WW2 Studying Sources Essay, Research Paper

Source F shows figures for food rationing. What does this tell us about

the war time supply of food Source F tells us what was the typical weekly food rations offered to everyone. The

source shows us what foods were available at that time. On the list there seem to be that

dairly products are in short supply this suggests that the farmers in britain would not have

had a good year for produce and britain hasn´t been able to import any. There are no

vegaetables on the list this implies that thay are in very short supply or that it was left up

to the people to grow their own. Question 2 (b)

What value is a TV program like dads army in portraying the work of

the Home Guard in world war two. The TV programme dads army has some useful points about the second world war and

potraying the work of the home guard. The programs main aim is to entertain and make

people laugh it isn´t aimed to reflect everything about the home guard. From the program

I have found out that the home guard was always keen to fight and give it their best. It

also gives the audience an insight about how, sometimes the officers sometimes recieve

superficial treatment to all the other officers. Other than that it doesn´t go into much more

detail, it doesn´t tell us about all the depresing times the home guard had to endure or

about the terrible conditions they had to work in. Question 2 (c)

Sources A+B show two opposing views of the public reaction to

bombing in London in 1940. In what ways are they so different? Source A is a letter written by Humphrey Jennings to his wife during the war, October

1940. This is a very personal letter and was only meant to be seen by his wife. This seems

to be a letter of re-assurance it implies that Jennings is trying to help boost his wifes´

morale by her reding this letter, It seems to be an uplifting letter. He seems very optimistic

about the war “certain to beat him” he goes on about how much fun he´s having “people

singing”, “determination”, “warmth” This suggests he is trying to comfort his wife.

Source B is a report to local officials on the condition in the East End of London,

September 1940. Source B totaly contradicts source A by saying there was no laughter,

no humour, unplanned hysteria. The two sources were written at the same time but are

very oppisite. This is a report to the local officials so the audience could be the

government this also implies that it could be over exaggerated to help their cause.Question 2 (d)

Why would the government be keen to allow the publication of

sources such as C, D, and E. Explain your answer thoroughly. Sources C, D, E are all sources of propaganda. Source C shows the king and queen

visiting people in a shelter. It´s purpose of publication would have been to keep up the

spirits of the civilians and it implies that, if the the shelters are good enough for the king

and queen then thay are good enough for anyone it also encourages people to use the

shelters. Source D has been taken from the daily express, A good selling tabloid

newspaper. The newspaper is read by thousands of civilians and this cartoon would have been seen by all of them. the caption is trying to promote a humorous attitude “is it alright

to come outnow, Henry” “yes not even a scratch”. It tells us that the shelters keep you

safe as well as encouraging people to laugh and keep their spirits up. It also has another

slant, Encourages you to grow your own food. Source E is a photograph of a milman on

his rounds one morning after a raid. The source shows the milkman doing his rounds

through all of the destruction, just carrying on with his every day work, this suggests to

everyone that life goes onjust as normal and they should look at the milkman as a role

model. Question2 (e)

Study sources G and H. Why do these sources give different

interpretations of the role of women in the war? Sources G and H give different interpretations of the roles of women Source G shows a

negative view of the land army. The womans account of the land army was negative “ we

had sausages everyday”, “the water was horrible”, may be a slight exaggeration of the

truth. This may be a build up of all the bad things about the place she was at or where she

came from. She said that she wasn´t welcome.

The source was written forty years after the event and this could have caused her to

remember just the bad points and she could have forgot important points and make bits

up. She has a bad view on physical labour this may be because she hasn´t been used to it .

Source H was from 50 years after the war and the woman who is commenting on

the land army may have forgotten key aspects from her time in the land army. The person

interviewing the land army girl will have written down selective information which will

support entirely his or her on views on what is important. This source totally contradicts

Source G but the one thing that they both agree on is the fact that there was physical

labour involved but the woman in source G says that the physical work was fun. She could

also have gone to a different area which was better than what she was used to. The girls

overall account was a positive one.

Question 2 (f)

Study all sources. Do they prove that the British people suffered great

hardship during the war? Source A tells us that the war was going fine, he tells his wife that they were

“determined”, “singing and laughing” it doesn´t really give us any information to tell us

that British people were enduring hard times. It hints that London was undergoing hard

times because he talks about them being hit by air raids

Source B proclaims grave hardship within the East End of London, “there was no

milk, no bread no phones” however the source only states the problems being suffered by

the east end of London not the whole of Britain.

Source C is a photograph published as propaganda. It isn´t supposed to explain to

us of all the problems of British people but to spread a particular message. It does hint that

people had to use shelters in times of hardship.

Source D is also propaganda with it´s main purpose to entertain. It implies that

every body was undergoing hardship because of the destruction in the background.

Source E is also propaganda, showing that there is destruction but we can´t use

this picture to prove anything because the picture could be staged or set up .

Source F talks about he hardships of everyone because everyone had to be

involved in rationing. However the evidence isn´t solid because there was a black market

which got people around this problem.

Sources G and H to different accounts of the land army. The woman in source G

talks about how hard and horrible it was but the woman in source H talks about how good

it was, they are only single womens´ views so we can´t entirely trust them.