Unit 5 - Wartime Britain (History)

Votes for Women

• At the beginning of the 20th century, few women had voting rights or were treated as equals.
• By 1911, 600,000 women worked in UK textile industries.
• Early feminists campaigned for educational and property rights.
• In 1864, 12 secondary schools for girls were established in Britain.
• In 1878, the University of London began awarding degrees to women.
• In 1882, married British women gained the right to own property.
• In 1893, New Zealand became the first country to grant women voting rights.
• The National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) was formed in 1897.
• The NUWSS, known as the Suffragists, advocated for peaceful protests, logical arguments, petitions, and political negotiations.
• The NUWSS grew to over 100,000 members by 1914 but their bills did not pass Parliament.
• In 1903, Emmeline Pankhurst split from the NUWSS and formed the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU).
• The WSPU, known as the Suffragettes, used public demonstrations, rallies, and publicity stunts.
• The WSPU gained attention through chaining members to buildings, smashing windows, and setting fire to empty buildings.
• In 1908, approximately 30,000 women marched through Hyde Park.
• Una Dugdale caused controversy in 1912 by refusing to say she would "obey" her husband in her wedding vows.

The Suffragettes

• Some women believed that men would not share power willingly, requiring more direct methods.
• In 1903, Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters formed the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU).
• The WSPU, nicknamed the Suffragettes, published a newspaper and held rallies across the country.
• A 1908 WSPU rally in Hyde Park drew 30,000 women and 500,000 spectators.
• Sophia Duleep Singh, an exiled Sikh princess, financially supported the WSPU movement and called for suffrage in British colonies.
• The WSPU used bold tactics including disrupting political meetings, smashing windows, bombing mailboxes, and setting fire to empty buildings.
• Despite alienating some supporters, the WSPU had 5,000 members.
• Over 1,000 women were imprisoned for participating in suffragette campaigns.
• Many imprisoned suffragettes went on hunger strikes to draw attention to their cause.
• Prison wardens responded with force-feeding, a practice known as the "Cat and Mouse Act."
• In 1913, Emily Davison was killed at the Epsom Derby after attempting to attach a banner to the king's horse.
• The outbreak of the First World War put suffrage campaigns on hold.

The Home Front, 1914-18

• The Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) passed in 1914, implementing a "total war" policy.
• DORA mobilized British society to expand industrial output and produce weaponry.
• Reduced supplies caused panic-buying and food hoarding which led to rationing.
• The NUWSS and WSPU paused political protests to support the government.
• Women encouraged male enlistment and took on traditionally male jobs.
• Women volunteered overseas as ambulance drivers and nurses, exceeding 2 million.
• Women replaced men on the Home Front in factories, farms, docks, and transportation.
• By 1918, women made up 90% of munitions workers, 4,000 police officers, 117,000 transport workers, and 260,000 farm laborers.
• Factory work was grueling with toxic fumes, 12-hour shifts, and one day off per fortnight.
• Women were paid less than men due to laws in place at the time.
• The ratio of women in employment rose from 24% in 1914 to 37% in 1918.
• Britain's defenses were focused on the navy and coastline, leaving it unprepared for air raids.
• Zeppelin airships silently drifted over Britain and conducted surprise bombing attacks at night.
• Britain experienced its first air attack in January 1915 with 52 more raids.
• In May 1917, the Gotha bi-plane bomber was introduced, carrying 13 bombs and machine guns.
• During World War I, 1400 civilians were killed in Britain.
• Factories, docks, and cities were common targets.
• The pacifist movement challenged war, personal shame, and the justifications for war.
• Women formed the International Congress of Women to promote peace policies founded on gender.

January 1915: Britain’s First Air Attack

• Britain suffered its first air attack in January 1915 from Zeppelin airships.
• There were 52 deadly Zeppelin raids during the war.
• Zeppelins were highly explosive due to their hydrogen gas.
• Searchlights and anti-aircraft guns could shoot down Zeppelins.

May 1917: A New Weapon

• In May 1917, the Gotha bi-plane bomber was introduced.
• Each Gotha bomber carried 13 bombs and machine guns.
• By 1918, Germany had developed Riesens, capable of carrying bombs weighing a metric ton.

Zeppelin Raids and Casualties

• Over 1,400 people in Britain were killed in air raids during World War I.
• Over 3,400 were wounded.
• Air raids created panic among civilians.
• Factories and docks were common targets.
• Over 300,000 people sought shelter in London Underground stations.

Pacifist Movement

• When war broke out in 1914, Britain relied on volunteers for the army.
• Propaganda aimed to incite patriotism and hatred of the enemy.
• Many people disagreed with the aims of the war and did not trust propaganda.
• The Military Service Act of January 1916 forced men aged 18-41 into the armed forces.
• This act increased troop numbers by 2.5 million but was unpopular.
• Conscientious objectors refused to fight on moral grounds.
• Over 16,000 conscientious objectors were taken to trial and 6,000 were imprisoned.
• Conscientious objectors were criticized for their beliefs and perceived as cowards rather than humanitarians.

International Congress of Women

• Women were greatly impacted by the horrors of WWI.
• In 1915, 1136 women from around the world met in the Netherlands.
• They discussed resolutions for a peace founded on gender equality, human rights, and social justice.

Interwar Britain

• The 1920s in Britain were a time of social experimentation.
• The Representation of the People Act, passed in 1918, granted universal suffrage to men over 21.
• The Act also granted suffrage to women over 30 who met middle-class property qualifications.
• The 1928 Equal Franchise Act gave all British women the same voting rights as men.
• Victorian constraints were abandoned, leading to greater freedom for women.
• Middle-class women in the 1920s could walk, smoke, drink, and wear makeup freely.
• Younger generations were called "flappers."
• Short bobs and looser attire became fashionable.
• Horse-drawn vehicles were replaced by over 2 million motor cars by the 1930s.
• Film became popular, showcasing newsreels, cartoons, and movies.
• Hollywood films sold 946 million tickets annually in British cinemas by 1937.
• Radio gained prominence, disseminating information and popularizing jazz and blues music.
• The 1918 Education Act raised the school leaving age to 14.
• This resulted in greater literacy and increased newspaper and magazine publications.
• Car ownership increased in English suburbs during the 1920s.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

• The BBC was founded in 1922.
• Its purpose was "to inform, educate, and entertain."

Prohibition

• In 1919, the US banned the manufacture, import, and sale of alcohol.
• This was intended to address health and social concerns.
• Criminal gangs began producing and selling alcohol illegally in "speakeasies."
• This led to increased gang violence and corruption.
• Prohibition was repealed in 1933.

The Rise of Fascism

• Britain mirrored the rise of fascism in Spain, Italy, and Germany.
• The British Union of Fascists (BUF) was formed in 1932, led by Sir Oswald Mosley.
• The BUF aimed to establish a one-party authoritarian regime.
• BUF members adopted black uniforms, salutes, and rallies similar to other fascist movements.
• The BUF's membership reached approximately 50,000.
• In 1936, the BUF attempted to march through London's East End and faced resistance.
• This confrontation, known as the Battle of Cable Street, demonstrated opposition to rising anti-Semitism in Britain.

The UK Economy

• The UK economy declined after World War I.
• Unemployment rose to over 2 million by the mid-1920s.
• Unemployment reached 70% in some northern English and Welsh areas.
• A 1926 general strike involving 1.7 million workers protested wage reductions for coal miners.
• The threat of a communist revolution in Britain was a concern.

Churchill and the Battle of Britain

• After the fall of France and the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940, Hitler planned Operation Sealion to invade Britain.
• The German plan was to subdue the RAF and secure air supremacy, paving the way for a Nazi invasion.
• The Luftwaffe intended to destroy the RAF, drop paratroopers, secure ports, and allow Panzer tanks into southeast England.
• Hitler hoped Britain would quickly accept a peace agreement.
• Winston Churchill, the new Prime Minister, refused to surrender.

Churchill as Prime Minister

• The appointment of Winston Churchill as Prime Minister in 1940 was controversial.
• His 65 years of age made his leadership of a cross-party coalition a bold move.
• Churchill was known as a "rogue politician" who had switched parties and been criticized for the Gallipoli failure in WWI.
• Churchill's opposition to Indian independence was seen as imperialist by many.
• Churchill was perceived as stubborn, especially compared to his rival, Lord Halifax.
• His critics favored Neville Chamberlain's approach to Hitler.
• Churchill's energy, determination, and rhetoric motivated the nation.
• His speeches boosted morale, including his famous address after Dunkirk: "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender."

The Battle of Britain

• In July 1940, the Luftwaffe launched its air offensive with 2,800 planes, nearly four times the size of the RAF fleet.
• The battle took place over southern England, with the focal point in Kent, known as "Hellfire Corner."
• The battle lasted from July to October 1940.

Outcome of the Battle

• Despite the Luftwaffe's numerical advantage, the RAF, particularly with its Spitfires, defended successfully against the German attack.
• By mid-autumn, Britain had gained control of the skies, preventing the German invasion.
• Hitler shifted his strategy, and the invasion of Britain was never achieved.

The Battle of Britain

• The Luftwaffe's bombers were large, slow, and poorly protected by fighter planes.
• British fighters, the Spitfires and Hurricanes, were fast and deadly against German bombers.
• Nearly 3,000 men from the RAF, Commonwealth countries, and occupied Europe participated in the Battle.
• These men fought to protect Britain and their home countries.
• The average age of the British pilots was 20 years old.

Radar’s Significance

• Radar, a recent invention, played a crucial role in Britain's defense.
• Radar stations accurately detected the position, direction, and number of German aircraft.
• Real-time radio communication with RAF fighters enabled accurate interceptions.
• The British could prepare for attacks an hour before German arrival.
• The Luftwaffe failed to identify aircraft production centers, hindering the RAF's replenishment.

The Home Guard

• The Home Guard was created in response to the threat of invasion.
• It comprised men aged 17-65: older, injured, or retired soldiers; young men not yet called up; and men in reserved occupations.
• The Home Guard served as a secondary defense force in case of invasion.
• 1.5 million men joined and operated anti-aircraft guns during the Battle of Britain.
• They also inspected unexploded bombs and rescued people from damaged buildings.

The Home Front

• Total War: Mobilized all aspects of British society during World War II.
• Economic Measures: Higher taxes, longer working hours, and strict rationing of food (except potatoes and bread) were part of the wartime effort.
• Rationing: Ration books controlled food access with vacant land used for agricultural production.
• Ministry of Information: Controlled news and communication, disseminated information through posters and leaflets, and censored news detrimental to morale.
• National Service Act (1941): Conscripted men under 50 and women under 30 for war work.

Women's Role

• Labor Participation: By 1943, 7.25 million women were employed in diverse roles, including mechanics, engineers, and munitions workers.
• Auxiliary Units: 640,000 women served in auxiliary units.
• Return to Traditional Roles: Upon men's return from war, women were often expected to return to domestic roles.

Evacuations

• Aircraft Technology and Threat: Advancements in aircraft technology and the threat of bombing led to the evacuation of 1.5 million children in 1939.
• Varied Experiences: Evacuee experiences ranged from positive to challenging, including forming bonds with host families to facing neglect, abuse, and difficulty adjusting to rural life.

The Blitz (1940-1941)

• German Bombing Campaign: Targeted major British cities, including London, Coventry, and Birmingham, to break morale and cripple strategic targets.
• Civilian Measures: Blackouts were implemented, and bomb shelters were constructed in various locations to protect citizens from the raids.
• V-1 Rockets: The introduction of V-1 rockets in 1944 increased difficulty in defending against these missiles, leading to civilian casualties

Impacts of The Blitz

• Public Shelters: People used underground stations, public squares, and private gardens as shelters during air raids.
• Air Raid Sirens: Frequent air raid warnings became a part of daily life.
• Damage and Casualties: Over 60,000 British civilians were killed, thousands were injured, and significant damage was inflicted on major cities, including London.

The Home Guard

• Underground Bases: The Home Guard constructed over 600 underground bases used for hiding and disrupting enemy supply lines.

Explore the pivotal role of women during World War I through key events and legislation such as the Defence of the Realm Act (DORA). This quiz delves into women's contributions in factories, suffrage movements, and their societal impact by the end of the war. Test your knowledge on significant milestones in women’s history during the war period.