Evacuation means leaving a place. During the Second World War, many children living in big cities and towns were moved temporarily from their homes to places considered safer, usually out in the countryside.The British evacuation began on Friday 1 September 1939. It was called &apos;Operation Pied Piper&apos;.Between 1939 - 1945 there were three major evacuations in preparation of the German Luftwaffe bombing Britain.The first official evacuations began on September 1 1939, two days before the declaration of war. By January 1940 almost 60% had returned to their homes. A second evacuation effort was started after the Germans had taken over most of France. From June 13 to June 18, 1940, around 100,000 children were evacuated (in many cases re-evacuated).When the Blitz began on 7 September 1940, children who had returned home or had not been evacuated were evacuated.

To make the British weak, the Germans tried to cut off supplies of food and other goods. German submarines attacked many of the ships that brought food to Britain.Before the war, Britain imported 55 million tons of food, a month after the war had started this figure had dropped to 12 million.

The Ration Book became the key to survival for nearly every household in Britain. Every member of the public was issued with a ration book.They were books which contained coupons that shopkeepers cut out or signed when people bought food and other items. (People still paid for the goods with money.)

One of the first naval battles fought in the Pacific during World War II. The Battle of the Coral Sea was fought from 4 May – 8 May 1942. It was a major naval battle fought, about 500 miles northeast of Australia, between the Imperial Japanese Navy and the United States and Australia.

World War 2 ended with the unconditional surrender of the Axis powers. On 8 May 1945, the Allies accepted Germany’s surrender, about a week after Adolf Hitler had committed suicide. People had street parties to celebrate.

It was dangerous living in a big city during the war. Cities were the target of enemy aircraft that flew over at night and dropped bombs.At 4:56pm on 7 September 1940, the air raid sirens wailed as the German Air Force, the luftwaffe, launched a massive raid on London. Over 350 bombers flew across the Channel from airfields in France and dropped 300 tonnes of bombs on the docks and streets of the East End of London.Buildings destroyed The bombs destroyed many buildings burying mother, fathers and children in the rubbleThe enemy attacks from the Luftwaffe (the German air force) were called Air Raids.What was the Blitz?The heavy and frequent bombing attacks on London and other cities was known as the &apos;Blitz&apos;. Night after night, from September 1940 until May 1941, German bombers attacked British cities, ports and industrial areas.London was bombed ever day and night, bar one, for 11 weeks. One third of London was destroyed.BlitzThe bombs destroyed many buildings burying mother, fathers and children in the rubbleThe enemy attacks from the Luftwaffe (the German air force) were called Air Raids.What was the Blitz?The heavy and frequent bombing attacks on London and other cities was known as the &apos;Blitz&apos;. Night after night, from September 1940 until May 1941, German bombers attacked British cities, ports and industrial areas.London was bombed ever day and night, bar one, for 11 weeks. One third of London was destroyed.

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