The Home Guard Part One: Why the Home Guard Was Created in 1940: Britain Prepares for Invasion

The Home Guard Part One: Why the Home Guard Was Created in 1940: Britain Prepares for Invasion

Today I want to start a short series about the Home Guard by looking at why it was created in 1940. The Home Guard today are often seen by many people as older men carrying rifles and standing watch in their local communities. But we forget that the story began during one of the most frightening periods in Britain's history, when many people genuinely believed that an enemy invasion could happen at any moment.

In the spring of 1940, the Second World War had been going on for several months. Britain had not yet experienced the full force of the German aggression. That changed dramatically when Germany launched a series of rapid attacks across Western Europe. Using fast-moving troops, tanks and aircraft, German forces swept through country after country. News of these victories shocked the British people.

The situation became even more alarming in May and June of 1940 when France, Britain's most important ally on the continent, formally requested an armistice on the 17th of June 1940, and the armistice took effect on the 25th of June 1940. The fall of France was difficult to comprehend. France had one of the largest armies in Europe, but it had been defeated in a matter of weeks. Families listened for updates on the radio. Newspapers were putting out even more worrying headlines. Many people must have thought Britain might be next.

As the threat and fear of a German invasion grew. Rumours started to circulate about enemy parachutists landing in fields or spies hiding in amongst them. Coastal communities were obviously worried, they knew that if there was an invasion, they could be among the first to face it.

The government realised that the country needed to prepare. On the 14th of May 1940, the Secretary of State for War, Anthony Eden, made a radio broadcast calling for people to volunteer in a new force called the Local Defence Volunteers, usually known as the LDV. Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister, strongly supported the idea. The aim was simple: if an invasion came, local volunteers would help to defend their towns, villages and vital installations.

The response was extraordinary. Within only hours, men were queuing outside police stations and recruitment centres. Many were too old for regular military service, while others worked in jobs that were considered essential to the war effort. Some had fought during the First World War and had a sense of duty to serve once again. Some of the men had never served before but wanted to play their part. They may have been frightened about what lay ahead, but they were determined. Doing nothing was not an option for many of them.

More and more men joined up. Within only weeks, hundreds of thousands had volunteered, eventually exceeded 1.5 million members. They came from every walk of life, but they shared a common goal. They were determined to protect their homes and loved ones.

The organisation would renamed as the Home Guard on the 22nd of July 1940.

If you had been living in Britain during the summer of 1940, would you have joined the Local Defence Volunteers?