The Battle of Britain was ultimately a test of strength between the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) and the RAF. Germany had been banned from having an air force after the First World War, but the Luftwaffe was re-established by the Nazi government and by 1940 it was the largest and most formidable air force in the world.

It was supported by the coalition government and all major parties. Welfare conditions, especially regarding food, improved during the war as the government imposed rationing and subsidized food prices. Conditions for housing worsened of course with the bombing, and clothing was in short supply.

By the end of October 1940, Hitler called off his planned invasion of Britain and the Battle of Britain ended. Both sides suffered enormous loss of life and aircraft. Still, Britain weakened the Luftwaffe and prevented Germany from achieving air superiority. It was the first major defeat of the war for Hitler.

During the six years Britain was at war, 1939–45, life was frequently hard for Londoners. Food and clothing were rationed and in short supply. Bombing caused fear, injury, death and destruction. Families were often separated due to evacuation and fathers going away to fight.

Battle of Britain

In May 1940, Hitler’s armies swept through western Europe, knocking Britain’s allies out of the war with bewildering speed and leaving the British Expeditionary Force horribly exposed. Hitler now dominated most of mainland Europe, and he was threatening to bomb and invade the British isles.

1940s

• Winston Churchill Becomes British Prime Minister. Battle of Britain.
• Four Freedoms. Lend-Lease Act.
• “Final Solution” for Jews. U.S. Interns Japanese-Americans.
• Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Casablanca Conference.
• D-Day. Battle of the Bulge.
• Roosevelt Dies – Harry Truman President.
• Nuremberg Trials.
• X-1 Breaks Sound Barrier.

April 9, 1940 – Nazis invade Denmark and Norway. May 10, 1940 – Nazis invade France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands; Winston Churchill becomes British Prime Minister. May 15, 1940 – Holland surrenders to the Nazis. June 10, 1940 – Norway surrenders to the Nazis; Italy declares war on Britain and France.

the war years

Top names of the 1940s

Much of popular culture was entrenched in anti-German and anti-Japanese sentiment. This is to expected when you are fighting a war against someone. Still, the ’40s brought us Jeep, the Slinky, Velcro, Tupperware AND Frisbee. And all of the Beatles were born in the ’40s.

Rationing was introduced in 1940 and lasted 14 years. For most of that time, meat, cheese, butter, cooking fats and sugar were heavily restricted, but potatoes, other root vegetables and bread were freely available. People ate a diet much higher in carbohydrates and lower in fats.

1940s Inventions We Still Love- Food, Games, Fashion

• Vintage Scrabble Game.
• 1940s M&M Display Box.
• Richard James Inventor of the Slinky.
• 1957 Full Skirt and Sheath Dress.
• Women Wear Pants.

Anyways, some of the hobbies under this category include photography, knitting, crochet, woodworking, artwork, and stamp collecting. Some of the art of the 1940s included pop art (popular art), cartoon types, paintings, and war posters.

What games did children play? Family in the 1940s listening to the radio. Many played games that we still recognise today such as tug-of-war, jump rope and board games. For some children other pastimes included listening to popular radio programmes and going to the cinema.

Teens in the 1940s were doing all kinds of new-fangled things like hanging out and developing their own culture of music, dance, fashion, and cars. The youth culture of these kids would evolve into the carefree teen society of the 1950s (who have been called The Luckiest Generation).

soap

1940s — Slinky James came up with a machine that coiled 80 feet of wire into a 2-inch spiral, his wife gave it the name “Slinky” and a legend was born. After Christmas demonstrations at Gimbels Department Store in Philadelphia, the first 400 Slinkys sold within minutes.

One popular toy of the 1940s, especially around Christmas time, was the printed cardboard house. Entire villages were available, and stores often created elaborate displays with toy trains running through them.

During WW2, children played many different games, both in groups and individually. Children commonly played Hopscotch, Four Square, Jump Rope, Chess etc. together, as well as all types of ball games. Young children loved to play jacks, marbles, play school and house, and played with cars or dolls.

Board games were popular too like Monopoly, Scrabble, Life, checkers, chess, backgammon, Chinese checkers, and dominoes. Cards were a really big hit with games like fish, concentration, crazy eights, hearts, and if old enough, canasta, gin rummy, solitaire, slap jack, war and 21.

Tinymite

According to NPD, L.O.L surprise dolls were the best-selling toy of the year for four years running from 2017-2019. With each doll hidden inside a ball (with stickers and fun accessories), kids never know which doll they’re going to get until the very last minute.

Potato Head

the hula hoop

1956 Play-Doh Everyone’s favorite childhood activity was invented by accident.

1964 – G.I. Little plastic green army men were already a hit with the boy crowd when Hasbro broke record sales with the launch of G.I.

The most popular toys in the 1960s were:

• Molded Plastic Playsets (Army Men, Cowboys & Indians, Civil War, Farm, etc.)
• Die-Cast Model Cars, Trucks & Other Vehicles (Corgi, Matchbox, etc.)
• Barbie & Accessories.
• Electric Sports Games (Football, Baseball, Hockey & Basketball)
• Hamilton’s Invaders.
• Baby Dolls.
• Electric Ovens.