British civilians in the front line: Air Raids, Productivity and Wartime Culture, 1939–1945

This is the first full-length study of the behaviour of British civilians and their reactions to air raids during the Second World War. It unravels the multiple day-to-day, concrete and local influences on people’s behaviour at these times of great danger, risk and uncertainty, and challenges the traditional image of civilians as passive shelterers under attack. It uncovers Churchill and his government’s desperate attempts to persuade key workers to continue with their work once the air raid siren had sounded, and reveals the complex reasons why so many workers were willing to run such risks. By drawing on a range of sources, including secret government documents, newspapers, national and local records, feature films, as well as interviews with those who worked during air raids, this book provides a fascinating analysis of private meanings and public media representations of civilians ‘in the front line’. This Book Offers A New Insight Into The Behaviour Of British Civilians And Their Reactions To Air Raids During The Second World War. It Unravels The Multiple Day-to-day, Concrete And Local Influences On People's Behaviour At These Times Of Great Danger, Risk And Uncertainty, And Challlenges The Traditional Image Of Civilians As Passive Shelterers Under Attack.--jacket. By Drawing On A Range Of Sources, Including Secret Government Documents, Newspapers, National And Local Records, Feature Films, As Well As Interviews With Those Who Worked During Air Raids, This Book Provides An Analysis Of Private Meanings And Public Media Representations Of Civilians 'in The Front Line'. It Will Be Enjoyed By Historians Of The Second World War And Those Seeking To Understand Better Ways In Which Civilians Have Experienced War In The Twentieth Century.--jacket. The Front-line Runs Through The Factories -- A Present To Hitler : Policy And Persuasion -- Restraints On Working After The Siren -- Activities After The Siren -- Roof Spotters -- Reasons -- Fall-out. Helen Jones. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [205]-214) And Index. This book, the first full-length study of British civilians' behaviour in air raids during the Second World War, challenges a common image of civilians as passive shelterers during air raids. -- .