The Blitz
Short History Of...
00:00
The First Air Raid in Britain
After Hitler's invasion of Poland, the British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain declares war on Germany. A mere 22 minutes after this announcement, the first air raid sound. It is a false alarm, but it is a sign of how jittery the country is. In fact, there will be no significant bombing or indeed military engagement of any kind during the next eight months or so. Britain ramps up its preparations against aerial attack. There are mass evacuations from major cities, especially of children. Blackouts are enforced at night, with wardens issuing penalties where light is seen escaping from houses. Huge hydrogen-filled balloons, ironically often bomb-shaped themselves, are floated above cities and key installations.
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