|
Britain was called the 'Home Front', because people felt that they were part of the war. The war effected everyone whether they were on the front line (in Europe) or on the home front (back in Britain).
Not everyone went to fight, but everyone helped in the 'war effort' in some way or other.
Find out how women help on the home front
Land Girls and other jobs
Find out about the jobs men did on the home front.
ARP Warden | Home Guard
Bombing raids destroyed homes and killed many people.
See the Blitz
People had to take precautions against any bombs dropped during air raids and the possibility of the Germans invading Britain.
Children and some women were evacuated from the big cities into the countryside. People carried gas masks to protect themselves and built air raid shelters shelters. All windows and doors were blacked out.
1938 |
24th August, 1938 |
Parliament passes the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act. |
26th September, 1938 |
|
29th September, 1938 |
|
1st December, 1938 |
Britain establishes a national register for war service. |
1939 |
| 1st September, 1939 |
Britain begins evacuation plans in preparation of German air attacks. |
3rd September, 1939 |
3 Sept The Prime Minister of Britain, Neville Chamberlain, declares war on Germany.
|
3rd September, 1939 |
Parliament passes the National Services (Armed Forces) Act. |
| 7th September, 1939 |
The National Registration Act (1939) passed in Britain, introducing identity cards. |
| 28th September, 1939 |
Meat rationing begins in Britain. |
1940 |
| 7th January, 1940 |
Rationing of basic food items is established in the Britain. |
| 14th February, 1940 |
British government calls for volunteers to fight in Finland. |
| 9th May, 1940 |
Conscription in Britain extended to age 36. |
10th May, 1940 |
Winston
Churchill becomes the new British Prime Minister, replacing Neville Chamberlain. |
14th May, 1940 |
The Local Defence Volunteers (Dad's Army) is created. It is later called the Home Guard. |
| 25 May, 1940 |
Sporadic Luftwaffe bombings in England. |
10th July, 1940 |
|
23rd August, 1940 |
The Luftwaffe carry out a all-night bombing raid on London and begins the Blitz. |
| 7 September, 1940 |
The London Blitz starts (lasts 8 months) |
12th October, 1940 |
Adolf Hitler postpones Operation Sealion, the proposed invasion of Britain. |
18th November, 1940 |
Airbourbe radar successfully used by the Royal Air Force for the first time. |
1941 |
10th May, 1941 |
The Luftwaffe destroy the House of Commons in Westminster. |
15th May, 1941 |
Frank Whittle's jet-propelled Gloster E28 takes its first flight. |
1st June, 1941 |
|
18th December, 1941 |
The National Service Act is passed introducing conscription for women. All unmarried women aged between the ages of 20 and 30 were called up for war work. Pregnant women and those with young children were exempt. |
1942 |
23rd April, 1942 |
The Luftwaffe start bombing Exeter, Bath and other historic cities in Britain. |
1943 |
18th January, 1943 |
The Luftwaffe renews its air attacks on London. |
1944 |
1944 |
Butler's Education Act - Free Secondary Education and school leaving age raised to 15. |
13th June, 1944 |
|
8th September, 1944 |
|
1945 |
27th March, 1945 |
|
| 14 August 1945 |
World War Two ends |
Rationing continues .....
4 July 1954 - Food rationing ends |
|
© Copyright - please read