Figure 1.--While most of the children were evacuated, there were still many children in Britain all during the Blitz. The attitide of civiliand toward danger changed remaravly. Here a London boy hapily plays near an unexploded bomb. Notice the home made car. Does anyone know what the basket affair is on what I assume is a Royal Mail box. One reader has attempted to answer our question about the little basket on the side of the mail box. A reader writes, "This is, of course, WAY before my time and I suspect others will have a proper answer for you, but I see two options here. 1) it is a litter bin and 2) less likely, but it LOOKS visually more likely - that this is some kind of recepticle in which to put your mail? Maybe the boxes were sealed up for security or something? Doesn't make much sense to me though!"

The determination of the British to resist Hitler is often ascribed to the British character. This may have been a factor, but we believe that it was the Channel that stopped the Wehrmacht and preparations made by the British Government may have been even more important factor. The British people demonstrated that a prepared civilian population supported by an effective air force would not crack, even under prolonged bombardment--The Blitz Spirit. This would be a lesson that the British and Americans would take some time to learn over the skies of northern Europe. The British Government led by Neville Chamberlain at the onset of the War actually had questioned bombing war industries because it meant the destruction of private property. Bomber Command began operations by dropping leaflets. Few in Britain after the Blitz was asking these countries, perhaps some Church of England clerics. Rather than a population cowering and pleading for peace, Hitler created a civilian population willing to whatever sacrifices were needed for victory and a population supporting a Government prepared to wage war with the same ferocity that the NAZIs had demonstrated. The British after the fall of France was left with aerial bombardment as the only way to strike Germany. The bombing was seen as playing an important part in winning the War, but British civilians heavily supported the air war as a way of paying the Germans back. The Success of the British in preventing an invasion was another very important sector. Except for a few months after th fall of France, the Brutish people never had to worry about a German invasion while the Germans after 942, saw the Allies closing in ion them month after month. And as the war progressed, Britain got important allies, the Soviet Union and America. Here saving the BEF at Dunkirk helped maintain British morale. Also British tactics kept military casualties down. In World War II, British military causalities were less than half of World War I levels and German casualties were more than double. Civilian casualties were a small fraction of that of the Germans. Another factor was American Lend Lease. This was critical in maintaining a certain standard of living in Britain. the British diet was boring, but the British never went hungry. Also important was the level of destruction. The Luftwaffe did not have heavy bombers. This significantly limited the damage done, especially in the level of scarce military assets being expended. It would be a small fraction of the ordinance that would be dropped o the Reich.

British Character

The determination of the British to resist Hitler is often ascribed to the British character. The British character may have been a factor, but we believe that it was the Channel thath stopped the Wehrmacht and preparations made by the British Government may have been even more important factor. If the Germans had managed to cross the Channel and invaded Brattain, we are not sure that that the British would have behaved much differently than the other people Western European people invaded and conquered by the NAZIs. Of course this is impossible to know for sure as the British were not invaded and occupied, although what happened on the Channel Islands provides a clue.

The Blitz Spirit

The British people demonstrated that a prepared civilian population, energized by charismatic leader, supported by an effective air force would not crack, even under prolonged bombardment--The Blitz Spirit. This would be a lesson that the British and Americans would take some time to learn over the skies of northern Europe. We common hear of the 'Blitz Spirit' in World War II discussions. During the Blitz we see people sheltering in Tube station shelter with the boys playing and the younger children clutching their beloved teddies. And we see smashed window with signs that read 'open for business'. We see images of people who do not seemed cowed, even with their being smashed around them. The British displayed a sense of national unity and determination to resist despite the devastating Luftwaffe bombing attacks. The Blitz Spirit describes a stoic spirit of national spirit and resistance, the determination to make the best of situation no matter how bad it got keep calm and carry on It was a matter of triumph over adversity. Now of course that does not mean that all Brits exemplified the Blitz Spirit. But as best we can determine this fairy describes the overwhelming majority of the British people. There is today a desire among many left-wing woke thinkers to deny the enormous achievements of Western civilization and the role that America and Britain have played in world history. And the history of World War II is one such area of dispute. There are those who question whether the Blitz Spirit is a a true representation of the national mood during the war and call it a myth. One author complains that the "Peoples 'keep calm and carry on' spirit, the 'London can take it' vibe, the shop windows that read 'bombed but not defeated'. This type of patriotism and morale has been coined 'the Blitz spirit' and has become a popular phrase in film and articles. Some even use it as a general, every day term." 【Bent】

British Bombing

The British Government led by Neville Chamberlain at the onset of the War actually had questioned bombing war industries because it meant the destruction of private property. Bomber Command began operations by dropping leaflets. Few in Britain after the Blitz was asking these countries, perhaps some Church of England clerics. The British after the fall of France was left with aerial bombardment as the only way to strike Germany. The bombing was seen as playing an important part in winning the War, but British civilians heavily supported the air war as a way of paying the Germans back.

Desire for Revenge

Rather than a population cowering and pleading for peace, Hitler created a civilian population willing to whatever sacrifices were needed for victory and a population supporting a Government prepared to wage war with the same ferocity that the NAZIs had demonstrated.

War Situation

The success of the British in preventing an invasion was another very important factor. Here saving the BEF from Dunkirk and wining the Battle of Britain helped maintain British morale. And as the war progressed, Britain got important allies, the Soviet Union and America. Except for a few months after the fall of France, the British people never had to worry about a German invasion In contrast, the Germans after 1942, saw the Allies steadily if not speedily closing in on them month after month as well as sustaining much higher casualties. A lot of boys are interesred in maps. It must have been unsettling fior thmost ardent Huitker Yiouth boiy watching tghe battle field fromt klines miove ever closer to the Reiuch.

Casualties

Also British tactics kept military casualties down. In World War II, British military causalities were less than half of World War I levels and German casualties were more than double. Civilian casualties were a small fraction of that of the Germans. Which is not what you might expect given the growing lethality of weaponry, the German lead in battlefield tactics and weaponry, and the fact that Britain was heavily bombed.

Lend Lease

Another factor was American Lend Lease. This was critical in financing the British war effort. Without Lend Lease, the British could not have sustained a major war effort. Lend Lease also helped maintain a certain standard of living in Britain. Food was an important component if Lend Lease. the British diet was boring, but the British never went hungry.

Level of Destruction

Also important was the level of destruction. British cities were damaged, badly damaged in a few cases, but British cities were never reduced to piles of rubble. The Luftwaffe did not have heavy bombers. The Luftwaffe was designed as a ground support force. This significantly limited the damage done in stratetgic bombing. And it expended scarce military assets for operations of limited military value. The bombs dropped by the Luftwaffe would be a small fraction of the ordinance that would be used by the Allies to scourge the Reich.

Sources

Bent, Shannon. "The Blitz Spirit," Historic UK, (undated, retrieved 2024).

Created: 2:45 AM 10/4/2005
Last updated: 11:54 AM 6/15/2024