A nation pulling together
The Home Front idea in 1914-18 was uniquely British. Other nations never mobilised their populations during World War One as the British belatedly started to do from 1916, or were occupied too rapidly to co-ordinate their labour on a national basis.
'... the nation re-activated the Home Front idea six months before the Second World War was declared ...'
The idea of a Home Front probably stirred the popular imagination only in the later stages of World War One, as in 1914 the nation expected it all to be ‘over by Christmas’. The sight of nearly five million women at work – some in uniform – the advent of rationing and air raids all brought this about.
By contrast, the nation re-activated the Home Front idea six months before the Second World War was declared, and probably exaggerated the threats to the nation, but involved everyone from the start.
The era of 1940s Britain when the nation all pulled together seems very distant and romantic to us now, but was caused by Britain’s pathetic lack of military and political preparedness for war and for that we must lay the blame at the feet of the politicians of the time. Had they correctly interpreted the threat from Germany, Italy and Japan, there would have been no need for a Home Front at all.
About the author
Published: 2005-03-14
