Cover Sheet – Where Can I Get My Sources From?
Examples of the kinds of sources that can be researched are: • materials from the local area – local newspapers from the years of the Wars are likely to have information on both these topic areas • oral evidence: either directly from people who experienced rationing in the Second World War or air attacks in the Second World War; or from oral records covering both topics – for example ‘Forgotten Voices’ by Max Arthur (Ebury Press) provides a number of quoted extracts from the Second World War • documents published by the Imperial War Museum: posters and document packs ‘Keep the Home Fires Burning’ (World War 1); ‘The Home Front, 1939-1945’ (particularly useful on rationing) • posters can be found on both topics – the IWM is a useful repository • photographs of the effects of air raids and the impact of rationing are readily available • artefacts: a ration book, especially from within the community; Ministry of Food pamphlets • excerpts from films: for example ‘London Can Take It’ on the Blitz – available from National Archives; ‘Rationing in Britain’ from Youtube.com • TV documentaries: • The Internet provides large quantities of source material. Sites that might be looked at include: * for Rationing: www.bbc.co.uk (Home Front in WW2) www.wartimememories.co.uk/rationing www.primarysources.co.uk Images for rationing in WW2 * for War in the Air: www.historylearning site.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk/history/Home Front in WW1 and WW2 www.nationalarchives www.johndclare.net/wwii www.wikipedia.org (good for specific information on individual towns) Secondary sources that provide source material include: • ‘AQA GCSE History B: the Historical Enquiry’ Nelson Thornes, 2009 • ‘Yesterday’s Britain’ Reader’s Digest ISBN 0276423917 At least one of the sources should be a representation or an interpretation from a period later than the event.
Question 2 ‘The result of German air attacks on Britain in the Second World War was immense damage and destruction – to life and buildings. In contrast, in the First World War, the threat from the air by Germany was almost non existent.’ How far do the sources you have used support this interpretation of the effects of the air raids on Britain in the two World Wars? To answer this question, examine the sources you have researched on this topic. You should examine at least 8 sources in explaining your answer. You should also use your own knowledge to comment on the evidence in the sources. (25 marks)
Notice that the question is making a statement – During World War Two there was “immense damage”….in contrast to World War One the air threat was “non - existant”. Choose your sources wisely. Do they support/or oppose the statement.
When did Bombing Start? It is uncertain exactly by whom or when explosive devices were first dropped from airplanes. Certainly, however, the concept of the bomber aircraft predated the rise of fighter aircraft by several years. Before World War I in 1914, the French, Germans, Russians, and Austro-Hungarians were developing aircraft specifically designed to carry and release bombs on a target. Great Britain also experimented with the possibility of dropping bombs from aircraft before the war but did not start building aircraft specifically for the task until after the beginning of hostilities. In addition, the Central Powers built a fearsome bombing force around Zeppelin airships before 1914 and used them extensively early in the war. Views on Bombing The combatants all had different views on bombing strategy. The English, first through the Royal Naval Air Service and then the Royal Air Force, emphasized tactical and revenge bombing. The French were extremely “reluctant to bomb behind the German lines, since the range of its bombers did not reach Germany “and they did not want to drop bombs on German-occupied France. Also, unoccupied French cities and other targets were close to the front, and retribution bombing would have been easy. • “ww.centennialofflight.gov” Strategic bombing had its beginning during World War I when German Zeppelins began raiding London. Small attacks against England were carried out early in the war, but by October 1915, "squadron-size" raids by numerous Zeppelins had begun, always at night and in the dark of the moon.
ww.centennialofflight.gov Credits - U.S. Air Force Museum
It was the Germans who first grasped the psychological implications of bombing a civilian population. Using mostly zeppelins in the early years, they instilled fear and panic in the people by flying over their cities. This became a regular practice and made the Germans seem much more powerful and omnipresent in the minds of their enemies. The bombing of cities remained a moral issue throughout the war. But no one ever believed that cities were off limits for bombing; they had too many industrial sites and government offices that were potential targets. At times, the innocent would be hit by mistake. But the lure of military targets in cities, combined with the psychological power gained by urban bombings meant that they were inevitable. Nothing could make a government and an army look more helpless than to have enemy aircraft descending upon its capital buildings or castles.
Technology Combatants used virtually all types of aircraft, including observation and fighter planes, for bombing operations at some time during the war. The British De Havilland 6, for example, could carry either an observer or bombs, but not both. The technological choice, however, was to develop large aircraft that could penetrate enemy defenses, defend themselves from aerial attack, and deliver massive amounts of bombs on a target far behind the battle front. Bombing “tactically� All countries used bombers in a tactical capacity since bombers could reach areas that ground artillery could not. When an offensive was being mounted, traffic increased in the back lines. Bombers could target these high-traffic areas. During the build-up to the Battle of Mesines Ridge in the summer of 1917, the Germans struck the British munitions supply train. British artillery had to stop firing after three hours when they ran out of ammunition. Bombing Civilians It was the Germans who first grasped the psychological implications of bombing a civilian population. Using mostly zeppelins in the early years, they instilled fear and panic in the people by flying over their cities. This became a regular practice and made the Germans seem much more powerful and omnipresent in the minds of their enemies. The bombing of cities remained a moral issue throughout the war. But no one ever believed that cities were off limits for bombing; they had too many industrial sites and government offices that were potential targets. At times, the innocent would be hit by mistake. But the lure of military targets in cities, combined with the psychological power gained by urban bombings meant that they were inevitable. Nothing could make a government and an army look more helpless than to have enemy aircraft descending upon its capital buildings or castles.
Memories of a Zeppelin Raid Good Videos about the first Zeppelin Attacks…… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6iuDjOqyLM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlTTd9r1vVs First Zeppelin Attacks on Britain http://londonist.com/2010/07/wwi_airship_attacks_on_london_mappe.php The Journey Taken… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFciuepRQ4Y
Bomber Aircraft The Germans longed to carry out a bombing campaign against England and worked to develop an airplane that could do it after the limitations of the zeppelin became apparent. Their solution: the Gotha G.V. bomber, had two Mercedes engines and a wingspan of over 77 feet (23 meters). It was strong enough to carry more than 1000 pounds (454 kilograms) of bombs and also had a firing tunnel--a hole through the bottom of the airplane that allowed the rear gunner to shoot the enemy below, a common blind spot. Aviation Art… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zsJu0mwYc0 First Bomber Plan Attack – Gotha Bomber Planes Extract taken from “ww.centennialofflight.gov”” On May 23, 1917, a fleet of 21 Gothas appeared over the English coastal town of Folkestone. On the deadliest day of bombing yet, 95 people were killed, and England began to panic. At noon on June 13, another Gotha fleet dropped bombs onto London. For the next month, the daily raids on the capital city met with little opposition from the Royal Air Force, angering the population of London. Production levels within the city dropped. Citizens felt that their government was incapable of protecting them. They demanded that the military protect them and stop the bombs. They felt exposed and helpless, just as German military strategists had hoped they would. Unfortunately for the Germans, the effect of the bombing was not a public uprising against Parliament but a strengthening of the Royal Air Force. In July, the large unwieldy Gothas were forced to resort to night raids so the darkness could shield them from Britain’s Sopwith Camels, light, maneuverable planes. By the war’s end,
the raids had stopped entirely since the hits were not worth the German aircraft losses. In total, there were 27 Gotha raids. The English reported 835 killed and 1,990 wounded. Damage from the raids totaled £3,000,000, but the loss of production time from workers having to seek shelter in the middle of the day, or suffering exhaustion from having to leave their beds to seek shelter at night, had a far greater impact. Attacks on Hull – World War One http://www.paul-gibson.com/history/hull-in-the-first-world-war.php http://www.paul-gibson.com/history/hull-in-the-first-world-war.php - Personal Account on life in Hull during World War One Images of destruction – World War One Zeppelin and Gotha Attacks – http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/search?filter%5BtermString%5D%5B0%5D=%22Towns %20and%20Cities%22&filter%5BthemeString%5D%5B0%5D=%22Aerial%20Warfare%22 &filter%5BplaceString%5D%5B0%5D=%22London%2C%20England%2C%20UK%22&qu ery= Witness Accounts - http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWzeppelinraids.htm (1) Joaqchim Breithaupt was the commander of the L15 Zeppelin that bombed London on 13th October, 1915.
On board were two warrant officers and twelve ratings. The total weight-carrying capacity of the ship, including barometers, temperature and humidity measuring appliances and also the specific weight of the gas was about 30,800 pounds. At this weight the petrol comprised about 11,000 pounds, and bombs 3,410 pounds (28 explosive bombs of 1110 pounds each and 15 incendiary bombs of 22 pounds each. At 1930 hours we were between Cromer and Great Yarmouth at a height of 6,500 feet. The visibility was good under a starlit sky. We took our bearings, waited for full darkness, and then steered a direct course for our objective - London. As we crossed over the coast we came under sharp fire from the batteries, and the ships were lit up by the searchlights of the coastguard and shore batteries. At 1930 hours we were between Cromer and Great Yarmouth at a height of 6,500 feet. The visibility was good under a starlit sky. We took our bearings, waited for full darkness, and then steered a direct course for our objective - London. As we crossed over the coast we came under sharp fire from the batteries, and the ships were lit up by the searchlights of the coastguard and shore batteries. As we flew over the land we checked our position from time to time by dropping light bombs. At about 2130 hours the Thames, with its characteristic windings, was clearly distinguishable below us. Suddenly, from all sides, searchlights leaped out towards us, and as we flew over Tottenham a wild barrage from the anti-aircraft positions began. The shells burst at a good height right in our course. I therefore rose, after dropping three explosive bombs. We then steered over Hyde Park, in the direction of the City. The picture we saw was indescribably beautiful - shrapnel bursting all around, our own bombs bursting and
the flashes from the anti-aircraft batteries below. We flew over the City at between 9,000 and 9,800 feet and dropped twenty 110-pound bombs, and all the incendiary bombs. We could see large explosions between Charing Cross Station and the Bank of England. (2) While on leave from from France William Brooks and his girlfriend witnessed a Zeppelin raid on London.
One night, we watched a Zeppelin raid on the Woolwich Aresnal. The German Zeppelin was sort of hovering over the building dropping bombs and they scored a couple of direct hits, causing massive explosions. We felt the blast two to three miles away. A few small bi-planes of ours went up to attack it but the Zeppelin had heavy machine-guns mounted in the cabin slung beneath it and, being almost stationary, could take careful aim on a plane. So our brave airman stood no chance. But one little plane went up, one of those double wing ones with all the struts holding the wings together. Well, this pilot flew above the Zeppelin and dropped bombs onto it. One hit it square on - flames started to light up the night sky. She was on fire all right. Everyone in the street started to cheer. My dad was watching through a small telescope he had and said he could see the men on the Zeppelin inside the cabin rushing about throwing ropes over the side, and other things, trying to lighten the ship. Anyway, its main engines started up with a roar and she slowly began to move away with smoke pouring out of her. Well, dad said they knew they were done for, but were going to try and make it home. As it pulled away it looked like a huge wounded animal and going to die. It crashed in flames over Essex before it made the Channel. I know they were our enemies but I couldn't feel sorry for them. That was the last of the Zeppelin raid. They proved too vulnerable. The pilot of our small plane was a Lt. Robinson and he got the Victoria Cross for that, but the poor man was shot down and killed over France a year later by an ace German fighter-pilot. Note: (Brookes was incorrect concerning his fate. Although he was shot down over France by a German ace (one of the Red Barons wing men) he survived the war and died in the massive flu outbreak just after the war ended. (3) On 26th August 1916, Margaret McMillan and her sister Rachel, experienced a Zeppelin bombing raid in London.
Looking out from my bedroom window, we saw something bright and sparkling in the sky. "What can it be? I said to Rachel. She looked at it steadily. "A Zeppelin" Two or three of our friends ran upstairs to warn us. "It's a Zeppelin dropping bombs, or going to." We all gazed at it if fascinated. A terrific blast struck the house as we went downstairs. I looked up and saw that Rachel had not followed us. In the same moment, an awful explosion shook the little house to its foundations. I called, and she appeared on the last landing carrying blankets. She had just time to join us when a third crash sent all our windows in, and the ironwork along the outer wall, which served as a ventilator for the lower room.
(4) David Kirkwood, a trade union leader, was in Edinburgh in 1916 during a Zeppelin air raid. He wrote about it in his autobiography, My Life of Revolt (1935)
Suddenly a terrifying explosion occurred. Windows rattled, the ground quivered, pictures swung. We all gasped. I ran to the window and saw Vesuvius in eruption. As I watched, I felt myself alone. Turning round, I found that my companions had run out of the house, even without putting on their boots. The door opened and the old lady appeared in a dressing-gown. At that moment another terrific explosion shook us. She said : " Oh, dear, I do hope the noise won't waken Sonnie ! " I could not help smiling at her courage and care. " It's probably all over now," I said. She replied, " I hope so," and went off to bed again. I opened the window. A great flash greeted me from the Castle and then, above the roaring, I heard the most dreadful screeching and shouting. The inmates in the Morningside Asylum had started pandemonium. (5) on 2nd August, 1916, Sir John French arranged for Charles Repington to see how the War Office was dealing with Zeppelin air raids.
About 10.30 p.m. came the news over the telephone of the imminence of a fresh Zeppelin raid. We all went off, and I had an opportunity of seeing the whole of the anti-Zeppelin arrangements working at full pressure in the stables, or cellars, at a certain place. General Shaw was there in control of a Staff of about twenty or thirty young officers, naval and military, clerks, telegraph and telephone and wireless operators, etc. The telephonic and telegraphic system very complete, and messages came in with few delays. I went first to the Chart Room, where the position of most if not all the Zeppelins in the North Sea before the raid began was shown. This is done in the following manner: Zeppelins cannot navigate at night with any certainty of knowing where they are. They, therefore, send by wireless to Germany the number of their ship - L29, or whatever it is - and two German wireless stations, at a wide distance apart, get the message and send it back at once the exact bearing of the airship, which they can do by one of the many inventions of this art. The airship officer plots the two bearings, the intersection of which then gives him his position. But we also pick up the airship's number, and, by cross bearings from our wireless stations, can plot in the Chart Room the exact position of every Zeppelin
AQA Sources
Source 1 An example of a written secondary source The impact of bombing from the air on Britain in the First World War# From The Making of Modern Britain by A MARR. It was published in 2009 and accompanied a BBC television series.
Parts of the south of England were raided by Zeppelins, causing fear and shock if not the devastation their commanders had hoped for. For people still getting used to manned flight, death from the air and the ‘baby killer’ Zeppelins were a terrible shock. Air raid warnings involved policemen on bicycles blowing whistles and displaying placards; people died praying beside their beds. Later still, London was attacked, more lethally, by Gotha bombers. This was not 1940: far fewer people were killed. But the psychological effect of fearing that the bombers might swarm over at any moment was deep and lasting.
Source 2 An example of a visual source A photograph showing the devastation in Liverpool after bombing raid in 1940