History-Civilians in World War II

Evacuation

Operation Pied Piper, evacuating millions of children and elderly to countryside to avoid bombings

Operation Sea Lion

German plan to invade the UK; in the end, it was never done

Blitz

German bombings of major cities, industrial zones and ports

Civilian involvment

Air wardens, nurses, munitionettes

Looting

Stealing from wreckages out of desperation or for personal gain

Black market

Trading of illicit goods controlled by rationing, such as fancy clothes, food, alcohol

Rationing

Controlled civilians’ daily intakes and amount of goods they could use for fairer distribution during wartime

Home front

CIvilian population supporting the front during wartime

Use of propaganda

To encourage the people to support the war effort, arouse fear and hatred of the enemy, ensure their safety (gas masks, shelters)

Commonwealth

Group of former British colonies with ties to the Crown

Examples of Commonwealth countries

Australia, Canada

Examples of British Colonies

Nigeria, India, Sierra Leone, Tanganyika, Trinidad and Tobago

Things provided to UK by colonies

Men, raw materials (textiles, rubber, metals), military equipment, food

Treatment of soldiers from colonies

Some racism but also feelings of friendship and togetherness

Motives to join army

Patriotism, fear of enemy, financial needs, desire for adventure

Total troops from British Empire

8,5 million

Example of raw material supplied

Rubber from Ceylon; iron ore from Sierra Leone

Example of clothing materials supplied

Cotton from Uganda; Wool from Basutoland

Examples of food supplied

Groundnuts from Gambia

French Occupation

Occupation 1940-1944

Pearl Harbor attacks

December 7 1941

D Day

June 6 1944

V-J Day

August 15 1945

V-E Day (fall of Germany)

May 8 1945

Battle of Midway

Jun 1942

Battle of Stalingrad

Stalingrad 1942-1943