Figure 1.--Here we see how an Anderson Shelter saved a family in Leeds duting the Blitz we think in September or October 1940. The family is emerging from an Anderson shelter where their hime has been obliterated by a Luftwaffe bomb. Not all families could make it to the public communal shelters or prefered their cozy home sheters. The Anderson shelters saved countless lives. "God bless our Abndrson shelter," was a phrase on many survivor lips.

After the fall of France (June 1940), there were two types of bomb sheltetrs employed to protect civilians. The best known are public communal sheters. Different structures were used. Unlike Germany, the Bruitish did not build large, puropose desined public shelters. But aange of exusting strutures were repiroosed. This large building cellars, underpasses, caves, old fortifications, and ultinmately subway tunnels. The British adapted London Underground stations as shelters. This was innitally ruled out, but with the Blitz the pubkic demanded that they the tube stations be opened and flooded in to them. The British also built street communal shelters. The other type of shelters were home shelters. Many used cellers/basements. There were two purpose-built home shelters, Anderson and Morrison shelters. Gherse appeared just before the War as the danger of another grew. And were distributed in large numbers in London and other major cities targeted by the Germans.

Communal Shelters

After the fall of France (June 1940), there were two types of bomb sheltetrs employed to protect civilians. The best known are public communal sheters. Different structures were used. Unlike Germany, the Bruitish did not build largev, puropose desined public shelters. But aange of exusting strutures were repiroosed. This large building cellars, underpasses, caves, old fortifications, and ultinmately subway tunnels. The British adapted London Underground stations as shelters. This was innitally ruled out, but with the Blitz the pubkic demanded that they the tube stations be opened and flooded in to them as the Blitz unfolded. The British also built street communal shelters. When the Germans started bombing London, many left their homes in the evening and and took shelter in warehouse basements or substantial buildings like churches.

Substantial buildings

Fortifications

Caves and tunnels

Underground Tube stations

London did not have purpose made bomb shelters and options for the general public were limited. Thus went the Blitz on London began, people in the East End and other areas of central London sought shelter in the Tube Underground stations. The Government had not plasnned on this and ast at first discouraged it. There was concern that the poor of the East End would flock to the Tube stations and live like Troglodytes. Authorities were also worried that the stations would be unsanitary. They were not equipped with toilet facilities. Other officisls were concerned that the people woukd stay permanently out of fear. But even strong buildings and Anderson shelters could not withstand a direct hit. Thus people sought security in the Tube stations even when officials tried to keep them out, but eventually relented. People in the stations had no beds and very primitive conditions with no privacy and poor sanitation facilities. The Tube stations, however, provided a level of security not offerd by home strong points, Anderson shelters, or unreinforced buildings. Each night underground stations played host to thousands of families in London grateful for the protection they afforded. The Government and the individuals involved began preparing the stations for the long nightly ordeals. Makeshift beds were set up. The branch line of the Piccadilly Line from Holborn to Aldwych was closed as a tube line temporarily (September 1940). Authorities insdtalled toilets, bunks, canteens and chairs were fitted. Shelter marshals were appointed to organize each station. Eventually 79 stations were adapted as air raid shelters, including setting up 50,000 bunks. The Tune stations were very efficte air raid shekters because they were deep and well constructee. Even the tube statiions, hoiwever, were noy impervious to German bombs. There were scattered incidents where German bombs fell directly on Tube stations causing casulsties, The worst such incident was at Bethnal Green (March 1943). A bomb caused a cave in which killed 174 people. By this time, German air raids were rare. During thev height of the Blitz there would have been more people seeeking shelter.

Local street shelters

The Government began opening public shelters at sites along major public streets in the cities. They often were parislly underground. Once the War began, authorities began chairs and tables. When the Luftwaffe turned to night bombing, bunks were added. Tunnels and caves were also used. Here authorities took advantage of a variety of existing structures. A variety of tunnels were used. Tunnels such as the existing Victoria Tunnels in Newcastle made useful shelters. Some tunnels were purpose built as air raid tunnels in Stockport. Natural cave systems were also used. The Chislehurst Caves southeast of London were used by civilans.

Home Shelters

The other type of shelters were home shelters. The British gave more attention in home shelters than any other ciountry, esopecially the Germans. This was because far more Gernmans lived in large apartmet blocks than the Briuish. Many home owners or renters sought sheklter in cellers/basements. Some were strengthemed, but this required knowlege and materials. Another alterantive was to determine what the hime string points were. Many people sought shelter in cellars or cupboards under the stairs. Those with carpentry skills reinforced these spots to create home bomb shelters. Wood beams were often added to brace the areas and some civilians managed to get hold of steel pannels and beams. Such materials wer hard to get in war-time Britain because they involvd naterial needed by the fighting forces. London was a large city. People in the suburbs lived at some distance from Tube statiions or other public shelters. Thus there was a need for family home shelters. These appeared just before the War as the danger of another grew. And were distributed in large numbers in London and other major cities targeted by the Germans. The British developed two types of home shelters, the Anderson Shelter and the Morrison Shelter. The Anderson sheklters were corugatedv sheetmetal arrangenmebnts that could be built outsude in back garden and covered with earth. The Moorison shelters were set uo inside the home and provided shelter in case a home was damaged or actially collpased.

Home strong points

The other type of shelters were home shelters. The British gave more attention in home shelters than any other ciountry, esopecially the Germans. This was because far more Gernmans lived in large apartmet blocks than the Briuish. Many home owners or renters sought sheklter in cellers/basements. Some were strengthemed, but this required knowlege and materials. Another alterantive was to determine what the hime string points were. Many people sought shelter in cellars or cupboards under the stairs. Those with carpentry skills reinforced these spots to create home bomb shelters. Wood beams were often added to brace the areas and some civilians managed to get hold of steel pannels and beams. Such materials wer hard to get in war-time Britain because they involvd naterial needed by the fighting forces.

Anderson shelters

The most common of the back garden shelters were Anderson shelters. They were introduced just before the War (1938). They were constructed with steel panels. They were relatively small (6 feet high, 4� feet wide, and 6� feet long). The height was from the base of the sheltwer which was set below ground. This was just enough to accomodate a small family. The Government made the materials available at low cost, depending on income. They were free for a family making less than �250 a year. Other paid �7. The family assembled the shelters in back gardens (backyards). The families then kitted out the inside with bunks, bedding, and other acoutaments. British families built 2.3 million Anderson Shelters. To be effective the family needed a back garden that permitted the shelter being built some distnce from the house so if the building colapsed it would not fall on the shelter.

Morrison shelters

Some people did not have a back garden or a large enough one for an Anderson shelter. The Morrison Shelter was designed as an indoor shelter. It was a kit that was bolted together. It was 6� feet long, 4 feet wide, and 2� feet high. The Morrison shelter was designed to be built under a table, usually in a kitchen or living room. The goal wa to protect a family if their house collaspsed around them. The British built about 0.5 million Morrison shlters before and during the Blitz (end of 1941). When the V-weapon attacks began (June 1944), the British (mostly Londoners) built another 0.1 million Morrison shelters. They proved fairly effective. Serious injuries were usually the result of poor assesmbly or a direct bomb hit.

Created: 11:06 AM 4/25/2023
Last updated: 11:06 AM 4/25/2023