The Ohio State World War II Study Abroad Program explores World War II in the countries of England, France, Poland, and Berlin. The program’s first destination was London, England. World War II as seen through British eyes is the “People’s War” meaning citizens, not just soldiers, participated and all aspects of society were impacted. During the war British citizens rallied behind Churchill, engaging in the war effort in any way possible, sacrificing for the greater good of the country. Our three main stops in London were the Churchill War Rooms, Bletchley Park, and the Imperial War Museum. Each site promoted the theme of the British taking great pride in the collective sacrifice and duty as a nation.
The Churchill War Rooms were a system of underground bunkers where Winston Churchill and the British military made some of the most critical decisions in the war. As I entered the War Rooms, I was struck by the tight, musty environment some people spent the majority of their wartime lives. The narrow, pale yellow hallways guide one through different chambers, each remaining in their former war state. I found it difficult to imagine many people working in cramped, poorly ventilated, smoky conditions for hours on end. For some, the war rooms would become their second home, working tirelessly around the clock. Women played a significant role in the daily operations of the war rooms and were recognized for their ability to step into roles occupied by men who went to war and perform well. While the exhibits at this museum certainly lauded Churchill for his leadership throughout the war, the sacrifices of the people who worked within the war rooms stood out.
Bletchley Park, located about forty minutes outside of London by train, was the center of British codebreaking operations. Bletchley Park played a critical role in breaking the German Enigma code, which gave the allies important information on the German military. The dimly lit huts, the buildings where different codebreaking operations were conducted at Bletchley, were smaller than anticipated. The park’s exhibits emphasized the duty and secrecy workers operated under at the park played into the “People’s War” theme. Each day approximately 9,000 workers came and went from Bletchley Park, working in small, dimly lit, hot conditions for up to eighteen hours. Yet there was no complaining. Instead workers performed their duties, ranging from intercepting German telegraphs to operating Bombe machines, the large codebreaking machines developed by the famous Alan Turing. The secret of Bletchley Park’s operations existed until 1974, when it was revealed by the British government. The dedication and secrecy displayed by British citizens who worked at Bletchley Park reflected the desire to assist the allies in winning the “People’s War” through any necessary action.
Our final stop in London was the Imperial War Museum. Its World War II exhibit guides one through the war, highlighting the efforts of British soldiers and citizens. The concept of perseverance recurred throughout the exhibit of the “People’s War”. In class we had discussed the destruction the German bombing efforts had on the people of London. The displays of the German five-hundred-pound bomb, the V1, and the further enhanced V2 rocket illustrated the destructive capabilities of German weaponry. Seeing the bombs in person and imagining their destructive capabilities magnified my appreciation for the resilience of the British considering hundreds-of-thousands of bombs were dropped on London and the surrounding areas throughout the war.
The smaller rocket hanging on the left is an example of a V1 rocket. On the right, an enhanced V2 stands tall.
This is an image of Churchill’s living quarters as it was during the war. Here, Churchill delivered several speeches over radio.