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The Secret History of the Blitz
The Blitz of 1940-41 is one of the most iconic periods in modern British history - and one of the most misunderstood. The 'Blitz Spirit' is often celebrated, whereas others dismiss it as a myth. Joshua Levine's thrilling biography rejects the tired arguments and reveals the human the Blitz was a time of extremes of experience and behaviour. People were pulling together and helping strangers, but they were also breaking rules and exploiting each other. Life during wartime, the author reveals, was complex and messy and real.
From the first page readers will discover a different story to the one they thought they knew - from the sacrifices made by ordinary people to a sudden surge in the popularity of nightclubs; from secret criminal trials at the Old Bailey to a Columbine-style murder in an Oxford College. There were new working opportunities for women and clandestine homosexual relationships conducted in the shadows. The Blitz also allowed for a melting pot of whilst prayers were offered up in a south London mosque, Jamaican sailors crossed the country. Unlikely friendships were fostered and surprising sexualities explored - these years saw a boom in prostitution and even the emergence of a popular weekly magazine for fetishists. On the darker side, racketeers and spivs made money out of the chaos, and looters prowled the night to prey on bomb victims.
From the lack of cheese to the increased suicide rate, this astonishing and entertaining book takes the true pulse of a 'blitzed nation'. And it shows how social change during this time led to political change - which in turn has built the Britain that we know today.
From the first page readers will discover a different story to the one they thought they knew - from the sacrifices made by ordinary people to a sudden surge in the popularity of nightclubs; from secret criminal trials at the Old Bailey to a Columbine-style murder in an Oxford College. There were new working opportunities for women and clandestine homosexual relationships conducted in the shadows. The Blitz also allowed for a melting pot of whilst prayers were offered up in a south London mosque, Jamaican sailors crossed the country. Unlikely friendships were fostered and surprising sexualities explored - these years saw a boom in prostitution and even the emergence of a popular weekly magazine for fetishists. On the darker side, racketeers and spivs made money out of the chaos, and looters prowled the night to prey on bomb victims.
From the lack of cheese to the increased suicide rate, this astonishing and entertaining book takes the true pulse of a 'blitzed nation'. And it shows how social change during this time led to political change - which in turn has built the Britain that we know today.
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First published July 30, 2015
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About the author
Joshua Levine
37 books66 followersJoshua Levine was born in the Bahamas. He has a law degree and practiced as a criminal barrister for several years in London. He gave up law and became an actor, appearing in amateur theatre productions. He also worked as an assistant producer, working on a documentary about Handel's Water Music. He wrote a stage play entitled, Crash, and went on to write programs for BBC Radio 4. He is the author of Forgotten Voices, Beauty and Atricity, On a Wing and a Prayer, Operation Fortitude, The Secret History of the Blitz, and Dunkirk.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
August 1, 2015
Subtitled, “How we behaved during our darkest days and created modern Britain,” this is a fascinating read, which looks beyond the public myth of a country completely united to the real experiences of individuals. Both my mother and grandmother lived in London throughout the Blitz and I was always interested to hear their experiences. Now, in 2015, it is the 75th anniversary of Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain and the beginning of the Blitz. As the author remarks, this is a period where memory turns into history and so this book is a wonderful resource – well researched, extremely readable and full of real life experiences during an unprecedented time, when civilians experienced war in their cities and their day to day life.
The first major air raid on Britain was on the 18th June, 1940; although the Blitz itself is generally agreed to have begun on the 7th September, 1940. So, how did people behave during the Blitz? Daily life certainly became dangerous and there was an ever-present fear of invasion; yet it was also exciting and a time of optimism for many. Some felt afraid and were ashamed, almost all were exhausted by a lack of sleep and, until the government finally managed to organise unsympathetic agencies, people suffered financial distress and homelessness with little relief. However, despite fears that people would fall apart, generally those in the affected areas did become accustomed to these most difficult circumstances and even bombing became routine.
The author looks at how Britain changed through the events of the Blitz and covers everything from criticisms of shelter provision, German spies, internment, the arrival of people from different countries and cultures, the sexual revolution and crime. Along the way, there are detours into little known areas of wartime Britain – I certainly had no idea there was oil drilling in Sherwood Forest – and secret trials of those accused of espionage.
Despite the fact that many people were, obviously and naturally, afraid of being bombed, volunteering kept the population busy, involved and helped morale. London before 1939 was not a cosmopolitan city – less than 3% of the city were born abroad, mostly in Ireland. Suddenly, there were an influx of foreigners; Belgians, French, Poles, Czechs and Dutch fleeing the Nazi’s and Canadian troops arriving to help the war effort. Later, West Indians arrived offering to fight for their perceived mother country (sadly, many were received with ingratitude), while there was always the ugly spectre of anti-Semitism. Mass Observation reports reported comments describing Jews as arrogant and greedy, while there were plenty of openly voiced remarks, such as, “No wonder Hitler threw them out!”
Certainly, people found that their experiences were heightened by the threat of death and there was a feeling of living for the moment. The blackout offered anonymity and excitement to many – people had love affairs, they were freed from the usual conventions and they had the opportunity to behave in ways they would not have considered before – or after – the war. However, along with romance came a dark side, with the blackout seeing an increase in sexual assault and a massive rise in crime. There was looting (sometimes even from members of the emergency services) of damaged buildings. The chief reason for this rise in crime was, obviously, opportunity and this is explored in depth in this book. However, even thieves have a conscience and I was impressed that when a group of men attempted to burgle a warehouse and were interrupted by an exploding bomb, one risked his life to rescue a woman from a burning building – later slipping away when the authorities attempted to take his details…
So, did the country bravely pull together during wartime? The answer is that, mostly, they did. Yes, there was psychological damage and trauma, but also a mood of defiance and a feeling – boosted by government – that the civilian population could take it. During the Blitz, the one topic of conversation seemed to be air raids and people shared their experiences and dealt with their fear by voicing it. It was a time of extremes, both good and bad, and I feel humbled by some of the stories in this book and urge anyone with an interest in this era to read this wonderful book. Lastly, I thank the author for writing such an immersive account of this time and all those he interviewed for sharing their stories with his readers.
The first major air raid on Britain was on the 18th June, 1940; although the Blitz itself is generally agreed to have begun on the 7th September, 1940. So, how did people behave during the Blitz? Daily life certainly became dangerous and there was an ever-present fear of invasion; yet it was also exciting and a time of optimism for many. Some felt afraid and were ashamed, almost all were exhausted by a lack of sleep and, until the government finally managed to organise unsympathetic agencies, people suffered financial distress and homelessness with little relief. However, despite fears that people would fall apart, generally those in the affected areas did become accustomed to these most difficult circumstances and even bombing became routine.
The author looks at how Britain changed through the events of the Blitz and covers everything from criticisms of shelter provision, German spies, internment, the arrival of people from different countries and cultures, the sexual revolution and crime. Along the way, there are detours into little known areas of wartime Britain – I certainly had no idea there was oil drilling in Sherwood Forest – and secret trials of those accused of espionage.
Despite the fact that many people were, obviously and naturally, afraid of being bombed, volunteering kept the population busy, involved and helped morale. London before 1939 was not a cosmopolitan city – less than 3% of the city were born abroad, mostly in Ireland. Suddenly, there were an influx of foreigners; Belgians, French, Poles, Czechs and Dutch fleeing the Nazi’s and Canadian troops arriving to help the war effort. Later, West Indians arrived offering to fight for their perceived mother country (sadly, many were received with ingratitude), while there was always the ugly spectre of anti-Semitism. Mass Observation reports reported comments describing Jews as arrogant and greedy, while there were plenty of openly voiced remarks, such as, “No wonder Hitler threw them out!”
Certainly, people found that their experiences were heightened by the threat of death and there was a feeling of living for the moment. The blackout offered anonymity and excitement to many – people had love affairs, they were freed from the usual conventions and they had the opportunity to behave in ways they would not have considered before – or after – the war. However, along with romance came a dark side, with the blackout seeing an increase in sexual assault and a massive rise in crime. There was looting (sometimes even from members of the emergency services) of damaged buildings. The chief reason for this rise in crime was, obviously, opportunity and this is explored in depth in this book. However, even thieves have a conscience and I was impressed that when a group of men attempted to burgle a warehouse and were interrupted by an exploding bomb, one risked his life to rescue a woman from a burning building – later slipping away when the authorities attempted to take his details…
So, did the country bravely pull together during wartime? The answer is that, mostly, they did. Yes, there was psychological damage and trauma, but also a mood of defiance and a feeling – boosted by government – that the civilian population could take it. During the Blitz, the one topic of conversation seemed to be air raids and people shared their experiences and dealt with their fear by voicing it. It was a time of extremes, both good and bad, and I feel humbled by some of the stories in this book and urge anyone with an interest in this era to read this wonderful book. Lastly, I thank the author for writing such an immersive account of this time and all those he interviewed for sharing their stories with his readers.
June 9, 2024
Much like the Magna Carta or the Glorious Revolution, the “Blitz” of 1940-1 is regarded as one of the moments in history which defined the British character. For Britons who lived through the nine-month-long bombing campaign inflicted by the German Luftwaffe, their perseverance through fear and adversity demonstrated that Britons could “take it” and continue fighting on against the Nazi threat. In the decades since, this determination has become almost a sacred moment, one that produces furious indignation when its validity is questioned. For many Britons today, to criticize the Blitz is to criticize Britishness itself.
Yet no amount of pride in the tenacity demonstrated by Britons under attack can erase the complex historical record of the era. Stories of men and women singing in the shelters amidst the bombing or pulling together to help strangers coexist alongside accounts of looting and of moments in which individuals broke down under the strain. Joshua Levine draws upon all of these to provide a nuanced description of British society during the Blitz, one that notes the strains and temptations imposed by the unprecedented circumstances faced by tens of thousands and describes the range of responses they elicited. For while many rose to the challenges posed by the war, others saw them as a chance for profit, or experienced stresses that ultimately proved to be more than they could bear.
To detail this, Levine adopts a thematic approach to his subject. In a succession of chapters, he recounts a variety of experiences defined by the war, from those of Britons sheltering from the bombing to their efforts to recover from its effects. The latter often became an experience that redefined the lives of the survivors, as thousands lost family members or were rendered homeless by the bombs. While many met such loss with sympathy and assistance, Levine also details the predation and exploitation that often followed. Looting was commonplace, even by the emergency personnel at the bomb sites, while for others the death and destruction provided opportunities to settle scores, or created problems from which death seemed the only escape.
As some people struggled to cope with such circumstances, others thrived in the novel environment in which they found themselves. Levine sees similarities here with the medieval tradition of “misrule,” noting how the war’s disruption of the traditional social order created opportunities for behavior that previously seemed unthinkable. Homosexuality was treated with more tolerance by the courts, while the prospect of sudden death led many to engage in more licentious activities. While Levine sees much of this as setting the stage for the social freedoms of the 1960s, he notes as well the bigotry and fear with which many greeted the changes Britain experienced. Fears of invasion and subversion led the government and many ordinary citizens to treat refugees and other foreigners as inherently suspicious. Many found themselves detained with little to no due process, while even those from abroad who volunteered to serve in the military were subjected to discrimination and abuse from the very people they were now defending.
Such stories reflect the complex realities of life in Britain during the Blitz. Despite falling well short of the heroic myths so beloved by many Britons today, the complexities make for a much more fascinating story. By drawing upon oral histories, archival records and contemporary reporting, Levine provides his readers with an informative and enjoyable account of his subject. While not as comprehensive as Juliet Gardiner's The Blitz: The British Under Attack, Levine's book nonetheless provides a welcome perspective on the challenges Britons faced during their darkest times, and their very human responses to them.
Yet no amount of pride in the tenacity demonstrated by Britons under attack can erase the complex historical record of the era. Stories of men and women singing in the shelters amidst the bombing or pulling together to help strangers coexist alongside accounts of looting and of moments in which individuals broke down under the strain. Joshua Levine draws upon all of these to provide a nuanced description of British society during the Blitz, one that notes the strains and temptations imposed by the unprecedented circumstances faced by tens of thousands and describes the range of responses they elicited. For while many rose to the challenges posed by the war, others saw them as a chance for profit, or experienced stresses that ultimately proved to be more than they could bear.
To detail this, Levine adopts a thematic approach to his subject. In a succession of chapters, he recounts a variety of experiences defined by the war, from those of Britons sheltering from the bombing to their efforts to recover from its effects. The latter often became an experience that redefined the lives of the survivors, as thousands lost family members or were rendered homeless by the bombs. While many met such loss with sympathy and assistance, Levine also details the predation and exploitation that often followed. Looting was commonplace, even by the emergency personnel at the bomb sites, while for others the death and destruction provided opportunities to settle scores, or created problems from which death seemed the only escape.
As some people struggled to cope with such circumstances, others thrived in the novel environment in which they found themselves. Levine sees similarities here with the medieval tradition of “misrule,” noting how the war’s disruption of the traditional social order created opportunities for behavior that previously seemed unthinkable. Homosexuality was treated with more tolerance by the courts, while the prospect of sudden death led many to engage in more licentious activities. While Levine sees much of this as setting the stage for the social freedoms of the 1960s, he notes as well the bigotry and fear with which many greeted the changes Britain experienced. Fears of invasion and subversion led the government and many ordinary citizens to treat refugees and other foreigners as inherently suspicious. Many found themselves detained with little to no due process, while even those from abroad who volunteered to serve in the military were subjected to discrimination and abuse from the very people they were now defending.
Such stories reflect the complex realities of life in Britain during the Blitz. Despite falling well short of the heroic myths so beloved by many Britons today, the complexities make for a much more fascinating story. By drawing upon oral histories, archival records and contemporary reporting, Levine provides his readers with an informative and enjoyable account of his subject. While not as comprehensive as Juliet Gardiner's The Blitz: The British Under Attack, Levine's book nonetheless provides a welcome perspective on the challenges Britons faced during their darkest times, and their very human responses to them.
September 9, 2025
This was mega interesting and readable. Hugely relatable and timeless in its relevance (Ukraine, the genocidal slaughter of Palestinians and God help Sudan). All shades of humanity here and I have a clearer feel for what the people went through in 1939 onwards in Blighty. RECOMMENDED!
November 15, 2015
The Secret History of the Blitz – Fascinating
Since the end of the Second World War many myths have built up that have become ‘historically’ correct in our minds even if they are false memories. Joshua Levine helps to shatter that myth with this well written and well researched book, The Secret History of the Blitz, which has the also states how we behaved during our darkest days and created Modern Britain.
In a previous life Joshua Levine was a criminal barrister who has used his forensic skills to tunnel down in to what is sometimes remembered through sepia tinted glasses. My great aunt was a caretaker who lived on the premises during the Blitz and she used to go on the roof with a bottle of whisky and shoot ‘if I am going, I am going pissed!’ rather than run off to an air raid shelter. Levine looks at the other stories the ones that are not usually mentioned in the history of the time, which makes this quite readable.
The first major air raid on Britain happened in June 1940 but it is widely acknowledge that the Blitz itself did not begin until the September. This also shows that the Government were having to work on the fly, reacting rather than being proactive, such as the use of the Underground as air raid tunnels. It was also a time when the British Army had been defeated at Dunkirk and were losing in the eyes of the public and this caused a great deal of mental anguish in the population. Levine uses the example of the Student at Oxford who was firing a rifle and should have met the hangman but was declare insane.
One of the things that does come through besides the fear of the population is the living in the moment and some of the illicit affairs that people had is used to illustrate that. Along with a growth in the Black Market the Blitz was also used as a business opportunity by many criminals, once again help to give this book some colour.
While there was clearly psychological trauma felt by many, Levine also shows that a mood of defiance grew from the Blitz, to the never surrender attitude of the British. The book also shows that the British in spite of what the Germans were throwing at them just dusted themselves down and got on with it.
Levine draws together many illustrations of what he writes, whether it is criminal enterprise of using the Blitz as cover to break in to warehouses. Levine also uses some heart rendering anecdotes which can pull on the heart strings.
This is an excellent social history of the Blitz that does just more than churn out the number of victims or the cost of the Blitz. It looks at how the people reacted and survived then moved on to give that ‘bull dog’ spirit to British attitudes.
Since the end of the Second World War many myths have built up that have become ‘historically’ correct in our minds even if they are false memories. Joshua Levine helps to shatter that myth with this well written and well researched book, The Secret History of the Blitz, which has the also states how we behaved during our darkest days and created Modern Britain.
In a previous life Joshua Levine was a criminal barrister who has used his forensic skills to tunnel down in to what is sometimes remembered through sepia tinted glasses. My great aunt was a caretaker who lived on the premises during the Blitz and she used to go on the roof with a bottle of whisky and shoot ‘if I am going, I am going pissed!’ rather than run off to an air raid shelter. Levine looks at the other stories the ones that are not usually mentioned in the history of the time, which makes this quite readable.
The first major air raid on Britain happened in June 1940 but it is widely acknowledge that the Blitz itself did not begin until the September. This also shows that the Government were having to work on the fly, reacting rather than being proactive, such as the use of the Underground as air raid tunnels. It was also a time when the British Army had been defeated at Dunkirk and were losing in the eyes of the public and this caused a great deal of mental anguish in the population. Levine uses the example of the Student at Oxford who was firing a rifle and should have met the hangman but was declare insane.
One of the things that does come through besides the fear of the population is the living in the moment and some of the illicit affairs that people had is used to illustrate that. Along with a growth in the Black Market the Blitz was also used as a business opportunity by many criminals, once again help to give this book some colour.
While there was clearly psychological trauma felt by many, Levine also shows that a mood of defiance grew from the Blitz, to the never surrender attitude of the British. The book also shows that the British in spite of what the Germans were throwing at them just dusted themselves down and got on with it.
Levine draws together many illustrations of what he writes, whether it is criminal enterprise of using the Blitz as cover to break in to warehouses. Levine also uses some heart rendering anecdotes which can pull on the heart strings.
This is an excellent social history of the Blitz that does just more than churn out the number of victims or the cost of the Blitz. It looks at how the people reacted and survived then moved on to give that ‘bull dog’ spirit to British attitudes.
September 23, 2016
A fascinating insight into the Blitz, when Germany's Luftwaffe unceasingly bombed London and other British cities, with Britain's civilian population suffering the most. Joshua Levine reveals the shortcomings of the country's wartime Government and its attendant bureaucracy, which led to people using London's tube stations as deep shelters from the bombing - or leaving cities throughout Britain to spend the night sleeping in the countryside. There are stories of useless German spies, ill prepared by Germany's intelligence services for espionage in a foreign country. There are heart-rending tales of internment, with anti-Nazis and Jews being treated badly, sometimes lumped together with British Nazis and 5th Columnists. Levine details the arrival of people from the Empire, coming to Britain to fight for King and country as did others, fleeing lands invaded by Germany in the early part of World War 2. The book also details the "sexual revolution" caused by people's need for comfort and closeness during the incessant air attacks and how crime flourished in the "blackout", as lights were extinguished to prevent aid to the Luftwaffe's bomb crews. There are astonishing tales, such as Britain's wartime oil industry which saw the drilling of oil wells (and subsequent sizeable oil output) in Sherwood Forest – one time home of Robin Hood. Throughout, Levine uses the comments of various "ordinary" people in their diaries and in reports to Mass Observation - the United Kingdom's social research organisation (founded in 1937) which partly helped shape British public policy during World War II. And there's much more, packed into less than 370 pages. If you have any interest in how Britain's civilian population reacted - in so many different ways - to the horror of the Blitz, I would recommend you read this book.
June 3, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this: a snapshot of life for many in the days of blitzed Britain. The author has used personal accounts and I believe has tried to give an unvarnished view of the trials and tribulations along with the spirit, the pride and the, at times, faltering hope of getting through it, whilst showing that not everyone caught up in these desperate times was acting with the most decent of conduct.
I have never really spoken about these days to anyone who did experience the war years, so this was an eye-opener.
Well constructed and well written: it does make me realise how lucky my generation is and also examine myself. Would I have managed, kept a smile on my face and stayed on the right side of the law?
Oil in Nottinghamshire was a real surprise.
A jolly good read and I'm glad I picked it up.
June 27, 2019
A good solid reference full of many interesting episodes in the history of the London blitz. Sometimes repetitive though, and the author expects the reader to remember the names of random people whose brief stories he related chapters and chapters ago. Somewhat akin to a novel with too many named characters to keep track of.
April 18, 2020
This is one of the gems I found in the carefully curated bookstore of the Imperial War Museum in London. While the WW2 section of the museum is closed for renovation, it is visible from the book how much of its collection was used to write it - I can’t wait to visit the gallery once it’s been renovated.
This book shows the varied extremities that human nature was driven to when people lived for Today, not knowing if there would be a Tomorrow. It also shows how a horrible time like the Blitz can empower people and bring about social security, women’s inclusion, and the slow shift away from privilege-based society, that shaped the post-war welfare state in the UK. That being said, the author doesn’t shy away from the atrocities of the war committed by “the enemy within”, i.e. the high levels of crime and discrimination, destroying the myth that Blitz Spirit was one of pure unity & camaraderie.
This book shows the varied extremities that human nature was driven to when people lived for Today, not knowing if there would be a Tomorrow. It also shows how a horrible time like the Blitz can empower people and bring about social security, women’s inclusion, and the slow shift away from privilege-based society, that shaped the post-war welfare state in the UK. That being said, the author doesn’t shy away from the atrocities of the war committed by “the enemy within”, i.e. the high levels of crime and discrimination, destroying the myth that Blitz Spirit was one of pure unity & camaraderie.
June 6, 2020
An interesting read. Gives a fascinating insight into the blitz but also an important warning about the kind of generalisations that can often blight history
February 1, 2016
Interesting, though rather fewer in-depth illustrative reminiscences than I was expecting. More data around the political situation of the time than I was expecting. Overall though, an interesting read.
February 16, 2020
Much of this history is less secret than the title would have you believe but, nonetheless, it's a well-researched and fascinating account of 20th-century British society's genie-out-of-the-bottle moment.
May 21, 2021
Fascinating from the very first sentence, full of the experiences of different people of varying cultures, backgrounds, & jobs, this book vividly fills in the background of this part of history. Consistent with the stories many of us heard from the generations who endured the bombing, a well-written page-turner, & an antidote to Blitz myths concocted after the events.
July 29, 2021
Within days, Morrison was allocating new funds for shelters. ‘What does money matter?’ he asked. ‘There are thousands of lives at stake!’ In Britain, during the Blitz, a lot of relationships started changing. The loveless marriage between government and people was only one of them. [loc. 918]
The 'secret' is that there was no consensus, no 'Blitz spirit': not all Londoners bonded in shared peril (singalongs in air raid shelters), or indulged their baser fantasies (looting bombed houses, illicit relationships), or approved of the government's policies, or put on a brave face as the bombs fell. Some Londoners were proud of having been bombed, others utterly terrified. Daily privations didn't prevent people from, well, acting like people.
Some really fascinating history here, told in a mixture of personal accounts -- letters, Mass Observation diaries, interviews et cetera -- and lightly-editorialised reportage. I had not previously heard of the Sherwood Forest oil drilling, run by Americans, which extracted nearly a million barrels of crude oil in a single year. I also wasn't aware that peregrine falcons were culled because they might have preyed on carrier pigeons ... And I did not know that there was a popular magazine, London Life, which featured articles on fetishism: apparently the people in one shelter were so engrossed in discussion that they 'failed to respond to a bomb exploding nearby' [loc. 1171] and later agreed 'to host a special evening in the shelter where everyone would dress according to their own particular pleasure'.
Levine argues that the Blitz was a period of misrule, of disruption to peacetime moralities and hierarchies: that it led to the creation of the National Health Service, free education for all, and the institution of the welfare state. (The Citizens Advice Bureau was originally formed to provide assistance to those left homeless by the bombs.)
It's hard to read this and not draw parallels with the ongoing pandemic, and the frequent calls on 'Blitz spirit'. If the Blitz was the dawn of the welfare state, is the pandemic its dusk?
The Blitz was the dark crucible of the National Health Service, of free education for all, of the collective spirit that guided much of the last century. Today’s politicians and policy makers were born long after these benefits evolved, and this, perhaps, is why they are now being allowed to erode. [loc. 4630]
Purchased 2018, read as part of my non-fiction 'reading diet'.
May 7, 2016
British author Joshua Levine's latest book, "The Secret History of the Blitz", is as much about England from 1939 to 1943 as it is about the bombing. The Blitz (the word came from the German word "lightening war") affected many towns and cities in England, outside London. Though London seems to have gotten the worst of the bombings, other places - like Coventry - were also targeted.
"Blitz Spirit" was the term that evolved to cover life as an on-going target. The Germans began their bombing campaign as a prelude to "Operation Sea Lion", their proposed invasion of the UK. In 1940, Hitler began to turn his attention to the east - the Soviet Union - where he figured he could get a quick victory and then return to the UK. Unfortunately for him, the invasion of the Soviet Union, beginning in the summer of 1941 was not successful and he was mired in the mud and snow until the tide turned and the Russians moved west. The Blitz bombing of the UK began in September 1940 and ended in May 1941, though bombing raids continued til 1944.
What was it like to live under the constant threat of aerial bombardment? Not easy as thousands were killed or injured. Businesses were wrecked by bombs, and often looting by the citizenry occurred after the "All Clear". Socially, during this time, barriers were coming down between classes as many people pitched in to help. Levine looks at the first "sexual revolution" as people realised that life could be over in an instant and it was best to "enjoy the moment". I think that's common in war-time, in all societies.
"Blitz Spirit" could also extend to clever and not-so-legal ways of making a living. Levine cites the case of one young man with a bad heart, who was turned down for the army. He then rented out his body, posing as another man - who had paid him - to take and fail the physical. Evidently he made quite a tidy sum before being found by the authorities. (This "ploy" is written about in the delightful war-time novel, "Crooked Heart", by Lissa Evans). Of course, the black market was a fertile field for boosting one's income and many people bought, bartered, and traded rationed items. These are only a few of the topics Levine covers in his book.
"The Secret History of the Blitz" is a thorough look at the war years, written in an engaging way.
"Blitz Spirit" was the term that evolved to cover life as an on-going target. The Germans began their bombing campaign as a prelude to "Operation Sea Lion", their proposed invasion of the UK. In 1940, Hitler began to turn his attention to the east - the Soviet Union - where he figured he could get a quick victory and then return to the UK. Unfortunately for him, the invasion of the Soviet Union, beginning in the summer of 1941 was not successful and he was mired in the mud and snow until the tide turned and the Russians moved west. The Blitz bombing of the UK began in September 1940 and ended in May 1941, though bombing raids continued til 1944.
What was it like to live under the constant threat of aerial bombardment? Not easy as thousands were killed or injured. Businesses were wrecked by bombs, and often looting by the citizenry occurred after the "All Clear". Socially, during this time, barriers were coming down between classes as many people pitched in to help. Levine looks at the first "sexual revolution" as people realised that life could be over in an instant and it was best to "enjoy the moment". I think that's common in war-time, in all societies.
"Blitz Spirit" could also extend to clever and not-so-legal ways of making a living. Levine cites the case of one young man with a bad heart, who was turned down for the army. He then rented out his body, posing as another man - who had paid him - to take and fail the physical. Evidently he made quite a tidy sum before being found by the authorities. (This "ploy" is written about in the delightful war-time novel, "Crooked Heart", by Lissa Evans). Of course, the black market was a fertile field for boosting one's income and many people bought, bartered, and traded rationed items. These are only a few of the topics Levine covers in his book.
"The Secret History of the Blitz" is a thorough look at the war years, written in an engaging way.
November 5, 2022
Another book I grabbed at the Imperial War Museum in London. Joshua Levine attacks the concensus narratives that are typically published of the 1940-41 bombings in essence of "Blitz Spirit"; consensuses that range from the communal bonding, the widespread panic, and the supposed decline of prejudism. Although he doesn't directly disagree with any of these narratives, he balances heavily contrary experiences of numerous common citizens of diverse demographics to paint a more complete picture of events. His answer to every question is "Yes and no", and that is the general flow of the book. Even with Churchhill and other prominent politicians, Levine doesn't seem to have an opinion either way.
Although the book commemorates some lesser-known heroes of the Blitz, it also documents several instances of London's inflated crime rate and dubious court leniency in murder trials. It covers the struggle of refugees scrapping with the British government over their rights to seek shelter from the bombs inside the tube stations, something the government actually tried to prevent.
The book praises the citizens of London above all for their resilience and the genesis of a new push for education, healthcare, and other social reforms. It focuses heavily on life during the blackouts and how society drastically changed, even though it reverted back after the war until the 60's came around; reigniting a similar counter-culture. In other words, it suggests life in London during the Blitz was a test-drive for the 60's. I mean, sure, if you take drugs out of the picture and replace bad LSD trips with actual falling bombs, I could see it.
The book is rich in detail when it comes to the blackouts, though the topics are scattered all over the place. It paints a vivid picture of London during the bombings, though it feels like the sources are just random uninteresting people and it gets boring at times. Even the pictures don't usually have anything to do with any of them and only vaguely similar to the topic. Chasing ghosts for the most part, that's just something that could have been done better. I guess I felt that the book would be more about them, though it was more geared towards balancing myths with as many contrasting stories as possible.
If I had to guess, I'd say somebody told Levine, "You know, I think Londoners were nicer during the Nazi bombings!" and Levine just got so pissed off that he wrote this book. It's still very interesting and worth the medium-size read.
Although the book commemorates some lesser-known heroes of the Blitz, it also documents several instances of London's inflated crime rate and dubious court leniency in murder trials. It covers the struggle of refugees scrapping with the British government over their rights to seek shelter from the bombs inside the tube stations, something the government actually tried to prevent.
The book praises the citizens of London above all for their resilience and the genesis of a new push for education, healthcare, and other social reforms. It focuses heavily on life during the blackouts and how society drastically changed, even though it reverted back after the war until the 60's came around; reigniting a similar counter-culture. In other words, it suggests life in London during the Blitz was a test-drive for the 60's. I mean, sure, if you take drugs out of the picture and replace bad LSD trips with actual falling bombs, I could see it.
The book is rich in detail when it comes to the blackouts, though the topics are scattered all over the place. It paints a vivid picture of London during the bombings, though it feels like the sources are just random uninteresting people and it gets boring at times. Even the pictures don't usually have anything to do with any of them and only vaguely similar to the topic. Chasing ghosts for the most part, that's just something that could have been done better. I guess I felt that the book would be more about them, though it was more geared towards balancing myths with as many contrasting stories as possible.
If I had to guess, I'd say somebody told Levine, "You know, I think Londoners were nicer during the Nazi bombings!" and Levine just got so pissed off that he wrote this book. It's still very interesting and worth the medium-size read.
August 3, 2017
This book was very interesting. It's one of those areas where you think you know, at least broadly, what the Blitz was, because it's been on TV a lot, and because of oral history, and observing the cityscape.
This is really worth a read because it gives you details on aspects of the Blitz that you never really considered before. Murder, for example. Cases where people murdered because of the war - one woman driven beyond sanity by the Blitz-caused homelessness; another man who murdered because he had access to a gun. And that question that can never quite be answered - how many people were murdered but they missing presumed victims of the bombing, or how many bodies were conveniently disposed of it bombed out buildings?
Other aspects of human life were covered: the career criminals given new opportunities by rationing and the black market; the growth of sexual fetishes and promiscuity; the numerous volunteers. Some curious chapters - such as the oil fields in Sherwood Forest (I previously had no idea!). Perhaps the most moving were the chapters on Coventry. My great grandmother was living in Coventry aged 74 when war broke out. She was evacuated to Blackpool, where my grandfather was working in building the new Jerusalem, but I don't know if this happened before or after the destruction of Coventry. His very detailed account is interesting, yet, almost counterintuitively, makes it even more difficult to imagine what it was like!
I started reading this when the awful disaster of Grenfell Tower was still very fresh in the news. So perhaps I was struck particularly by the chaos that happened in the early days. People bombed out of their homes, and having to go from agency to agency just to try and get the basics, because nobody was co-ordinating it.
The author writes about the work of Henry Willink. Who, you might ask? Well, he was arguably the grandfather of the NHS. MP for Croydon North, a constituency not far from here and now represented by a good friend. But Henry was a Tory. He chaired the committee that was set up to coordinate governmental response to those bombed out of their homes, and later as Minister of Health did some of the groundwork for founding the NHS. (Wikipedia says " but he was criticised by his successor, Aneurin Bevan, for having made too many concessions to various vested interests", which is important.)
He set out to demonstrate that, contrary to popular opinion, The Blitz Spirit wasn't all Knees Up Mother Brown, and Mustn't Grumble. I think he achieves a good balance. He demonstrates that people did suffer and were miserable, but, also there was a great sense of community, and even more a pragmatic sense of we've got no choice but to endure this, so we might as well make the worst of a bad job.
I would recommend this book widely. It's not just for academics or history geeks. It's a very readable account that gives many of us a real insight into how our parents, grandparents and great grandparents lived, 70 -80 years ago.
This is really worth a read because it gives you details on aspects of the Blitz that you never really considered before. Murder, for example. Cases where people murdered because of the war - one woman driven beyond sanity by the Blitz-caused homelessness; another man who murdered because he had access to a gun. And that question that can never quite be answered - how many people were murdered but they missing presumed victims of the bombing, or how many bodies were conveniently disposed of it bombed out buildings?
Other aspects of human life were covered: the career criminals given new opportunities by rationing and the black market; the growth of sexual fetishes and promiscuity; the numerous volunteers. Some curious chapters - such as the oil fields in Sherwood Forest (I previously had no idea!). Perhaps the most moving were the chapters on Coventry. My great grandmother was living in Coventry aged 74 when war broke out. She was evacuated to Blackpool, where my grandfather was working in building the new Jerusalem, but I don't know if this happened before or after the destruction of Coventry. His very detailed account is interesting, yet, almost counterintuitively, makes it even more difficult to imagine what it was like!
I started reading this when the awful disaster of Grenfell Tower was still very fresh in the news. So perhaps I was struck particularly by the chaos that happened in the early days. People bombed out of their homes, and having to go from agency to agency just to try and get the basics, because nobody was co-ordinating it.
The author writes about the work of Henry Willink. Who, you might ask? Well, he was arguably the grandfather of the NHS. MP for Croydon North, a constituency not far from here and now represented by a good friend. But Henry was a Tory. He chaired the committee that was set up to coordinate governmental response to those bombed out of their homes, and later as Minister of Health did some of the groundwork for founding the NHS. (Wikipedia says " but he was criticised by his successor, Aneurin Bevan, for having made too many concessions to various vested interests", which is important.)
He set out to demonstrate that, contrary to popular opinion, The Blitz Spirit wasn't all Knees Up Mother Brown, and Mustn't Grumble. I think he achieves a good balance. He demonstrates that people did suffer and were miserable, but, also there was a great sense of community, and even more a pragmatic sense of we've got no choice but to endure this, so we might as well make the worst of a bad job.
I would recommend this book widely. It's not just for academics or history geeks. It's a very readable account that gives many of us a real insight into how our parents, grandparents and great grandparents lived, 70 -80 years ago.
June 4, 2019
A "must-read" for all Anglophiles - and all high school students. Fascinating details of a bleak period of history (1939-1942) when Londoners (and other Brits) feared nightly bombings, and that achieving peace was not so certain: approximately 45,000 people died in London, and another 50,000 were wounded during the Blitz. A time of shortages, rationing, homelessness. A time characterized by more than just running to the Underground for protection.
But it was also a time of inventiveness. Who knew that in the dire need for oil to support the war effort, Brits drilled for oil -- in Sherwood Forest, of all places! The Blitz brought out both the worst (sexual promiscuity and looting) and the best (compassion, service work for the homeless and injured) of the citizens. It was the foundation of reforms across the board in housing, health care, education, employment and other societal areas.
Though a tad "dry" reading at times, this text nevertheless deserved the 5-star rating and is still very engrossing and historically important.
But it was also a time of inventiveness. Who knew that in the dire need for oil to support the war effort, Brits drilled for oil -- in Sherwood Forest, of all places! The Blitz brought out both the worst (sexual promiscuity and looting) and the best (compassion, service work for the homeless and injured) of the citizens. It was the foundation of reforms across the board in housing, health care, education, employment and other societal areas.
Though a tad "dry" reading at times, this text nevertheless deserved the 5-star rating and is still very engrossing and historically important.
March 12, 2017
The Blitz of 1940-41's epochal in British history. Modern English life can probably be classified as Pre-Blitz and Post-Blitz (the Thatcher era forty years later could give the Blitz' status a run for its money); a dramatic dividing line where everything changed. "Official" histories (such as they are) of the Third Reich's air raid of the scepter isle are just that: compendiums of casualties, the number of detonations and analyses of both British and Nazi machinations. Levine doesn't ignore such goings-on. They blend in nicely with his discussion of the Blitz' human and social aspects. This marriage of official-ness and societal survival makes THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE BLITZ the definitive work on the Blitz's social history. The Nazi assault brought out both the best and the worst of the British people, despite the moniker "We're all in it together." This sobriquet's a truthful one. But the togetherness was pocked by individual feats of libidinal, leisurely and larcenous natures. Sex and stealing among other activities became second nature and broke the King's subjects' reserve. This recklessness served its purpose, for "time was short, money was loose and morals were out." Most of which flowed from this quote occurred in open air. The Blitz was endured not just in London Underground stations. Nor was London the only place targeted by the Luftwaffe (Coventry sustained serious bomb damage and its revered 14th Century cathedral was destroyed). But for those who rode out the Teutonic pillage in the Tube, life in it was a metaphor for the Blitz' effect on Britain: it fostered a sense of community as well as senses of unity AND disunity; family AND fury. In short, Tube life was just as contradictory as the human life that endured it. English ardor ultimately wore out Germany's arsenal and contributed to Hitler's decision not to invade England. The Fuhrer didn't exactly bomb Britain back to the stone age. But his firepower, while eventually muted, helped usher in an age of Blitz Spirit -- an age that has lasted. And it didn't need an epoch.
July 26, 2025
A really well written survey of what life under the Blitz was actually like, divorced from modern ideas of a mythologised and simplistic narrative. To be clear, it does not say the myth of "everyone in it together" is all wrong, but really that it was far more complex than that. Not unsurprisingly, in the most extreme of circumstances, how hundreds of thousands of people responded, struggled, adjusted and faced the Blitz was varied, full of as many positive stories as tragic ones, and Levine shines a light on a number of testimonies to give a full flavour of this.
The film by Steve McQueen which is in debted in part to stories taken from this book is also well worth a watch.
The film by Steve McQueen which is in debted in part to stories taken from this book is also well worth a watch.
September 29, 2019
A very well-written book about the Blitz, it asked the question did the Blitz create a universal spirit of cooperation and nationalism? The answer is that it did and it didn't. Not everyone worked together in the bomb shelters, not everyone worked together to bring about peace. For some, the bombing by the Germans did create a feeling that everyone was working together to help each other and stay calm, but for others it did not. There was a rise in crime of all sorts, there was a loosening of morality, while all were dealing with terror.
Good book.
Good book.
May 10, 2021
This book is a wealth of information. It was mainly presented in an engaging manner, narrative style, but bits were quite dry. There were a lot of names to remember, as they came up repeatedly in different contexts, which was occasionally frustrating. Overall, a valuable and interesting contribution to the literature on the War in Britain, endorsed and with reference to records held at the Imperial War Museum, London.
October 24, 2021
This was a good read. One of my issues was the repeated use of some names and characters. I would completely forget the name of the lady in Chapter 2 that pops back up in Chapter 10 - I kept having to turn back to remember names. I had read short stories about the Blitz and several WWII novels set in England and this book gave details of the night clubs and groups that I did not know that much about. I am ready for more non-fiction WWII.
August 4, 2022
A really interesting look at how life was lived through many personal tales from those who lived through the Blitz. This book paints an overall picture that while there was a "blitz spirit" there were also plenty of crimes, profiteering as well as a loss of sexual morals - indeed the roots of the sexual revolution were sown during this war despite efforts afterwards to push things back to his they were.
Anyone interested in civilian life in World war 2 will love this book.
Anyone interested in civilian life in World war 2 will love this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2018
I bought this book after listening to the author speak about his research and the people he had met while researching the book. I am ever so glad I did. It was wonderfully funny and heartbreakingly sad in turns. The resilience of people will never cease to amaze me and we need books like this as a reminder.
June 19, 2021
A great account of life in wartime Britain. There's the legendary Blitz Spirit, which is true and the exceptions like crime and antisocial behaviour, that give a rounded picture.
The title however sells the book short, there is much else here. From the demi-monde of sex to genuine surprises. I know this era quite well but the Sherwood Forest part was news to me.
The title however sells the book short, there is much else here. From the demi-monde of sex to genuine surprises. I know this era quite well but the Sherwood Forest part was news to me.
January 16, 2024
Make no mistakes, this is a book heavy with anguish and the equally depressing and inspiring stories of those who lived during the Blitz. It is history and, as history often is, it is difficult to read at times due both to the weight of the topic and the density of the information. However, it is beautifully written.
September 24, 2017
Really enjoyable with lots of surprising detail challenging the consensus view about Blitz spirit. I loved that although bombing meant people talked to each other more, cynicism set in and badges were seen saying "I don't want to her about your bomb!"
October 21, 2018
Thought provoking.
Brilliantly written considering the difficulties in engaging honestly with the subject. The stories of real people that may not have been told are wonderful and uplifting.
Brilliantly written considering the difficulties in engaging honestly with the subject. The stories of real people that may not have been told are wonderful and uplifting.
February 13, 2019
It was enlightening to read stories of real people during those harrowing times and learn how they ensured the blitz.
We might have heard of the fatalities (which is traumatic) but not heard of the 250,000 people left homeless.
We might have heard of the fatalities (which is traumatic) but not heard of the 250,000 people left homeless.
April 16, 2020
The first third of the book was terrific, really a voice of the everyday people of England who experienced the Blitz. The rest of the book - not as compelling - much about the laws and rules enacted during this time.
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