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19 thoughts on “World War II Facts”
For almost six years from 1939 to 1945 Britain fought the toughest war it had ever experienced. World War II was total war – every person, every business, every service was involved.
Britain did not fight alone, the war also involved many countries. World War II involved 61 countries with 1.7 billion people (three quarters of the world’s population).
Fifty million people lost their lives and hundreds of millions people were injured.
Two days before the war began, Britain faced a total blackout. All the lights were turned off and everyone had to cover their windows with black material so that it would make it hard for German bombers to see.
One of the only problems was that it also made it difficult for anyone to see, and as the number of traffic incidents went up, so did the number of people drowning – either falling off bridges or walking into ponds.
One of the first and most significant changes the war brought to daily life was the blackout. To avoid aiding German bombers, all lights after dusk were banned.It was really hard as they could not see.
Why The Second World War Started.
After World War One ended in 1918, Germany had to give up land and was banned from having armed forces.
How The Second World War Started.
The Second World War was started by Germany in an unprovoked attack on Poland. Britain and France declared war on Germany after Hitler had refused to abort his invasion of Poland.
I have found out who were on the Germans side andwho were on Britans side. Axis is the enemy and Allies is the freindly country’s.
The Allies
•Australia
•Belgium
•Brazil
•Canada
•China
•Czechoslovakia
•Denmark
•Estonia
•France
•Greece
•India
•Latvia
•Lithuania
•Malta
•The Netherlands
•New Zealand
•Norway
•Poland
•South Africa
•United Kingdom
•United States
•USSR
•Yugoslavia
The Axis
•German
•Italy
•Japan
The Allies included:
•Commonwealth countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
•Countries in the British Empire such as India.
The Affects World War ll Had On Children.
Many childrens parents were either away fighting or at work, so they were often left to look after themselves. They played in fields or in the street. Street games were safer than they are today because in those days there weren’t as many cars.
After air raids children helped clear up. Older children looked after younger children and neighbours and grandparents helped too. Many families were boomed out their homes and when this happened neighbours offered food and beds and lent clothes or furnature.
To make the British weak,the germans tried to cut of food supplies and other goods .The Ration Book became the key to survival for nearly every house in Britian.Before the war Britian imported 55 million tons of food ,after a month these supplies dropped right down to 12 million
The colours of The Ration Book.
Buff – Most adults had this colour.
Green – Pregnant women,nursing mothers and children under 5. They had first chocie of the supplies.
Blue – Children between 5 and 16years of age . it was felt that it was important that children had milk,fruit and meat
The jobs for women were
mechanics
engineers
tank drivers
building ships
making bombs and air craft parts
air raid wardens
driving fire engines
plumbers
ambulance drivers
WRVS volunteers
or nurses.
When war broke in September 1939,some men volunteered to join the armed services,but Britain could any raise 875,000 men.More men were needed.In 1940,2 million British men aged between 19-27, who were not working in ‘reserved occupations’ were ordered to fight.This was known as being ‘called up’.They were trained and sent off to war.As well as being ‘called up’ for the army,men would also be ‘conscripted’ into the Royal Navy of the RAF.
People had to protect themselves daily during the War.
Children and some women were evacuated from the big cities into the countryside.
People carried gas masks to protect themselves against a possible gas attack.
People built air raid shelters in their gardens.
All windows and doors were blacked out to make it harder for the enemy planes to spot where they lived.
(We have tried to log Daniel into Glow using the User ID and Password that he was given some time ago and was attached to our family noticeboard but this does not seem to be working. I will send the slip into school with him tomorrow to be amended. It would seem that the test posting that is earlier in the blog was when Daniel was off sick. thanks, M Scott.)
World war 2 had a terrible effect on every jewish person bacause when ww2 broke out Hitler was determined to kill every jew.Most jews were killed but some were hiding.If you were caught helping a jew or knew where one was and you did not tell the germans you were sent to the concentration camps with them.
IDENTITY CARDS IN WORLD WAR II
Identity cards (ID) were issued to everyone including children in World War II. Each person had to carry the ID cards with them to tell everyone who they were and where they lived.
They were necessary if families got split up or their homes were bombed or if they were injured or killed.
The ID cards were 12.5cm in length.
In September 1939, 800,000 children were evacuated from cities/towns to a quieter place which had less chance of getting bombed. After a few weeks many children went back to the cities/towns but others stayed in the country till the end of World War 2.
In 1940, Britain had a shortage of food and were forced to do food rationing. This meant that you weren’t allowed to buy any more that a certain amount of a certain item in a week. When buying food you had to hand over a coupon for each one as well as money. Once you used up all of your ration on a food you couldn’t buy any more of it for that week. Vegetarians were allowed to trade in their meat coupons for other food tokens.
World war II continued for six years, it started in 1939 and finished in 1945 with the Germans being deafeated. The war was extremely bad most of the children had to be evacuated from their families. Some parents refused to have their children evacuated which meant that they were in danger.
The children started to be evacuated on the 1st of Febuary the day the German troops started to invade Poland.The children were place at farms to work and others were in big fancy country houses and they were so fasinated by the apples growing on the trees. If their mothers and fathers didn’t want them to be evacuated the had to fend for themselves.
Women had a masive role to play in world war II 75000 women took part in the war. The jobs for women were mostly secretaries, drivers, cook’s or mechanics. In war the women provided clothing for the men and women that were fighting. They also the were good with first aid too help the wounded people. At a ruff estimate scientists think 60.2 million people particpated in world war II. Young people were recuruited at the age of 19 and above.
This is by Adam McCrae (Mr Smith, can you please reset my password as i cant log in.)
The War Effort
Everyone was asked to help win the war,by making extra efforts and working harder on the “home front”.
Children saved pennies,collected scrap metal and food waste,and knitted wooly hats for soldiers and refugees .
BBC Children’s Hour ran a scrap collecting competition.The winners collected 9 tons of of scrap.
The Second World War lasted from 1939 to 1945. It was fought in Europe, in Russia, North Africa and in Asia. 60 million people died in World War 2. About 40 million were civilians.
World War 2 was fought between two groups of countries. On one side were the Axis Powers, including Germany, Italy and Japan. On the other side were the Allies. They included Britain, France, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, India, the Soviet Union, China and the United States of America.
Some countries did not join the war, but stayed neutral (on neither side). Spain, Sweden and Switzerland were neutral countries. So was Ireland, though many Irish people helped the Allies.
During the war most families in the United States had at least one family member at war.Also around this time some foods were unavailable due to the fact ingredients had to be imported via plane or boat a risk either way.
During the war women and children were evacuated from the big cities to the countryside.People carried gas masks to protect themselves and they also built air raid shelters.All windows and doors were blacked out.
Tanks played an important role in World War II. Invented by the British in World War I, the tank gradually improved in the inter-war period and also saw rapid changes in the Second World War. At one point a tank seemed to be state-of-the-art, then a year later it was obsolete.
Tank doctrine changed radically during WWII. Previously, tanks had been used to support infantry, but with the concept of Blitzkrieg, tanks became a formidable branch of the army in its own right. Before the end of the war, tanks had superseded infantry as the most important force on the battlefield.
For almost six years from 1939 to 1945 Britain fought the toughest war it had ever experienced. World War II was total war – every person, every business, every service was involved.
Britain did not fight alone, the war also involved many countries. World War II involved 61 countries with 1.7 billion people (three quarters of the world’s population).
Fifty million people lost their lives and hundreds of millions people were injured.
Two days before the war began, Britain faced a total blackout. All the lights were turned off and everyone had to cover their windows with black material so that it would make it hard for German bombers to see.
One of the only problems was that it also made it difficult for anyone to see, and as the number of traffic incidents went up, so did the number of people drowning – either falling off bridges or walking into ponds.
One of the first and most significant changes the war brought to daily life was the blackout. To avoid aiding German bombers, all lights after dusk were banned.It was really hard as they could not see.
Why The Second World War Started.
After World War One ended in 1918, Germany had to give up land and was banned from having armed forces.
How The Second World War Started.
The Second World War was started by Germany in an unprovoked attack on Poland. Britain and France declared war on Germany after Hitler had refused to abort his invasion of Poland.
I have found out who were on the Germans side andwho were on Britans side. Axis is the enemy and Allies is the freindly country’s.
The Allies
•Australia
•Belgium
•Brazil
•Canada
•China
•Czechoslovakia
•Denmark
•Estonia
•France
•Greece
•India
•Latvia
•Lithuania
•Malta
•The Netherlands
•New Zealand
•Norway
•Poland
•South Africa
•United Kingdom
•United States
•USSR
•Yugoslavia
The Axis
•German
•Italy
•Japan
The Allies included:
•Commonwealth countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
•Countries in the British Empire such as India.
The Affects World War ll Had On Children.
Many childrens parents were either away fighting or at work, so they were often left to look after themselves. They played in fields or in the street. Street games were safer than they are today because in those days there weren’t as many cars.
After air raids children helped clear up. Older children looked after younger children and neighbours and grandparents helped too. Many families were boomed out their homes and when this happened neighbours offered food and beds and lent clothes or furnature.
To make the British weak,the germans tried to cut of food supplies and other goods .The Ration Book became the key to survival for nearly every house in Britian.Before the war Britian imported 55 million tons of food ,after a month these supplies dropped right down to 12 million
The colours of The Ration Book.
Buff – Most adults had this colour.
Green – Pregnant women,nursing mothers and children under 5. They had first chocie of the supplies.
Blue – Children between 5 and 16years of age . it was felt that it was important that children had milk,fruit and meat
The jobs for women were
mechanics
engineers
tank drivers
building ships
making bombs and air craft parts
air raid wardens
driving fire engines
plumbers
ambulance drivers
WRVS volunteers
or nurses.
When war broke in September 1939,some men volunteered to join the armed services,but Britain could any raise 875,000 men.More men were needed.In 1940,2 million British men aged between 19-27, who were not working in ‘reserved occupations’ were ordered to fight.This was known as being ‘called up’.They were trained and sent off to war.As well as being ‘called up’ for the army,men would also be ‘conscripted’ into the Royal Navy of the RAF.
People had to protect themselves daily during the War.
Children and some women were evacuated from the big cities into the countryside.
People carried gas masks to protect themselves against a possible gas attack.
People built air raid shelters in their gardens.
All windows and doors were blacked out to make it harder for the enemy planes to spot where they lived.
(We have tried to log Daniel into Glow using the User ID and Password that he was given some time ago and was attached to our family noticeboard but this does not seem to be working. I will send the slip into school with him tomorrow to be amended. It would seem that the test posting that is earlier in the blog was when Daniel was off sick. thanks, M Scott.)
World war 2 had a terrible effect on every jewish person bacause when ww2 broke out Hitler was determined to kill every jew.Most jews were killed but some were hiding.If you were caught helping a jew or knew where one was and you did not tell the germans you were sent to the concentration camps with them.
IDENTITY CARDS IN WORLD WAR II
Identity cards (ID) were issued to everyone including children in World War II. Each person had to carry the ID cards with them to tell everyone who they were and where they lived.
They were necessary if families got split up or their homes were bombed or if they were injured or killed.
The ID cards were 12.5cm in length.
In September 1939, 800,000 children were evacuated from cities/towns to a quieter place which had less chance of getting bombed. After a few weeks many children went back to the cities/towns but others stayed in the country till the end of World War 2.
In 1940, Britain had a shortage of food and were forced to do food rationing. This meant that you weren’t allowed to buy any more that a certain amount of a certain item in a week. When buying food you had to hand over a coupon for each one as well as money. Once you used up all of your ration on a food you couldn’t buy any more of it for that week. Vegetarians were allowed to trade in their meat coupons for other food tokens.
World war II continued for six years, it started in 1939 and finished in 1945 with the Germans being deafeated. The war was extremely bad most of the children had to be evacuated from their families. Some parents refused to have their children evacuated which meant that they were in danger.
The children started to be evacuated on the 1st of Febuary the day the German troops started to invade Poland.The children were place at farms to work and others were in big fancy country houses and they were so fasinated by the apples growing on the trees. If their mothers and fathers didn’t want them to be evacuated the had to fend for themselves.
Women had a masive role to play in world war II 75000 women took part in the war. The jobs for women were mostly secretaries, drivers, cook’s or mechanics. In war the women provided clothing for the men and women that were fighting. They also the were good with first aid too help the wounded people. At a ruff estimate scientists think 60.2 million people particpated in world war II. Young people were recuruited at the age of 19 and above.
This is by Adam McCrae (Mr Smith, can you please reset my password as i cant log in.)
The War Effort
Everyone was asked to help win the war,by making extra efforts and working harder on the “home front”.
Children saved pennies,collected scrap metal and food waste,and knitted wooly hats for soldiers and refugees .
BBC Children’s Hour ran a scrap collecting competition.The winners collected 9 tons of of scrap.
The Second World War lasted from 1939 to 1945. It was fought in Europe, in Russia, North Africa and in Asia. 60 million people died in World War 2. About 40 million were civilians.
World War 2 was fought between two groups of countries. On one side were the Axis Powers, including Germany, Italy and Japan. On the other side were the Allies. They included Britain, France, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, India, the Soviet Union, China and the United States of America.
Some countries did not join the war, but stayed neutral (on neither side). Spain, Sweden and Switzerland were neutral countries. So was Ireland, though many Irish people helped the Allies.
During the war most families in the United States had at least one family member at war.Also around this time some foods were unavailable due to the fact ingredients had to be imported via plane or boat a risk either way.
During the war women and children were evacuated from the big cities to the countryside.People carried gas masks to protect themselves and they also built air raid shelters.All windows and doors were blacked out.
Tanks played an important role in World War II. Invented by the British in World War I, the tank gradually improved in the inter-war period and also saw rapid changes in the Second World War. At one point a tank seemed to be state-of-the-art, then a year later it was obsolete.
Tank doctrine changed radically during WWII. Previously, tanks had been used to support infantry, but with the concept of Blitzkrieg, tanks became a formidable branch of the army in its own right. Before the end of the war, tanks had superseded infantry as the most important force on the battlefield.