WhatWhat is an air raid? WhereWhere did they happen? HowHow did
people protect themselves? WhatWhat did the government do?
Slide 4
What is an air raid? BACK Each night, signal planes dropped
incendiary bombs (or fire bombs) designed as signals for the bomber
planes. After the incendiary bombs, came the high explosives. Air
raids occurred throughout the war. An air raid was a bombing strike
from the air. The British air force (the RAF) and German air force
(called the Luftwaffe) were involved, and both countries suffered
heavy casualties during the air raids. The sustained bombing of
Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941 is
known as the Blitz. Blitz is a shortened term for the German word
Blitzkrieg or Lightning War
Slide 5
Where did they happen? BACK Some residential areas were struck,
but mostly bombers targeted places that were important to the war
effort, like military sites, factories, airports and ship yards.
The first German air attack took place in London on the evening of
7 September 1940. Within months, Liverpool, Birmingham, Coventry,
Glasgow and other cities were hit too. When the Blitz started,
London was bombed for 57 consecutive nights. By the end of May
1941, over 43,000 civilians, half of them in London, had been
killed by bombing and more than a million houses destroyed or
damaged in London alone.
Slide 6
What did the government do? BACK
Slide 7
The BLACKOUT! Everyone had to cover their windows. and doors at
night (before sunset) with heavy. blackout curtains, cardboard or
paint, to prevent any.. glimmer of light from escaping and aiding
enemy aircraft during the bombing raids. Britain was blacked out on
1st September 1939. Thousands of people were injured or died in
road accidents because of the lack of lighting. White stripes were
painted on the roads and on lamp-posts. Men were even advised to
leave their shirt-tails hanging out to be seen by cars! Street
lights were turned off or dimmed. Traffic lights and vehicle
headlights were fitted with slotted covers to deflect the beam down
to the ground. BACK
Slide 8
How did people protect themselves? BACK When the Luftwaffe
approached, local Air Raid Wardens arranged for the sounding of
sirens. People were now expected to immediately take cover before
the raid actually started. Another siren was played to announce
that it was safe to leave the air raid shelters.
Slide 9
Gas Masks To warn people of a gas attack, the air raid wardens
would sound the gas rattle. To sound all-clear they would ring a
bell. Everyone in Britain was given a gas mask in a cardboard box,
to protect them from gas bombs, which could be dropped during air
raids. 38 million gas masks were given out by September 1939. They
were never to be needed. There were several different kinds of gas
mask. Children were given masks which resembled Mickey Mouse to
comfort them. There were even gas masks for babies.
Slide 10
Slide 11
Seeking Shelter As soon as war was declared, every family. with
a garden received an air raid shelter. (Called an Anderson
Shelter). They were. damp, uncomfortable, and were often.
overcrowded. Families could also choose an indoor shelter, called a
Morrison Shelter. Many schools also had bomb shelters - but
schoolwork didnt have to stop! In the winter of 1940, many
Londoners slept in the underground rail stations. Why do you think
people might prefer a Morrison Shelter? Which shelter do you think
seems safer? Why do you think they did this?
Slide 12
Slide 13
What do you think?
Slide 14
What happened in Germany? In Germany the bombing was equally as
damaging. Incendiary bombs caused great destruction, causing
firestorms. Hamburg was one such place that suffered a firestorm in
1943 as did Dresden in February 1945. 61 German cities were
attacked during the war: 3.6 million homes were destroyed 7.5
million people became homeless