The Phoney War
1938 - and the Munich Crisis. Germany invades Czechoslovakia and
Britain introduces conscription. Trenches are dug and sandbags appear
throughout London.
Poland is invaded and Britain declares war, London evacuates its
children and the British Expeditionary Force embarks for France.
Although British shipping is being sunk, this is the ‘Phoney War’.
Blackout is introduced and road accidents double, Churchill replaces
Chamberlain. The BEF is routed in France and the miracle of Dunkirk
occurs. DeGaulle flies to London as Paris falls.
The Battle Of Britain
June 1940 and Western Europe is under German domination.
German bombers shell Channel convoys and the RAF is drawn into
battle. The British public contribute saucepans and scrap metal to build
aeroplanes. The Local Defence Volunteer Force (Home Guard) numbers 1.5m
men but only 70,000 rifles.
As Italy enters the War, Americans predict that British defeat is
inevitable. Heavy losses are sustained as Germans bomb aircraft
factories. Air raid shelters become part of everyday life as 1000-bomber
raids over London become a nightly event.
The Blitz
The final phase of the Battle of Britain takes place as the Blitz
continues. One Londoner in every six is made homeless, but Hitler fails
to gain air supremacy and the invasion is cancelled. Despite the
pounding of London, morale remains high among its people.
The Luftwaffe broadens its targets with attacks on major ports and
appallingly destructive raids on Coventry. Atlantic convoys suffer as
U-Boat packs exact a heavy toll. Over 40,000 are killed in the Blitz and
200,000 made homeless.
The Turning Tide & The Final Chapter
The shared suffering has created a new comradeship and determination
- ‘London can take it’ the Americans are told. However, one military
disaster follows another as Rommel triumphs in North Africa.
Britain suffers acute shortages as three merchant ships are sunk in a
day. Food rationing is introduced and America begins ‘Lend-Lease.’
Women contribute as never before, working in Industry, Women’s Services
and civil defence. By 1943, some 7.5 million women are in paid
employment, 50,000 in engineering and 20,000 on the land.
Hitler suffers crushing defeat in Russia although costs to the
Soviets are enormous. 3m fighting men are stationed in the UK poised for
the invasion of Europe. D-Day is the 6th of June, and within days of
the landing over 3m allied soldiers are fighting on French soil.
The French Resistance fights street battles in Paris as the allies
approach. V1 and V2 bombs pose a new threat to London, but by April
Berlin is surrounded and Hitler commits suicide. Germany is defeated,
but war against Japan will continue for a further 3 months.
