The British Government watched
Germany’s capacity to wage war increase rapidly throughout the 1930’s
and fully expected the Luftwaffe to begin bombing Britain’s cities at
a very early stage. This would put large numbers of civilians directly
in danger. Evacuation was clearly the safest option for the government
to propose; even before the war began evacuation schemes were planned.
This was accepted by the citizen’s of Britain’s cities, but as month
after month passed and the Luftwaffe still did not come, thousands
began to return home.
Many of the children who returned
home found their schools were now being used for emergency and armed
services. With their education at risk, the government had to act.
Some schools were re-opened, but it was decided that a school could
only open if it had adequate air raid protection, many shelters were
built on a low budget; some were little more than reinforced rooms –
Others were purpose built structures, but even that comprised of
little more than trenches with secure roofs, or walls of soil and
sandbags.
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