The Impact of the World Wars on Migration to Britain

Prior Learning Task

  • Examine propaganda posters to understand the British government's aims and the techniques employed.
  • Consider how these posters attempt to influence the audience's feelings.
  • Analyze the connection between the posters and migration.

Title

  • What impact did the World Wars have on migration to Britain?
  • Date: Saturday, June 21, 2025

Learning Objective

  • To examine the impact the World Wars had on migration to Britain.

Challenge Task

  • Linking to the use of media- what are positive and negatives we can infer about views toward migrants?

Success Criteria

  • Gold: To analyze which world war had the biggest impact on migration.
  • Silver: To compare reasons for migration across various time periods.
  • Bronze: To examine the different groups that migrated to Britain due to the world wars.

Activity 1 Task

  • Read through the information.
    1. How did World War One affect migration to Britain? (You can bullet point the groups)
    2. How did World War Two affect migration to Britain? (You can bullet point the groups)
    3. What was the Kindertransport?
    4. How did migration change after World War Two?
    5. What was the significance of the 1948 British Nationality Act?
    6. What was the Windrush Generation and why did they come to Britain?
  • Support Idea: Challenge Task: What impact did the 1948 British Nationality Act have on migration to Britain?

Answers to Activity 1

  1. How did World War One affect migration to Britain?
    • Many migrants came as soldiers (e.g., India sent 1 million).
    • Sailors from India, Africa, and China worked on Royal Navy ships.
    • Refugees, such as 250,000 Belgians, fled their country after the German invasion.
  2. How did World War Two affect migration to Britain?
    • Similar reasons to WW1, but some also fled to escape persecution.
    • 2.5 million Indian soldiers.
    • Chinese migrants worked in the navy.
    • 160,000 Poles fled Poland.
    • Empire workers from the Caribbean and Africa.
    • Jewish migrants fled the Holocaust.
  3. What was the Kindertransport?
    • The organised evacuation of Jewish children from Europe.
    • 60,000 children came to Britain.
  4. How did migration change after World War Two?
    • Many migrants came to help rebuild Britain.
    • Others came to escape the creation of Communist governments across Eastern Europe, e.g., 130,000 Poles and 14,000 Hungarians after 1956.
  5. What was the significance of the 1948 British Nationality Act?
    • Gave citizenship and a passport to anyone from the Commonwealth (Empire) who came to Britain to help it rebuild.
    • This helped encourage a lot more migration.
  6. What was the Windrush Generation and why did they come to Britain?
    • Primarily came because of the promises of the British Nationality Act, which would give them citizenship.
    • They sought higher-paying jobs and a good standard of living compared to their country of origin.

Activity 2 Task

  • Challenge Task:
    • Gold: To analyse which world war had the biggest impact on migration.
    • Silver: To compare reasons for migration across various time periods.
    • Bronze: To examine the different groups that migrated to Britain due to the world wars.
  • Read back through your answers. With several highlighters and a key, show which groups migrated for:
    1. Seeking work
    2. Escaping prejudice and displacement (refugees)
    3. Due to the British Empire
  • Some groups may fit into multiple categories.

Migration Groups and Reasons

  • World War One
    • 1914: 250,000 Belgians fled to Britain after the invasion by Germany.
    • Three million Empire soldiers fought for Britain in WW1; 1 million from India.
    • Many Chinese also worked in the Navy.
  • World War Two
    • Caribbean, African, Chinese, and Colonial Migrants working on the Home Front.
    • 800,000 British children were evacuated from British cities due to the Blitz in WW2.
    • Eight million Empire soldiers fought for Britain in WW2; 2.5 million from India.
    • Many Chinese and Indian Lascars worked in the Navy.
    • During WW2, around 160,000 Poles fled to Britain.
    • 10,000 Jewish children were evacuated (Kindertransport) to Britain from Europe.
    • 1930s: 60,000 Jews fled to Britain from Germany.
  • After World War Two
    • 130,000 Eastern Europeans (especially Poles) fleeing Communism came to Britain to help rebuild.
    • Windrush Generation (1947-60) arrived in Britain looking for work and to rebuild Britain.
    • 14,000 Hungarians fled after the failed uprising against Communism in Hungary in 1956.
  • Key - Reasons for Migration
    • Seeking Work
    • Escaping Prejudice or displacements (Refugees)
    • Due to the British Empire

The Kindertransport & Sir Nicholas Winton

  • The Kindertransport scheme brought Jewish children from Europe to Britain to escape Nazi persecution.
  • Organised by 28-year-old Nicholas Winton.
  • In total, 669 children were saved due to his work to get them out of Nazi-occupied Europe.

Plenary Task

  • Using your work from the previous task, answer the following question using PEEL:
    • Which event had the biggest impact on migration to Britain, World War One or World War Two?
    • Explain your answer.
  • Challenge Task: Can you include at least two pieces of evidence?
  • Support: Think about the aftermath and the knock-on effect your chosen event had on migration.