Blitz Flashcards
(32 cards)
Why was London targeted during the Blitz?
It had the greatest concentration of people. This meant it would have the biggest effect on morale and the most amount of casulties.
There were 54,000 casulties during the Blitz.
It was also the industrial centre and the docklands had the most imports. Britains sea bourne trade had risen from 29% to 38%.
Between 1909 and 1939 …
Britain went from 40million tons of imports to 60million tons per year.
First bomb dropped 1940.
The first bomb was dropped in 1940 on London. It was meant to be dropped on a military target but the plane flew off target. This caused a 5 year war of attricion.
Black Saturday
September 7th 1940.
Advantages of Blitz
Focus was taken off Military sites. This allowed airfeilds to be rebuilt, and it allowed squadrons to regroup and resume operations.
How did the British prepare for the Blitz?
There were 1.5 million ARP wardens. They manned air raids. They also put up barrage ballons to stop low flying German aircraft.
They put sandbags around buildings to protect them from bombs.
Blitz shelters
Anderson Shelter
Morrision Shelter
Trenches
Basements
Public Shelters
The Underground.
Anderson Shelter disadvantage.
As they were half underground they often flooded.
Gas Masks
167,000 were given out on day 1 and 19 fitting stations were created.
70% of people carried them in September 1939 but only 1% of people carried them by March 1940.
Were Brick Shelters sucesseful?
No because there was limited cement at the time most did not have cement. This means that they were on the verge of collapsing most of the time. When a bomb therefore landed nearby they collapsed.
Were basements useful?
They provided good protection however the public ones got crowded really quickly.
LDF
Local defence force. 250,000 were recruited on the first day and they manned the AA guns during the raids. Over 1,000 of them were killed during raids. They also cleaned the damage of the raids.
Second Great fire of London
more than 24,000 high explosive bombs and 100,000 incendry bombs were dropped on the 29th December 1940. 29 incendries fell on St pauls and 200members of St pauls watch helped to keep it being destroyed.
MO
Mass observation reports. 500 volunteers kept a record of every day life. This was a good insight into the Blitz as they were uncensored.
1st-3rd September 1939
1.5 million people were evacuated and 800,000 were children.
Black Saturday features
430 killed
1600 injured
250 canisters of 440brandenbommes were dropped
South Hallsville Disaster
400 were presumed dead yet 77 were confirmed dead. People felt that the government did not care about the poorer East-Enders.
Bethnal Green
173 people were killed. People rushed to the shelter as AA guns were being fired but they thought they were under attack. A woman and baby fell down the stairs causing the crush.
Homes destroyed in Second Blitz.
1/6 Londerners were made homeless.
1.1million homes were damaged or destroyed.
Operation Sealion
Hitler wanted to invade the UK by landing troops on the south coast of England.
Operation Pied Piper
800,000 Children were Evacuated from London.
Incendiary Bombs
Caused 90% of damage during the Blitz.
Parachute mine
1000kg. Could destroy a whole block of houses and could be caught hanging on a building.
Brandbomme
Weighed 1kg and broke through roofs. Were incendiarys. Were given a 7min delay as people became good at putting them out.
