| Hitler’s armies
had swept through Western Europe and there was a great danger that Britain might
be overcome as well. Airpower, especially dive bombers, had helped the German
armies defeat their opponents. German planes had been involved in the Spanish
Civil War and had killed hundreds of innocent people in an attack on Guernica in northern Spain. The ability to win a war depended on planes
and motorised transport, so the ability to build and replace damaged or
destroyed planes, tanks, armoured cars, and so on, was crucial.
Birmingham was
very important in the British war effort, as important parts of military
production took place here. In fact there was a custom-built factory in Acocks
Green which made parts for aircraft engines. Construction of this started in
late 1936 on the site of a market gardening business near the canal. This was
the Rover Shadow factory. A shadow factory was a second or even third place
where things could be made if the main factory was destroyed. So the presence of
this factory made Acocks Green a target for enemy bombers. Parts were also made
at Lucas, on Shaftmoor Lane, and later at the Vineries, in the Co-op laundry
building. And, of course, the industrial area of Tyseley was only next door.
In addition there was the fear of
invasion, and of fighting in the streets.
There was great concern about revealing
information to the enemy, and being suspicious about people. Careless talk costs
lives, it was said.
Posters about security, St Andrews University website
The following pages attempt to feature local
information and memories where possible, but references to wartime information
and propaganda are also included, as they would have affected everyone. We hope
these pages are useful to schoolchildren as well as adults.
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