How Far Did the Second World War Affect Family Life in Britain Between 1939 and 1945?

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Family life in 1938 would have been ordinary for most; some of the older generation would be recovering from the First World War, others would just have been born or starting school and the adults would be doing their day-to-day, unknowing. Then, on the 3rd January 1939, at 11:15am, Neville Chamberlain made an announcement that meant life would never be the same again. “This morning the British Ambassador in Berlin handed the German government a final note, stating that unless we heard from them - by 11 o'clock - that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war would exist between us; I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received and that, consequently, this country is at war with Germany. ” ______ Rationing was introduced into Britain because the Germans targeted the food supplies, leaving us weaker and therefore more vulnerable. Before World War II, the British imported roughly 55 million tonnes of food per year, and as the Germans began to take down vital merchant vessels, it had to be reduced, and shared fairly. This was done by rationing. It was introduced in the beginning of 1940, when bacon, butter and sugar were rationed. This was very quickly followed by meat, fish, tea, jam, biscuits, breakfast cereals, cheese, eggs, milk and canned fruit. Rationing seemed popular, with roughly 60% in favour of the system, but it presented difficulties. Greedy and desperate people stole others ration cards and used them, meaning some often went without. This defeated the purpose, as rationing was meant to allow everyone a fair share. Also, those in the countryside often lived on farms, and so could produce much of their own food like; milk, eggs, chickens, beef, and bacon. Every member of the public was issued a ration card, which soon became crucial in nearly every household in Britain. The ration books were
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