Exercise 4.2: The British landscape during World War II.

Landscape For Everyone.

The British landscape during World War II.

This essay is an attempt to view national identity and the history of WW II through landscape. The main points of the essay are:

• The use of landscape was a safe and ready way of building a feeling of common purpose in the British public without employing the fervor of the fascist enemy.
• In 1926 C, F. G. Masterman asked that England be viewed as a series of views each showing the steady development of the  country.  The industrial Revolution was seen as a dark period that threatened the countryside.  This attitude is still with as current commentators view and write about the modern world and the changes within it.
• WW II and the fear of invasion, with the possible ending of rural England as it was, was used in propaganda to unite the country behind the myth of an unconquerable Britain that was based in that mythic rural idyll. 
• Writers at the time compared the the rural strength of England to the industrial madness of Germany.
• In May 1940, as a device to confuse any invading army, all rural sign posts were removed.  This include names on building and delivery vehicles and all reference to distances.  (German civilian aircraft and German “tourists” had already successfully mapped the country but the effort made for a feeling of being at war). 
• Petrol rationing brought a halt to pleasure motoring.  Troop trains, often traveling by night, were send endlessly round the country.  A trip to the country was no longer seen as a pleasure but as just a break from the dangers of living in the more dangerous town or city.  The ideal rural scene now had to be remembered and much was done to not only help the recall of that memory but to also remember the differences between the various areas.
• There grew up two views of the country; the one remembered and the one as seen and altered by the war.  By highlighting this effect it was hoped that the country would be driven to the victory that would unite those two views again.
• The country was displayed in a way that illustrated its variety as well as its differences and one that was achieving success in the war.  This worked on three levels: it linked the past, the artist view, and the recent social reform.  Thus combining three different concepts that were aimed at guiding the country to victory.
• As early as 1939 press photographers were encouraged to mix war themes with landscape by, for instance, depicting child evacuees in their temporary rural setting and backing them up with the message that this is was an opportunity for them to discover beautiful England.  The aim was to show that despite the social dislocation of war England would unite and win through.  Pictures of pre-war England without social content served little purpose and were not encouraged.
• Prior to the war a visit to the country was seen as a healthy pursuit.  Mass trespass movements had started to open up more of the land to ordinary people, despite objections from landowners.  This feeling of joint ownership was encouraged by government as a way of uniting the whole population.
• Picture Post, which before the war ran stories about class struggle in England, pursued stories about the differences between the German fascists and England.   Comparisons were drawn between English boy scouts and the Hitler youth, and a formal Hitler to a relaxed Churchill.  The captions were “Totalitarianism” and “Democracy”. 
• The paper set out demonstrate what the country was fighting for in the way of the accepted freedoms of a civilised country.  Photographs comparing the English society and German society drew upon the stereotypes of a free and pastural England and a rigid propagandised Germany.  This backed up by reference to England’s glorious past of repelling invaders. (The Romans, Saxons, Vikings and Normans not withstanding).  Dover Castle was used as an example of Britain’s steadfastness.  
• At the same time pictures were being published of England beaches with their barbed wire and other defences and closed to the population for the war.
• The White Cliffs at Dover came to stand for England defence and as welcome beacon to returning combatants. 
• During the Battle of Britain pictures were published showing both gun crews and civilians looking skywards.  This was meant to show how the population was united in both the war effort and in looking forward to a future after victory.