The Second World War

At the start of the second world war to many children lived in big cities and towns they were moved temporally from their homes to places safer. Everyone in Briton was given a gas mask in a cardboard box to protect them from gas bombs witch could be dropped during air raids. Many gas had been a great deal in the first war. Many soldiers had died or been injured in gas attacks. There was a fear that this time it would be used against ordinary people at home. The gas masks were made of rubber they was really hot and smelly it was difficult to breath when wearing gas masks

Air raid shelters

People needed to protect themselves from the bombs being dropped by German air craft

What are Anderson shelters?

These shelters were buried in the ground with earth heeded on top to protect them from  bomb blasts  they were made from six corrugated iron sheets bolted together at the top with steel plates at either end and measured 6ft 6in by 4ft 6in 1.95 by 1.35m. The entrance was protected by steel shield and an earthen blast wall. By September 1939 half a million shelters had been put up in gardens.

What were Anderson shelters like?

The Anderson shelters were dark and damp and people were relict to use them at nigh in low areas they tended to flood and sleeping at night was difficult as they could hear the noise

How much did they cost?

Anderson shelters were  given free to poor people. Men who earned more than 5 pounds a week could buy one for 7 pounds.

Why was evacuation introduced by the government?

The British government was worried that a new war might begin when Hitler came to power in 1933.They were afraid that British cities and towns would be targets for bombing.

Who was evacuated?

School children/their teachers/mothers with children under 5/pregnant women/and some disabled people.