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Virtual Museum Exhibition -

Impact and legacy of World Wars on the British

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Fun Facts

FUN FACTSs:

  • The U-Boats were the only German threat Churchill ever worried about.

  • The youngest British Soldier in WW1 was 12 years old.

  • Great Britain's air force was called the RAF or the Royal Air Force. Germany's air force was called the Luftwaffe.

  • The codename for Hitler's invasion plans was Operation Sea Lion.

  • It is estimated that around 1,000 British planes were shot down during the battle, while over 1,800 German planes were destroyed.

  • The main types of fighter planes used in the battle were the Messerschmitt Bf109 and the Bf110 by the German Luftwaffe and Hurricane Mk and Spitfire Mk by the Royal Air Force.

  • The leader of the German Luftwaffe was Herman Goering. The leader of the Royal Air Force was Sir Hugh Dowding.

  • Germany continued to bomb London at night until May of 1941. This series of bombings was called the Blitz. At one point London was bombed for 57 nights in a row.

  • Hitler finally stopped bombing London because he needed his bombers to invade Russia. 

Production

Trade & Distribution

Consumption of goods

Agriculture

Women Labour

Age of Austerity

Men return from War

How did WWI and II affect those involved? Did it lead to lasting change?

What impact did the world wars have on British society?

INTRODUCTION 

This research explores the impact of the world wars on the economy in British society. My historical investigation accommodates versatile explanations and justifications for my inquiry. According to dictionary.com, “an economy is an area of the production, distribution and trade, as well as consumption of goods and services by different agents.” Agriculture also played a significant role in British society before World War 1 and was added to the research of the economy. The research continued to explore more economic factors during and after World War 2 and how it affected society in Britain including women labour, the age of austerity and men returning from war.

 

Therefore, I structured my research by examining various elements of the British economy during and after the First World War including:

  1. production 

  2. trade and distribution

  3. consumption of goods, and 

  4. agriculture. 

 

As well as, examined various elements of the British economy during and after the Second World War including: 

  1. women’s labour, 

  2. age of austerity,

  3. men returning from war. 

 

I provided supporting evidence with artifacts, photographs, timelines, and graphs. Any creative component displayed on my website incorporates a brief analysis to accommodate the understanding of the narrative to the viewer. Additionally, included engaging facts, to appeal to the audience. I concluded my research by confirming whether or not these developments continued after the wars. Additionally, I will restate the main inquiry, additional topics related and affected, as well as the significant supporting evidence. By understanding this impact, individuals will attain a greater understanding of the effects of the wars. 

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British economy and its effects on society during and after the First World War:

 

1. Production

The First World War (WW1) had a tremendous effect on British society, especially in the area of production of goods and services. In the late 1800s and early 1900s men dominated the manufacturing industries. WW1 forced men to enlist into the army which significantly reduced the labor force, and in turn, decreased production. According to encyclopedia. 1914-1918-online.net, “23.8 percent of male employees in the chemical and explosives industry, 23.7 percent of those in electrical engineering, 21.8 percent of miners, 19.5 percent from the engineering trades, 18.8 percent from the iron and steel industry, and even 16.8 percent of those in small arms manufacturing had enlisted.” The British economy experienced challenges administering raw materials, coordinating the distribution of finished goods, and balancing the demands to war-related industries, as well as continued support for the war effort among employers and labor representatives. 

 

2.  Trade & Distribution

Britain had heavily relied on exchanging goods in the world. In the early 1900’s Britain was the world's largest importer and exporter of goods. Britain imported food, raw materials, and agricultural necessities and an exporter of manufactured goods and coal. WW1 changed trade and distribution significantly, where the British industries were forced to focus on fulfilling the demands of the British army and then civilians. The armaments production was implemented by state-owned facilities by the British government beyond England's borders. England had great suppliers, such as India and Manchester. Indian Industries supplied many goods to the army, which mainly consisted of jute bags, cloth for making uniforms, leather, and saddles. However, part of the German government strategy was to disrupt trade and distribution in Britain. The Germans believed that this disruption would cripple the British economy, hurting the British society, and would give them the upper hand in the war. One of the German's main methods of disrupting the trade and distribution supply chain was to hunt down and undertake the British merchant vessels with battle submarines, formerly known as U-Boats. This affected the British economy since manufacturers were unable to get raw material to produce goods and services to the British people. This resulted in shortages, forcing the British government to implement rationing and having to subsidize purchases. The reduction in trade and distribution caused the British economy to dwindle, costing the government much more than they had anticipated the war.

 

3. Consumption of goods 

The Economy of Britain and its society was affected tremendously by the demands for food during WW1. According to www.nam.ac.uk, the entire British force “consisted of just over 250,00 regulars and a total of 700,000 trained soldiers.”  Due to the massive number of soldiers present during the war, lots of food was sent away to them. According to spartacus-educational.com, “a total of 3,240,948 tons of food was sent from Britain during WW1.” With the disruption in trade and distribution by the Germans hunting down and attacking British merchant vessels the consumption of goods reduced. The import of food declined and food became very expensive. British civilians panicked and there were very long queues outside shops. In 1918, new laws were established by the government to implement a system called rationing. According to www.iwm.org.uk, this system was formulated to ensure “fair shares for all at a time of national shortage.” Another way to decrease the expenses on food was to use coupons. Foods such as meat, fish, tea, jam, biscuits, breakfast cereals, cheese, eggs, milk, and canned fruit were all rationed so everyone got what they required. These laws were very strict. Each individual received unique ration cards that can be used for certain shops. Shops for the butcher, baker, and grocer, were decided by the individual. If anyone was found cheating could either be fined or sent to prison.

 

The Economy was severely affected because Britain was not able to trade without the risk of the German attack. These German ships were deployed to destroy any imports of food by the British which just before the world war amounted to 55 million dollars. With less food being imported and rationing taken place. Shopkeepers were not able to maintain their level of sales before the world war. This meant that they made less profit and with less profit, fewer taxes were paid to the British government. The British government, therefore, had the additional problem of having to subsidize foods using coupons and receiving fewer taxes to manage the British economy.

 

4. Agriculture 

The Agricultural Revolution began in Britain around the turn of the 18th century. Although a lot of food was imported, British society farmed and harvest agricultural products including cereals, chiefly wheat, oats, and barley; root vegetables, chiefly potatoes, and sugar beet; pulse crops such as beans or peas; forage crops such as cabbages, vetches, rape, and kale; fruit, particularly apples and pears; and hay for animal feed. Agriculture played a significant role in contributing to the British economy before the war. WW1 disrupted agriculture and affected British society. According to www.farminguk.com, “more than 170,000 farmers fought in the trenches and up to half a million farm horses were requisitioned by the War Office to help at the front line.” In 1917, the British government had bought 400 British Saunderson Tractors. Another 3.2 million dollars was invested in US models, such as Fordson, a brand name of tractors and trucks. The government drive, formerly known as, “Ploughing Up” campaign of 1917, used an additional 2.5 million acres of land used for growing cereals. The Ploughing Up campaign was a government drive to motivate farmers to grow as much food as possible. Unfortunately, in this time of conflict, the British agricultural economy had taken hit. The land was continually destroyed by bombs from rival countries, farmers and their workers were at the front line and trenches and merchant vessels containing agricultural necessities, such as fertilizer, were destroyed.

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British economy and its effects on society during and after the Second World War:

 

1. Women Labour

After WW1, the women's suffrage movement finally succeeded through two laws in 1918 and 1928. This movement did not just give women the right to vote, but for the first time, women felt that they were officially being acknowledged as equal to men. This equality never really materialized for women in what was a male-dominated society. During the Second World War (WW2), men aged between 18 and 41 were required to partake in the navy and army. This created a void in the workforce, immediately affecting the economy of Britain. This gave new birth to the movement, and women volunteered to take the place of men in different industries. No longer were women being used exclusively for domestic services, secretarial work, being viewed as the weaker gender, that their place was to make babies and take care of their home. Women were now replacing men in key roles in the workforce. Women worked in the factories, constructing weapons, and many others joined the Land Army to work on farms. Not only did this change the views on women's capability to the task, but although many men left their jobs, the British economy was able to survive with the cooperation of women. 

 

2. Age of Austerity 

On 8 May 1945, satisfaction and welfare were broadcasted throughout Britain after six years of conflict and sacrifice. Unfortunately, Britain had also undergone several economical challenges from the aftermath of WW2. This period in UK history is formerly called the Age of Austerity. According to socialistreview.org.uk, "Britain was undernourished, dirty and class-ridden. After five years of war, people were exhausted. Queues formed outside bakers' shops early each morning. Over a third of the 12 million dwellings had no bath or hot water." Britain spent approximately £7 billion on the war effort and had a national debt risen from £760 million to £3500 million. 177 merchant ships and two-thirds of the Navy had been sunk and Britain continued to have a shortage of food and raw materials. Therefore, wartime rationing remained for another 10 years. According to socialistreview.org.uk, “the government set about nationalizing the Bank of England, coal mines, electricity and gas, railways, British Airways and other sections of the economy. The British government nationalized around 20 percent of the economy and created the NHS.” Tax from supplies was high to assist the Government for the reconstruction of several properties owned by factories, shops, and houses that had been destroyed in large numbers. According to socialistreview.org.uk, in 1948 the chancellor Sir Stafford Cripps introduced an austerity budget including a wage freeze. He told the congress, “There is only a certain sized cake. If a lot of people want a larger slice they can only get it by taking it from others.” Unemployment rose from 400,000 to 1.75 million. Britain was dependent on a £1.1 billion US loan. To combat absenteeism, the sport was banned during the week." This reconstruction caused economic hardship on British society and although many rebelled about the new austerity measures British society rallied together to build back Britain.

 

3. Men returning from War

According to, Dr. Nigel Hunt, senior lecturer in psychology at Nottingham Trent University. “People don't just forget about the war. These things do come back to haunt us.” Several women were sent home from their jobs as men returned from the war to continue their jobs. Unfortunately, men were physically and mentally scarred by the war. The trauma men were experiencing is what we formerly call Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). According to www.psychiatry.org, "posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event." Former military and army men would be engulfed by their nightmares, not only experience the war but smell it and hear it, like if they were there again. These sudden experiences of the war would disrupt and distract their daily activities, inducing them to have panic attacks and mood swings. This disorder disabled the men to resume normal life which interrupted the workflow and income. The men were not being diagnosed well and many believed they would manage it themselves. The economy and society faced another hit because of WW2. 

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CONCLUSION - DID THE CHANGES LAST?

This research explored the impact of the world wars on the economy in British society. The economy for WW1 was defined as production, trade and distribution, consumption of goods, and agriculture. During WW1 the British economy experienced challenges with a significant loss of labor due to enlisting, administering of raw materials, coordinating the distribution of finished goods, balancing the demands to war-related industries, as well as continued support for the war effort among employers and labor representatives. The hunting down and attack of the British merchant vessels by the Germans with battle submarines also disrupted the supply chain causing the British to introduce rationing. The British farmland was continually destroyed by bombs from rival countries, farmers and their workers were at the front line and trenches and merchant vessels containing agricultural necessities, such as fertilizer, were destroyed. Additionally, the research explored WW2 and focused on the impact of WW2 on the economy in British society. The research reflected that women replaced men labor as the men went off to war. The age of austerity introduced hardship to British society, and the men returning from the war were expected to build back the British economy but were riddled with PTSD. These two world wars affect British society and its economy. The British economy before the First World Aar was the economic giant of the world and was the largest importer and exporter of goods and services but now in shambles.

 

But did the changes last, was Britain and its society able to recover from these world wars? During the First World War there was a decrease in British employment and many soldiers never returned thus decreasing the population. A decrease in employees disrupted the company's overall income. The population around 1914 was 4.8 million people. In 2020 this grew to 67,886,011 and according to www.ons.gov.uk, 1.34 million, unemployed. With the current population exceeding the population in 1914, countless more individuals are working and contributing to the economy and society. Since Britain is not facing any bombing attacks, merchant ships are successfully coming to Britain with all the supplies, such as raw materials and agricultural necessities, required for British society. Lasting changes also came after WW2. Women do have more job opportunities however according to www.parliament.uk/commons-library, “this is because a much higher share of women than men are employed part-time and part-time workers tend to earn less per hour than those working full-time.” Additionally, the age of austerity did not last. The age of austerity manifested multiple economical changes for Britain, however, currently, according to the International Monetary Fund, "the UK is the fifth-largest economy in the world at present, with a GDP of $2.81 trillion." Many war veterans died since WW2 but returning soldiers with PTSD paved the way for British society to focus on employee wellness. Soft issues like employee engagement were a direct result of the world wars. This has affected society and the British economy positively. The wars did a number on Britain, however, they were able to recover from their economic downfalls and open new job opportunities for women. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.” - Winston Churchill

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