Postwar Britain, as it was portrayed by the BBC World Service on September 19, 1946 and the program London Column.
As much of a glimpse of Britain getting back on its feet, it was also a reminder that the affects of war would be lingering for a good long time.
In this episode the issue and growing problem with Squatters throughout London was taking an alarming turn. On the one hand, understandable because so much of London, and all of Britain for that matter was reduced to rubble during the relentless bombings during the Blitz and later with V-2 attacks toward the end of the war. On the other hand, it was creating a problem because of the uptick in crime and pilfering – even though most of the places in question were abandoned mansions and houses which brought up the issue over why the government hadn’t requisitioned the properties for shelter because of the dire shortage of livable housing.
On the subject of the Blitz and its aftermath, acknowledgement of the sixth anniversary (September 7th) of the day the relentless bombings began. The Germans conducted mass air attacks against industrial targets, towns, and cities, beginning with raids on London, towards the end of the Battle of Britain in 1940 (a battle for daylight air superiority, between the Luftwaffe and the Royal Air Force, over the United Kingdom). By September 1940, the Luftwaffe had lost the Battle of Britain, and the German air fleets (Luftflotten) were ordered to attack London, to draw RAF Fighter Command into a battle of annihilation. Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe, ordered the new policy on 6 September 1940. From 7 September 1940, London was systematically bombed by the Luftwaffe for 56 of the following 57 days and nights. Notable attacks included a large daylight attack against London on 15 September, a large raid on 29 December 1940 against London — resulting in a firestorm known as the Second Great Fire of London, and a large raid on the night of 10–11 May 1941.
And on the human interest side – a story of a couple who are parents to sixteen children, ages six weeks to twenty-five years. Although not typical of the average family in Britain, they still encounter the difficulties brought on by rationing and food shortages. The war may be over, but the after-affects continue. The squatters would continue for a good long time. And so would new famlilies.
That’s a sampling of what was going on in post-World War 2 Britain, as presented by the BBC World Service and the London Column weekly program.
