Upload
israel
View
37
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Conflict In Europe. KEY CONCEPT – Impact of WWII on Civilians – Britain. Introduction. Effects of World War II on the home fronts of Britain were numerous and diverse B rought about many changes in: * T he civilian ’ s social culture * Economic (wealth) distribution - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Citation preview
Conflict In Europe
Effects of World War II on the home fronts of Britain were numerous and diverse
Brought about many changes in:* The civilian’s social culture* Economic (wealth)
distribution* Attitudes to war
Effect of war left changes that have remained today, such as:
* The independence of women* Racial tolerance in our
society
Somewhat less rapturous than it had been during WWI
Britain’s Prime Minister Chamberlain - “peace in our time” -> public was so certain of it
When the War was finally declared, the response was unenthusiastic
“There was a sense of relief and the illusions of appeasement were at last over” - Ken Webb
Britain had an excess of 875,000 men, both conscripted and voluntary.
Took on jobs - deemed too “macho” for them to undertake
The formation of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (RAAF)
and the Women’s Royal Naval Service
Women never took combat roles in Britain
Some worked as intelligence agents in the Special Operations Executive, a branch specialising in:
* Decoders* Spies* Assassins
RESULT: * Seen increasingly as capable compared to their male counterparts
* Improved the lives of women
The biggest movements in Britain.
Evacuation program - devised to divide the country into neutral, evacuation and reception areas.
Over 3 million children, mothers,
hospital patients and handicapped people from congested areas would be moved via public transport to less populated areas around the coast
Relocation program also brought with it many social surprises
Many of the children came from
slum conditions quite unknown to country people
War helped to break down ancient
social barriers.
“The most important subject in the
social history of the war, because it revealed to the whole people the black spots of social life”
Concept of Total War - “traditional distinction between men setting off to the front while civilians stayed behind the range of death disappeared” - P. Calvocoressi
Bomber - weapon that turned
civilians into combatants
Frequent Blitzkrieg attacks - many
families purchased bomb shelters
Homeless posed a problem greater than the dead Survival in a total war created momentary breakdown of class barriers The war also gave rise to expectations of British social reform
Factories became more focused on war production
The first few items to be rationed were
essential foodstuffs such as: * Milk* Butter* Sugar* Ham/bacon
Other products also added to the list were:
* Eggs* Fish* Sweets* Preserves* Cheese
Other food products such as chocolate and whipped cream became almost unheard of
British ministry released hundreds of thousands of rationing booklets Shortage of materials also brought new fashion styles > Young women now
dared to wear trousers; overall
Employment of more labourers in the workforce significantly reduced the number of unemployment
With the added bonuses of higher wages, workers found
themselves with higher purchasing power and this prompted the government to impose higher taxes.
Money and tax problems certainly took second place
when each night brought the physical fear of bombs, and each day the struggle of food shortages.
Poverty - became a national problem as even the rich
became poor
Poorest classes > benefit most from domestic aid RESULTS:
* Improved the economic distribution
Effects of war has led to many changes in the cultures
Direct consequence of the war was
the short term effects of suffering and death on British home front
War became a revelation for the
social ills that plagued Britain long before, such as health, disease and poverty
The war also brought long-term
effects which helped to improve Britain both economically and socially.