Operation Pied Piper During the beginning of World War II in Nazi Germany, Hitler and his strategist had conceived a plan that would devastate its enemies before they invaded. It was a tactic called Blitzkrieg, which is German for ‘lighting war,’ Germany had already used this tactic many times before setting its sights on Great Britain. As many are lead to believe Blitzkrieg is not just the bombing of cites, it also included tanks, infantry that followed closely behind, and paratroopers that would take over bridges to prevent the enemy from blowing them up and stopping the movement of the tanks through the streets. With these methods Nazi Germany won most of its great victories. Then in 1939 they turned their eyes to Great Britain. Unknown to the Nazi Party, Britain had already devised a plan to protect its citizens, to protect it’s future, to save it’s children. (“Blitzkrieg”) The British knew this war was coming, it only continued to become more prevalent, with Germany’s open acts of aggression. The British Government created plans to evacuate over three million children to safe areas overseas (HBC). These were later determined to mainly be The United States and Canada. In the summer of 1938 the Anderson Committee divided Britain into three different zones, they were labeled evacuation, neutral, and reception. The priority of this operation was to move clusters of people, in “high risk zones” normally associated with being in urban areas. The areas labeled high risk were done so because the British Government thought them to be the most likely to be blitzed by the Nazi Germany Party. (HBC) The British Government continued to plan and add revisions to the pied piper operation in September of 1939 by establishing the priorities of who was to be evacuated first. The order went school children with their teachers, preschooler’s and their mothers, pregnant woman, and last those who were crippled. In addition to the priorities previously stated, the British government created several million billets, (military housings) to hold and protect evacuees. (HBC) The initial planning didn’t project the outcome of the situation. With the British government not willing to pay “large sums” of money on its preparation, cut down half of its projected efficiency, only 1.5 million children were able to be evacuated. (History Learning Site) This operation was massive and momentous decision by the British Government. It included six cities that were deemed vulnerable. (History Learning Site) These cities were near important factories, government buildings, and very populated. Making them targets for the Nazi Germany party. Children were labeled with a luggage tag attached to their clothing. The government also suggested but did not help in procuring a gas mask, coat, and a comb for lice. However many poor families were unable to give their children these items. (20th Century) On the first of September 1939 in the early hours of the morning the evacuation was officially announced and German troops began crossing into Poland. (HBC) Those labeled with priority in high-risk zones boarded trains and were whisked off, to designated rural towns and villages. (20th Century) This didn’t happen without a hitch, there were many problems because of the mass movement of people and children. People were hopping on trains no matter the destination, school and family members were separated in the rush and pandemonium. Many areas of reception experienced an influx of evacuees and others only received those of certain social standards. (Operation Pied Piper) Those from Dagenham were sent to East Anglia by boat. (HBC)
Thus the social class of the children affected how they were treated and where they went. Those children whose parents had money were able to make their own arrangement and children attending boarding schools were kept together and transported to manors with most of the children being able to stay together. Teachers, members of the