A Pictures Worth a Thousand Words

When I first saw this picture, it was a common picture that came to mind when hearing about the Holocaust. Having studied the Holocaust in Sunday School and middle school, its a topic that when I re-learn about, I learn something new every time. Recently, my grandmother Carol had told me she had just seen the movie The Reader and as always told me about the movie in depth, and told me how the main character was a Women Nazi guard. She said at the time the guard didn't know the extent of what she was doing, because she could not read. When I immediately saw this photo I thought of how the guard standing by this sign to boycott the Jews and not buy anything from them, may have no idea to what extent this picture will effect 4 million lives. This boycott was really the start of the harsh actions that would later come against the Jews and even if this Nazi Guard could not read the poster he was holding, he was still responsible for it. He became a Nazi, even if he had not known all the obligations that would come with that title, he still knew what the main purpose of this party was, to destroy the Jews. This picture looks like it takes place outside of a Temple and therefore almost threatening the Jews from practicing their religion as a Nazi guard stands outside with offensive posters. This image is a strong image of the start of the Holocaust without being too graphic. 

Woman War Worker

This picture depicts a woman war worker, simply put. The picture shows the iconic "Rosie the Riveter"type of woman: hard working, strong and willing to do a job traditionally equated to being a man's. This picture is worth keeping because it shows that women were willing to take the place of men in a time of need, and it also shows that this type of woman does not only exist on a poster as a part of propaganda. This picture also reminds us of the sideline view of World War II, where the women were beginning to take control, while the men were off in the war.

Tax Hikes

At the home front, we have seen that both the government were willing to give up so much for their troops. Even from early on, militarization was the key goal of the British government. But to reach this increased industry, the government would have to increase taxes and increase the workforce. Having to pay all these new workers and ship supplies to the combatant armies abroad did not come cheaply. So in reality, raising taxes was a way in which the British could achieve all this during WWII.
But, even though this new tax hike may have been seen as necessary, the government stepped over the boundaries of ethical control by limiting many other aspects of people's lives. The British government intruded into people's lives when it mandated a decrease of luxury good and other. This is where I draw the line at what the government can do and what it can't.

Evacuation

The evacuation campaign was because of Britain's fear of Hitler invading England, as Hitler had just announced he was going to send the german army into Czechoslovakia. In order to prepare the government had decided to put Sir John Anderson in charge of a plan and he decided to split England into three sections,  evacuation, neutral and reception. As you probably guessed, those in evacuation were told to evacuate however, not all decided to move and the end result was 827,000 school children, 524,000 mothers and children under school age, 13,000 expectant mothers, 103,000 teachers and 7,000 handicapped. This is only 47% of school children and 1/3 of all mothers, so the plan was not yet very successful. Afterwards, those who had taken in the mothers and children came up with some complaints of their own, the children had lice, fleas and scabies. When the time came and went when the expected bombings were supposed to happen, and nobody was bombed parents from the cities began to not believe they were ever going to be bombed and around 4 out of 5 children went home. When France was bombed in May 1940 nothing was changed, but when Britain was bombed in July 1940 more people began to evacuate and in two weeks over 213,000 more children left the cities on trains for the countryside. As a coincidence, my grandmother was one of these children who had left the city for the country. I am pretty sure she was one of the 213,000 because I know she had been part of an air raid. 

I think the government did the right thing during the war, and do not think they should have made it mandatory for the children to move out because its a safety precaution that was advised and everyone was aware they were at risk. Should punishment have been given to the parents whose children returned home during the war? I think that if punishment was given it would have been too much government control, from what I read it seemed that the government strongly advised parents to move their children which is all they can really do. 

The Defense Regulation 18B and the Fifth Column

Published December 4, 1940

Defense regulation18B was implemented this past May to protect Britain from possible traitors and spies residing there. For those who are unfamiliar with this legislation, it is used to take a person into custody on grounds of association or participation with a threat to the state, without a trial. Only days after the Defense Regulation 18B was put in place, the British Union of Fascists was stripped of its influence because of a number of arrests. The party was put under close observation after it released an advertisement aimed at recruiting teachers. The stated purpose for this regulation was well intended, but eventually paranoid officials used the regulation as grounds to arrest people that should not have been detained. A schoolteacher this past June was taken into custody after discussing with her students the tragic potential of a Nazi world, one in which British families might even feed on household pets. A harsh reprimand seemed appropriate punishment, while imprisonment seemed unnecessarily harsh. In August it was determined that more than 1,600 people were being detained without trial under the Defense Regulation. The numbers swelled because of the Fifth Column, a system in which anyone associated with a group that was known to have aided enemies could be imprisoned. Although it could be argued that Britain had no moral right to arrest people according to their political beliefs, this was a measure of precaution that the Secretary of State thought would better protect Britain. The Nazis engendered a certain fear in the British government, like feeling there was a tick on your skin after someone else has found one. However, there should be a limit to the power government has with which to govern especially in trying times because otherwise anxiety can undermine the need for trust.

The Black Market and it's many wonders

During WII the British population had to ration to help in the war effort. Many of these civilians soon got fed up with rationing so they began to shop on the Black Market. The Black Market was the trade of goods in violation of the official regulations created by the British government. The main reason why there was even a need for the Black Market was because the British government decided they needed to ration food in order to help in the war effort. The main foods that were rationed by the government were butter, bacon, sugar, meat, fish, jam, tea, biscuits, breakfast cereal, cheese, eggs, milk, and canned fruit. I couldn't live without they foods. The government claimed they only rationed foods that were unnecessary and that the citizens could still obtain a balanced diet. There is a huge difference between a balanced diet and a regular diet. Once the people became fed up without the rationed food the Black Market was created. Soon after the government discovered this and became disgruntled. They then hired around 900 inspectors to make sure that the statutory orders of the Ministry Food were obeyed by all citizens. If one was caught in the Black Market during the 1930s in England they were subject to fines of up to £500, with or without two years' imprisonment, plus three times the total capital involved in the transaction. I do not believe that the punishment for partaking in the Black Market should be increased because it is justified. You can clearly understand why people would partake in this and their acts are semi-justified. However, I do not believe that they deserve to get off the hook with no punishment. They are clearly breaking the law and still deserve a large punishment. Not only should the customers get punished, but also the retailers. Both people are at fault, yet I believe the retailer deserves the larger punishment. He/she is conducting this misdemeanor and therefore deserve a larger punishment. The retailer has obviously broken the rule himself/herself and also lead to many others breaking the law. Although this is a quite large problem I do not believe the Ministry of Food should hire more employees to find the retailers of the Black Market. The reasoning for rationing in the first place was to safe money to help supply the British army. If the government uses more money to employ, then it's orignial goal will ultimately fail. I hate being the bad guy, but the easiest way for inspectors to find retailers of the Black Market is to act like an innocent civilian who is just looking for some illegal treats and ask around in local bars, restaurants, classes, etc. If the inspector looks around hard enough one will be sure to find a retailer. To conclude, I don't believe that the Black Market is as big of a deal that the government is making it out to be. You can't blame the citizens of the United Kingdom to want royal food.

Barrage Balloons

A Barrage Balloon is a giant balloon or even a small blimp that were used to prevent low flights and pinpoint bombings by the Luftwaffe. These blimps/big balloons were tied/moored to wagons with strong cables that would destroy any aircraft that hit them. Also, these blimps were put up by the Air Raid Precautions, which could control the height of the Barrage balloon at any time. Mainly, the Barrage Balloon achieved its main goal by discouraging dive bombers and low level flights. I think this was a pretty good way to take away low level bombings and dive bombers because it was much more cost effective than building more planes or turrets/city protection. Also, this was a creative way to stop low level flight with a Blimp tied to a strong cables. Although, I don't think that they should've made a lot of these because with the money from building the Barrage Balloons they could have used that towards new technology and planes. Lastly, the Barrage Balloon was simply a quick fix to low level flights and achieved its goal of disabling low level flight.

Transportation

For this assignment, I looked deeper into the problem of transportation that was caused on the home front. There were a couple of different problems taking place with regard to transportation during the war. The first was that German planes were flying thousands of feet above ground, and so it was very difficult to see where people were when carrying out air raids. In an effort to make it even more difficult, there was a blackout law enacted restricting lights in transportation at night. As a result, cars were not permitted to have headlights on unless they were pointed straight down with 3 slits for minimal light. Trains also had the same problem, and they did not know where to stop, which was the biggest problem. In trains and in cars, the rates of accidents at night skyrocketed. This is an extremely difficult solution to solve, because the only solution is exactly what they didn't want: MORE LIGHT.  However, I think that the only way to have improved this problem is to have enacted some kind of curfew in the sense that drivers shouldn't be out later than they can see if it's going to cost them an accident and possibly their life. I know it sounds pathetic, but what else is supposed to happen if their goal is never to have light emmited?

Transportation

Blackout

During World War II, it was very common for the German to do air raids over Great Britian. In order to be stealth and un noticed, most of these air raids were performed at nights. Although this may have concealed the planes better, it made it harder to see what they would be bombing, so they looked for lights as an indicator of where people lived. In order to make it more difficult for the Germans and hopefully save British lives, the government made rules which limited the amount of light that could be emitted from your home or work, so that no light would be given off to the Germans. When first established, these rules were very strict. No one could let any light out at all which meant that they needed black curtains of paint to conceal the light. Storekeepers even had to build restrictions wouldn't let light out even when people came in and out of the stores. These rules were very strict and if citizens were caught disobeying the blackout, they were punished. Even streetlights were turned off which seemed reasonable at first, but that only increased the car accident rate significantly, so that around 600 people died every month from crashes. Over time however, the restrictions were altered to maximize safety from air raids but still making it safe for people on the ground such as limiting the amount of car accidents.

Desertion in the Armed Forces

The National Service (Armed Forces) Act was passed as soon as the UK declared war on germany.  It essentially said that all people from the ages of 18 to 41 were game to be signed up to fight in the war against their will.  The term that they used was conscription, which was first introduced in 1939, made it a requirement for all me 20 or 21 to take 6 months of military training.  The Nation service act simply just extended the ages to 18 to 41, and said anyone within that age group could have to go to war.  This new act caused a lot of people to try and find a way to get out of their "duty".  The most popular way to get out was by simply not signing up for the armed forces.  They would simply tell you to sign up, but you could easily and quite effectively just disregard this.  They would also do such things as pay to have someone who previously failed the medical test to take your part, and fail the medical test under your name.  Others would even buy counterfeit medical release forms.  Friends and family of physicians could get them for free.  However many of the doctors who forged on a large scale were caught and arrested.  Desertion in the Armed forces was a huge problem in world war 2 because virtually nobody wanted to fight, so they tried any way possible to get out of it.  The reason those who had deserted the armed forces had to resort to crime was because they didnt have an identity card, and more often than not would have to resort to looting.  Most men would desert right before being shipped off.  Records even show that there was a huge number of men missing who were supposed to take part in D-Day.  

Rationing

Rationing in Britain was introduced in 1940 to respond to the decrease of food imports. Food coupons were used to control food consumption. There were several disputes regarding 'cheating' to get food, even though some products like eggs, butter, and meat could be easily found in rural areas. Children's needs were taken into account, however. Luckily they were able to legally receive rare goods like orange juice and milk to help their growth. The government also allowed pregnant women to receive free milk as well, given that their family earned the minimum wage or less. Soon enough, there was a report starting to be written that gave nutritional advice. Winston Churchhill did not approve of the article, however, so it was never published. Eventually the government also began to ration clothing as well, which quickly became scarce. Towards the end of the rationing phase, the annual coupon allowance was 20, but a coat cost 18 coupons.

While rationing may seem to be a good idea from an economic point of view, it is impossible to govern the amount of food and nutrition we need as individual. People will try to get what they need, whether it is legal or not. Instead of rationing food, they should encourage cultivating food so they are not as reliant on imports. That way they will become self sustaining and the people are not as likely to become frustrated and hungry.

Air Raid Sirens

The sounding of air raid sirens was arranged by the Air Raid Wardens when the Luftwaffe (German air force) approached the British coast. The first siren was sounded before an air raid happened. People were expected to expect to take cover in air raid shelters immediately, before the actual raid started. People working on things important for the war effort were told to ignore the first siren telling them that aircraft were approaching. They were only allowed to take cover once the second siren sounded, when enemy aircraft were directly overhead. Another siren was sounded when it was safe to exit the shelters. This system of multiple sirens allowed ordinary people to be forewarned and safely out of the way, but let people working in essential jobs to keep working for as long as possible. It also provided a means of communication that could reach people even inside their air raid shelters, telling them that it was safe to leave.

You're Next... An American Threat

Upon reading this propaganda, I was immediately appalled. It is a shocking image full with threats. It is physically threatening, showing a muscular Uncle Sam pulling up his sleeves, ready to finish anyone or anything off who is in his way. And it is socially and mentally threatening by using the racial slur of "Jap" and warning that the "Japs are next". It is hard to comprehend how anyone could create a poster like this, but by looking back at history it can be easier to understand or explain (but not necessarily excuse) it. 

On December 7th, 1941, America was at a standstill. The entire country was shocked. The Japanese had launched an unprovoked bomb raid of Pearl Harbor, using about 440 warplanes, killing about 2,400 and injuring 1,200. It is not surprising that this ignited a fire of anger, resentment and racism within American hearts towards the Japanese. Due to that anger and fear, Japanese internment camps were set up in 1942; imprisoning about 110,000 Japanese Americans, as well dropping two atomic bombs on Japan. It is easy to pass judgement on whoever made this poster as a horrible, racist person. And not that anyone would make a poster like this today, but weren't similar feelings stirred when two planes, piloted by Islamist terrorists, crashed into the World Trade Center on 9/11? These attacks killed almost 3,000 innocent lives. I would not believe anyone who says that there is no racism towards Muslims or people of Middle Eastern descent in the U.S. You just have to look at an airport security line; who is more likely of being pulled off to the side for an extra search?

I sometimes have trouble using historical or temporal relativism as an explanation for this type of propaganda. And from a moral standpoint, the poster is plain horrible. But it is not so far fetched to understand how this poster was created at such a time and how it helped urge Americans to dedicate their time to WWII and boost morale. Obviously the image shows that Americans thought the Japanese as pure enemies, like in a video game, and not as another country with the similar goals, filled with real human beings. I am not saying that a poster exactly like this would be made today, advocating the war in Iraq, rather that the poster is very significant to current times. My first impression of this piece of propaganda was that it was offensive in so many different ways. And when trying to apply this poster to modern times, it gets me thinking; is this what Americans are thinking (maybe not so outright violently) silently about our war on terrorism? Do Americans think of Islamist terrorists just as people we have shoot down as in our video games and not as sons or brothers? I think some do. Perhaps Iraq is next for the Americans who want "finish the job". 

Bomb Disposal Units

One out of every ten bombs that the Germans dropped during the Luftwaffe over Britain did not go off. And this 10% proposed as much as a danger to the British population as the 90% that exploded did. The responsibility fell on the Air Raid Precautions, which was formed by the British Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin, in 1935 and the Bomb Disposal Units. The Air Raid Wardens had to locate the unexploded bombs, evacuate the area and inform the Bomb Disposal Unit of the bomb. The BDU would then send someone to the area to defuse the bomb. German manufacturers changed the bombs in 1940 though, by added anti-handling devices meaning that the bomb would explode if the fuse was removed. This changed the way the BDU handled the bombs and they then had to cut into the bomb and take out the explosive contents, making it much harder for them to handle the bombs. 

Home Guard

When the second world war began their were many middle aged men that offered their services to the army. Winston Churchill proposed an idea to the head of the air raid precautions to create a Home Guard. After the German army began there western offense, Britain announced over the radio that they were looking for men who were between the ages of 40 and 65 to become local defense volunteers (LDV's). These men were not paid, and the only requirement that these men needed to have was to be able to shoot a rifle or a shotgun. After the defeat in France the LDV's were deployed to Britain's' coast. In Britain they defended the munition factories, organized road blocks, checked identity cards, and capture German's who's planes were shot down. However, a major problem for the LDV's was the lack of shot guns and pistols. Britain asked the public to help supply the men, but their contributions weren't enough. The war veterans became involved in helping the LDV prepare to fight the Germans. They created training schools, one of the most important schools was named Osterley. The Home Guard was trained in sabotage as well as the use of high explosives.

Gas Masks

After Hitler came to power, the British government didn't know what would follow to. In fear of chemical warfare used by the Luftwaffe-the German air force- the government provided gas masks for British civilians in 1939. For nearly a year, these gas masks were used by 75% of "Londoners."

Although the government might have frightened its civilians with talk of chemical warfare, this, I believe, is what made people obey the government's new rule- that all citizens must wear the gas masks when they were outside. In frightening civilians about poison gas and distributing the masks unfairly, this created commotion because the people that did not receive the masks worried they would be in danger of being killed by poison in the air. Because the government did this, I believe it really cared about keeping its civilians and maintaining population. The fact that the government punished those that misplaced or broke their masks by making them pay for the masks only supports that argument as well as the fact that Air Raid Wardens (group created by government) conducted monthly inspections of gas masks. Post Office pillar boxes were given a new coating of paint that would detect  gas. This made it easier for Gas Identification Squads, which were a group of chemists, to see if the gas in the air was poisonous. The fact that the British Government enforced that people wear this mask, show that they wanted to protect their people. I don't think that the British government should have inflicted greater punishment on the people not carrying their gas masks because if the people wanted to save their lives, they would have listened to the government because all it was trying to do was protect its people from somewhat avoidable death. 

Barrage Balloons

Barrage Balloons were a way to protect people on the Home Front by preventing low-level attacks and dive bombing. Basically, they were huge balloons tethered to a wagon by cables. These cables were strong enough to destroy any aircraft that collides with it. Indeed, the balloons sometimes accomplished their goal, but there were also negative ramifications as well. For example, the balloons darkened the city by blocking out light from the stars or moon. Also, the balloons could be easily destroyed by machine guns shooting them down. This posed a danger to the home front because the barrage balloons would often come down in flames. During storms, the balloons had to be taken down because they would behave unpredictably in bad weather. Bringing down the balloons and "storm bedding" it was hard work, but had to be done because otherwise, the balloon would break away and drag the cables with it. 

Atomic Bomb

NBC aired this piece in 1995 not only to honor the anniversary of the dropping of the Atomic bomb and subsequent Japanese surrender, but to also remind us of the great travesties that come with such destruction.  This video was a success becomes it had a somber overtone.  Also, the way it featured interviews from both American and Japanese perspectives contributed to its success.  This video reminds us that we won the war, but at a price which only time can measure.  The dropping of the Atomic bomb contributed to hundreds of thousands of deaths, but also introduced the world to such destruction.  It created a weapon of death, something that corrupt leaders and nations now strive for in order to gain world power.  It certainly changed how wars are fought, as now WMD's are a constant worry when going into war.  At the same time, the atomic bomb was the means in which we won WWII.  Had we not used this weapon, who knows how many more people would've died.  Overall, I believe this video was successful in being a somber tribute to the anniversary of the A Bomb.  Its effect on the future, however, is all relative to the viewer and their opinion

Textbook

There are parts of our textbook that I like and dislike.  First of all, I like how the textbook organizes the pre-war activity by nation.  I also like how they show each countries "path to war."  The textbook struggles in that it doesn't devote enough energy to the holocaust, as only 1 or 2 pages in focused on this travesty.  If i could change the textbook, i would make it so there are 4 chapters; Pre-war (similar to the type in our current book), Wartime (with many primary and secondary sources), Holocaust (its affect on the war, the world, and the jewish people), and Post War(the affect this war had, how it revolutionized society).  It also might be interesting if we read a second textbook from a different perspective on the war, because the US and other countries obviously see the war as much different things.  I don't believe a textbook has to be in chronological order, except for the Wartime section.  We can learn in many different ways, and the learning could possibly be more effective if we focused on a particular theme or motive, rather than dates and names