rectangular cages that could be placed inside the home.
Some people used them as a dining table during the day.
When the air raid siren sounded, people would climb inside them.
These were useful for people who had no space in their garden for an Anderson Shelter.
By the end of 1941, half a million had been distributed.
What was evacuation?
Evacuation was a plan to move people to safety from places likely to be bombed during the war, such as industrial cities. Children, pregnant women and other vulnerable people were evacuated away to the countryside. This was called ‘Operation Pied Piper’ and began in September 1939.
Children needed to pack essentials their clothes, gas mask, identity card and ration book. They were then placed on trains to be taken to their host families (families who looked after evacuee children from industrial cities) in the countryside.
When industrial cities, such as Manchester and London, did not experience any bombing straight away, many evacuees returned home. By September 1940, when the Blitz started, the evacuation of children began again.
Think like a historian
Have a look at the thinking points below and think about your answer to each question. You could even write them down on a piece of paper or discuss them with somebody else if you want to.
The Blitz brought many people together but also caused some people to steal from bombed buildings. Why do you think it is important to know about these events when learning about the Blitz?
The Blitz created many challenges for Britain and affected everything people did. What do you think changed the most or stayed the same for the people of Britain?
Evacuated children had many different experiences. Why do you think the government only showed the positive experiences in their propaganda messages to the public?
Did you think it is important to learn about these events because it helps to give a balanced interpretation of the past. It shows that the raids brought out the best in people, but it also encouraged some people to make the wrong choices. Maybe you thought it is important to learn about the events because it helps to understand how big a challenge it was to keep Britain safe during the Blitz. The Civil Defence responded to the Blitz and police had to respond to thefts.
Did you think that the biggest change was where families spent the night. Many stayed in communal air raid shelters, Anderson or Morrison Shelters. They would also have to get used to new rules like the blackout. Perhaps you thought that one important thing which stayed the same was the strength of the community, as neighbours relied on each other and offered help showing the ‘Blitz Spirit’.
Did you think that the government may have wanted to encourage parents to send their children to the countryside where it would be safer. Perhaps you thought that the government did not want to lower morale (happiness) and feared parents may bring their children back home to the cities if they heard negative stories.
Activities
Activity: Quiz
Grown-ups corner
Are you a parent, carer or teacher?
Take a look at some of the links below on KS2 History which are packed full of knowledge, videos, quizzes and activities.
KS2 History: The Blitz
BBC Bitesize for Teachers
KS2 History: An evacuee's adventure
BBC Bitesize for Teachers
Primary History KS2: WW2 Clips. Interviews with evacuated children
BBC Bitesize for Teachers
Horrible Histories: Raid and Trade game! game
Play Horrible Histories: Raid and Trade KS2 History
More on World War Two
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