Bombing and evacuation

The Second World War saw mass bombing campaigns against British civilians for the first time. Nazi Germany targeted British cities in 1940-1941, hoping to destroy British industry and morale. The government had prepared for this by evacuating many children away from the cities the moment the war started. For many city children, this was the first time they had been to the countryside, seen farm animals or eaten vegetables. For many children, away from home for so long, returning to their old lives and families in the city was very difficult.