BY ELISe
This page will tell you facts that your teacher/parent has NEVER bothered to tell you. This was written by Elise and the Pictures were added by Leonie.
General Facts about the Blackout
Britain was blacked out on 1st September 1939, 2 days before the outbreak of the war. During the war everyone in Britain had to cover their windows and doors at night to decrease the bombing risk. They had to do it with paint, cardboard or heavy blackout curtains before sunset. People had to prevent any light from escaping and aiding enemy aircraft during their bombing raids. Also street lights were switched off or dimmed and shielded to deflect their light downwards. Traffic lights and vehicle headlights were dimmed and fitted with slotted covers to help deflect the light they make onto the floor. Thousands of people died in road accidents. The number of road accidents increased because of the lack of street lighting and the dimmed traffic lights. There were public shelters in most towns but many people built Anderson shelters in their gardens so they still had protection if they were unable to get to the public shelter. If ARP`s were in the street shaking a rattle it would mean get ready for an air raid.
Blitz
It was dangerous living in a big city during the war. Cities were the target of enemy aircraft that flew over at night and dropped bombs. At 4:56pm on 7th September 1940, The air raid sirens wailed as the German Air Force, the Luftwaffe, launched a massive raid on London in England. Over 350 bombers flew across the English channel from air fields in France and dropped 300 tonnes of bombs on the docks and streets of the East End of London. London was bombed every day and night, for 11 weeks. One third of London was destroyed. Nearly 2,000 people were killed or wounded during the first night of the Blitz.
It was dangerous living in a big city during the war. Cities were the target of enemy aircraft that flew over at night and dropped bombs. At 4:56pm on 7th September 1940, The air raid sirens wailed as the German Air Force, the Luftwaffe, launched a massive raid on London in England. Over 350 bombers flew across the English channel from air fields in France and dropped 300 tonnes of bombs on the docks and streets of the East End of London. London was bombed every day and night, for 11 weeks. One third of London was destroyed. Nearly 2,000 people were killed or wounded during the first night of the Blitz.
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