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dangerous. In an air raid, he or she would have to be out in the danger Name zone after they had helped everyone else to safety!

Wardens also led air raid drills. These pretend raids helped people to know what to do in a real attack. They were just like the fire drills you Safe at Home - Civil Defense in WWII might have at your school. To start the drill, an air raid sounded, just as it would in a real raid. Everyone scrambled to get to shelter. By Toni Lee Robinson After a time, the "all clear" sounded. This was a special signal telling people it was safe to come out. In 1941, the U.S. was attacked by Japan. The two nations were not at before the attack. In spite of that, planes from Japan dropped Some drills were held at night. At these times, everyone had to follow bombs on Pearl Harbor, . Thousands of people were killed. blackout rules. All lights were to be "blacked out" so that enemy Japan sent word that they were at war with the U.S. pilots flying overhead couldn't use them as targets. Heavy black shades were pulled over windows. Lighted signs for stores and other and were Japan's friends. They went to war against the businesses had to be turned off. Only cars with special headlights U.S., too. American soldiers and sailors were sent into battle. They were allowed on the streets. Air raid wardens patrolled to make sure were fighting in and in the Pacific. The places where the war no lights showed. was being fought were called "fronts." People also learned how to use gas masks. It was feared that enemy The attack on Pearl Harbor was a big shock. After that, the people of planes might drop bombs that held poison gases. The masks could the were nervous. Would there be more attacks on the screen out deadly gases and their wearers alive. In some areas, U.S.? German planes bombed England again and again. Many people kids had to carry gas masks with them to school. thought Japan would bomb the west coast of the U.S. They thought German subs might bring enemy soldiers to the east coast. As it turned out, the air raid shelters, gas masks, and other civil defense measures were never needed. Even before World War II was People wanted to protect themselves. They didn't want to be taken by over, it seemed clear that the "" was probably safe from surprise again. What could those on the "home front" do? Plans were attack. Air raid drills and blackout rules were dropped. made to handle attacks on U.S. cities. These public protections were called "civil defense." The efforts at civil defense hadn't been useless, though. They had taught people some good lessons. Citizens had learned they could help Citizens learned what to do in case of attack. One lesson was how to in the war even though they weren't soldiers. People learned how to spot enemy planes. Kids and adults alike studied charts that showed work together to help their communities and each other. what a German or Japanese plane would look like from below. Then people could tell if a plane flying over was a U.S. plane or an enemy. That might give a few seconds of warning in the event of a surprise attack (raid).

Some people volunteered as air raid wardens. (A warden is someone who takes charge and watches out for others.) Many wardens were women. A warden's job was to help people make it through an enemy attack. Each warden was in charge of his/her own area. If an attack came, he or she was to help people in that area get to shelter.

The warden would help police to restore order. He/she would direct medical care to those in need. Wardens were to watch for fires and falling rubble caused by bombs. In fact, the warden's job was pretty 5. What was the main job of an air raid warden? Name A. To help people make it through an enemy attack B. To guard prisoners of war C. To enforce blackout rules D. To watch for fires Safe at Home - Civil Defense in WWII 6. Why might an air raid warden's job be dangerous? Questions

1. Why were people afraid that the U.S. might be attacked?

7. The purpose of gas masks was: A. To protect the wearer's face from fire or falling rubble B. To remind everyone that an attack could come at any 2. The "home front" was: minute A. A place where people were sure they would be safe C. To filter poison gases from the air so that the wearer B. Places in the U.S. where Germany and Japan had could breathe safely attacked. D. To make everyone look scary so that attackers would be C. The place from which attacks were launched frightened off D. Homes and towns across America where people did what 8. Thankfully, the attacks for which people of the U.S. prepared they could to help in the war never came. Does that mean that civil defense measures were 3. True or False: In WWII, civil defense was the placing of silly and unnecessary? Why or why not? soldiers in U.S. cities to fight back in case of enemy attack. A. True B. False 4. Explain blackout rules. What was their purpose? For people in Britain, WWII was a nightmare. They endured a year Name of steady bombing by the German (air force) and raids from time to time. Many slept in air raid shelters for more nights than they spent in their homes. Children from the cities were sent to live with families in safer places. Write a paragraph describing the In both Britain and America, the dangers of WWII brought people differences between life in America and life in Britain in WWII. together. The crisis seemed to prompt them to work for the good of their nation and each other. At what other times have you seen this "coming together"? What causes it? How could we learn to do it in ordinary times?