Figure 1.--Many British chiidren were ecacuated to the countryside whn the Germans invaded Poland and the War began (seotember 1939). Therewere akso private boarding schools in cointrysde. The chikldrena at these schools were safe. The Germans were focused on the cities where Hitler and Luftwaffe Chief Göering belived that the British population could be terrorized into surrendering. The press caption here read, "See Them Run: As though in playm girls race over the green toward an air raid shekters as an alarm sounds. 'Alertrs' are comparitvely infrequent in this quiet, rural region, but the youngsters are instantly responsive." Axtually this does nit look like a rural area, more of a suburban area. A major problem the Germans was thatbLondin and other British cities were not ascdensly pioulated as Geran cuties. Lobdon in particular expanded out into the countryside. This meant taht the Germans has to exoended valuable military resources to attack areas where bomb damage was often limited to a single home and where families were in public or home shelters. The medium bomvers tge Gernans ere used carried small bimns and limuted bom loads. The Gernans would learn, wars were not won by desroying houses. The photograph is dated Novenber 8, 1940. By this time losses to the RAF had forced the Ligfrwaffe to shift to nught rime raids.

Britain had been bombed by the Germans in World War I. The Govrnment was convinced this would occur again. Thus the Government decided to evacuate chikdren with the permission of their parents. This was done after the German invasion of Poland (September 1939). There was a carefully prepared opperation as the Government made efforts to convince Hitler to change his mind. Thus during much of the War there were children evacuated to the countryside and children still in the cities. The children were all carefully drilled how to use their gas masks and became very adept at it. Even before Britain actually declared war the children were also drilled on how to to react when the air raid sireen went off. The children took it all very seriously even before the actual bombing began. At the onset of the War British authorities believed that the NAZIs would use poison gas on civilians. When children travelled about they had to carry their gas-mask. Gas attacks did not occur. Bombing did not begin until after the fall of France (May 1940). The Luftwaffe on Hitler's order began bombing London (September 1940). Attacks soon spread to other cities. The children had to go into safe araea when the air raid warning was sounded. Schools did not have actual shelters. This was primarily the cities. But every school no matter how rural has air raid drills and preptations for possible raids. Raids could happen happen at any time of day or night whether the children were at home, at school or in town (1940-41). This must have been a fearful time to be out and about. At such time children could be made orphan have their friends or bothers or sisters killed in the bombings. After the climatic air battles over London (September 1940), the Germans turned primarily to night raids which meant the children were fairly safe at school. And then with Narbarossa the Kiftwaffe was noved east. Even so they were well drilled. Danger surfaced again after D-Day when the Germans began hammering Britain again, primarily London with V-1 buzz bombs (June 1944). Finally V-2s balistiv missles began hitting Britain. Again London was the primary target. Here there was no advaned warning.

Created: 10:58 PM 5/22/2020
Last updated: 10:58 PM 5/22/2020