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.