The first World War

London through the ages - 20th century I (1900-1945)

1900:

“That time was of particular significance for London, as the great city was at the height of its influence as the capital of largest empire in history.

Many people are surprised when they discover that even as far back as 1900, London had considerable infrastructure and technology. Supported by its enormous population of 6.5 million *, the London of 1900 had most of the modern conveniences we have today - electric light and gas heating, an extensive telephone network (with transatlantic line to America), an extensive underground railway network, buses (then known as omnibuses) and taxis, a national postal service and metropolitan police force.

*        London's population continued to rise until its all time peak in 1936 when it reached 8.6 million. Subsequently it declined, but towards the end of the century began to rise sharply again. The 2006 estimate is approx 7.5 million.“

http://www.londononline.co.uk/1900/

World War One:

Britain declared the war on 4^th of August 1914 with a huge wave of enthusiasm, because of Germany‘s invasion of Belgium.

 

Alfred Leet‘s recruitment poster for Kitchener‘s Army

The new army, often referred as Kitchener‘s Army,

 was an volunteer army formed in the UK during the first World War.

http://www.world-war-posters.com/images/T/warGB006.jpg



-80.000 men already serving the army

-many more men joined spurred in by propaganda, nationalism and the promise of adventure

-pressure was put on `slockers´ who had not yet enlisted

-Soldiers marched trough London to attract recruits

-Women distribute white feathers (a sign of cowardice) to those not wearing a uniform

-1914 freedom of speech was curtailed

-31^st of May 1915 London experienced it‘s first bombing raids of German zeppelin airships with 700 deads

-Elections of 1915 were deffered to after the war

-Despendent on material resources and so it started a slow process of attrition 

-1916 Britains first conscription law

-without the navy, Britain could not have stayed in the war

-Maritime trade was sustained

-Lloyd George, chnacellor of the exchequer  and minister of munitions converted the industry to war production

-Britons wished to know for what they are actually fighting

-Lloyd George told them that Englands aim is to reach international freedom

-1918 Britain became a democrazy with male suffrage and votes for women over 30

     World War One - Zeppelin Raids

“On the morning of January 19th 1915 two German Zeppelin airships, the L3 and L4 took off from Fuhlsbüttel in Germany. Both airships carried 30 hours of fuel, 8 bombs and 25 incendiary devices. They had been given permission by the Emperor Wilhelm II to attack military and industrial buildings. The Emperor had forbidden an attack on London due to concern for the Royal family to whom he was related.



http://www.gwlmagazine.com/wp-content/
uploads/2011/05/ww1_zeppelin_poster.jpg

The two German Zeppelin airships crossed the Norfolk coastline at around 8.30pm. Having crossed the coast the L3 turned north and the L4 south. The incendiary bombs were dropped to enable the pilots to navigate to their chosen locations Great Yarmouth and Kings Lynn where they dropped their bombs.



A total of nine people were killed and some buildings were damaged. But the effect of the raid on a population who were used to battles being fought by soldiers on the battlefield was immense.



http://www.greatwardifferent.com/Great_War/
Deutsch/Zeppelin_01.htm

 

Morale dropped and people feared further raids and believed that a German invasion would follow.

Further raids were carried out on coastal towns and London during 1915 and 1916. The silent airships arrived without warning and with no purpose built shelters people hid in cellars or under tables. There were a total of 52 Zeppelin raids on Britain claiming the lives of more than 500 people.

   

http://www.greatwardifferent.com/Great_War/
Deutsch/Zeppelin_01.htm



Although artillery guns were used against the airships they had little effect. In May 1916 fighter planes armed with incendiary bullets were used to attack the Zeppelins. The incendiary bullets pierced the Zeppelins and ignited the hydrogen gas they were filled with. Once alight the airships fell to the ground. It was the beginning of the end of the raids.“     

 http://www.historyonthenet.com/WW1/zeppelin_raids.htm