#WW2 Evacuation From Towns & Cities

S.S City of Benares

Evacuation from Britain's major towns and cities was undertaken in the first 4 days of the war, nearly 3 million civilians uprooted from their homes and taken into less populated areas, even abroad.
Not everyone was lucky enough to have a good host family, some were abused. Michael Caine spoke about his experiences on Radio 4, Michael and his brother were evacuated from London, for misbehaving they were locked in a small cupboard. When his Mother found out, she assaulted the offending woman for abusing her boys, I'm sure she took them home but I can't find any evidence to support this.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/9931161/Sir-Michael-Caine-I-distrust-everyone-after-I-was-locked-in-a-cupboard-as-a-child.html

There is no doubt that evacuation affected many people for the rest of their lives, but also saved many. Evacuation abroad ceased when U-boats sank a liner carrying evacuees to the United States on the S.S City of Benares. Only 13 children survived from 90 who had set out on the voyage.

Survivors in a lifeboat from the S.S City of Benares http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/03/10/article-2112768-1213E80E000005DC-307_306x446.jpg

Martin Niemoeller

(Image from: http://uboat.net/wwi/men/photos/niemoller_martin.jpg)

(Image from: http://filipspagnoli.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/martin-niemoller.jpg?w=200&h=308)

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out because I was not a communist;

Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist;

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist;

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew;

Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.

by Martin Niemoeller, found at: http://www.christianethicstoday.com/Issue/009/First%20They%20Came%20for%20the%20Jews%20By%20Franklin%20H%20Littell_009_29_.htm ,accessed 28/2/10.

Martin Niemoeller was a decorated U-boat Captain in World War 1. By the time Hitler came to power he was a staunch Protestant and opponent of Hitler. Hitler ordered his incarceration in a concentration camp, but Niemoeller survived the war.

I really like the quote at the top of the post. I feel there are too many people resembling ostriches nowadays. Common things I hear are; 'What can I do?', 'What difference can I make?', 'What's it got to do with us?'

If all Hitler's opponents had stood up and done something, would there have been a World War 2?