The war had been a difficult time for people in Wales.

There had been large air-raids on Cardiff, Swansea and Pembroke Dock. 

These raids, and many other smaller raids, killed almost 1,000 people and injured many more.

Many thousands of people had joined the armed services and 15,000 of them had been killed.

Women had carried out dangerous work to make bullets and bombs.

Many children who lived in cities had been separated from their families so they would be safe from the bombing.

When the war ended everyone wanted to get back to their ordinary lives.

<table><thead><tr><th scope="col" colspan="2">Tricky Word</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><th scope="row">Air-raids:</th><td>Attacks by aircraft armed with bombs and machine guns.</td></tr></tbody></table>

For many people in Wales the war represented a shared purpose and hope (that the Allies would win) and a sense that they were all going through the same difficulties and dangers.

Chief among the dangers were the attacks the German Luftwaffe made on Wales.

There were large air-raids on Cardiff, Swansea and the oil storage tanks in Pembroke Dock. These raids, and many other smaller raids, killed almost 1,000 people and injured many more.

Other injuries occurred to women who worked in munitions factories, such as those at Bridgend, Hirwaun and Glascoed. There were sometimes accidents and many suffered ill-health from having to work with chemicals used to make bombs and artillery shells.

Across the course of the war around 110,000 children had been evacuated from Wales’ towns and cities and moved to the countryside, away from the German bombing. All returned home by the end of the war. 

In the months after the war ended, most of the men who had served in the armed forces came home. Many had physical injuries, others had memories which they did not wish to share with their families. About 15,000 Welshmen had been killed.

A small number of people in Wales had opposed the war, either because they thought the British war effort came at the cost of Welsh nationalism or because they were conscientious objectors opposed to all fighting on moral or religious grounds.

<table><thead><tr><th scope="col" colspan="2">Vocabulary Checkpoint</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><th scope="row">Purpose:</th><td>Determination or reason to act.</td></tr><tr><th scope="row">Luftwaffe:</th><td>The German air force during World War Two.</td></tr><tr><th scope="row">War effort:</th><td>Everything the people of the country were doing to make supplies and weapons to fight the war. </td></tr></tbody></table>

For many people in Wales the war represented a shared purpose and hope (that the Allies would win) and a sense that they were all going through the same difficulties and dangers.

Chief among the dangers for those on the ‘home front’ – those living and working in Wales and not on the frontline – were the attacks the German Luftwaffe made on Wales.

January 2, 1941, saw the largest bombing raid of the war in Wales. The target was Cardiff, and houses were destroyed across the city. Llandaff Cathedral was also badly damaged. More than 160 people died in the city that night. They are remembered on a memorial in Cathays Cemetery.

The greatest single death toll was in Grangetown, where more than 30 people had taken shelter in the basement of a bakery. A bomb hit the building and killed them all.

In February 1941, Swansea was attacked three nights in a row, causing major damage to the city centre and killing more than 200 people, many of them children.

Industry was also attacked. In August 1940, a bomb dropped on oil storage tanks in Pembroke Dock caused a fire that burned for 18 days and killed five firefighters.

Across Wales almost 1,000 people were killed by German bombing, from Rogerstone to Bangor, Cwmparc to Tenby.

Many women’s health also suffered from the work they carried out with chemicals used to make bombs and artillery shells. Very few women had worked in industry before 1939, but during the war thousands worked at munitions factories, especially those at Bridgend, Hirwaun and Glascoed.

Across the course of the war around 110,000 children had been evacuated from Wales’ towns and cities and moved to the countryside, away from the German bombing. Many bonded with their adoptive families, but by the end of the war, those who had not already returned home were looking forward to getting back to their families. All returned home by the end of the war. Some of those who had been evacuated to majority Welsh-speaking areas – even from English cities such as London – learned to speak some Welsh.

The end of the war meant the end of some restrictions. To hinder bombers from finding their targets, the British Government had introduced a blackout, meaning that all lights were banned after dusk. Homes had to have heavy curtains, and cars and buses had to put tape on their lights so only a thin beam could be seen.

However, one major restriction – food rationing – was to continue after 1945. During the war some foods, such as meat, sugar, and cheese were rationed, meaning that people could only buy a certain amount every week. Fruit and vegetables were never rationed, and people were also encouraged to grow their own. Britain had spent a huge amount of money to fight the war and rationing of some items was to continue into the early 1950s.

Over the years of war people had understandably become tired and weary of the restrictions on their life, and worn down by worries for loved ones who were overseas.

In the months after the war ended the servicemen came home. Many had physical injuries, others had memories which they did not wish to share with their families. About 15,000 Welshmen had been killed.

A small number of people in Wales had opposed the war, either because they thought the British war effort came at the cost of Welsh nationalism or because they were conscientious objectors opposed to all fighting on moral or religious grounds.

For many people in Wales the war represented a shared purpose and hope (that the Allies would win) and a sense that they were all going through the same difficulties and dangers.

The Long Walk to Liberation

How the War Changed Wales