December 6, 2017

1942. Londoners Say They Feel No Sympathy for Germans Under RAF Raids

The RAF's Massive Bombing Campaign Over Germany
The wall of a destroyed building along Tauentzienstraße is moved in Berlin-Charlottenburg, January 1944 (source)
London Bomb Shelter Crowd Feels No Sympathy for German People Blasted by RAF Raids
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By WILLIAM R. DOWNS
United Press Staff Correspondent

In a Liverpool Street Air Raid Shelter, London — (UP) Asked what they thought of the Royal Air Force thousand-plane raids on Germany, the 600-odd residents of this big East End shelter chorused:

"Serves them bloody well right!"

They have no pity for their German counterparts who have spent three nights out of the last four cowering in shelter from British bombs.

These middle-aged men and women lick their lips, grin.

"We only chuckle down here when we think what the ruddy Germans are going through," said Mrs. Louisa Lee, 43, mother of an almost grown up boy and seven daughters. "We had it good and hard for more than a year. Now it's Jerry's turn."

"Suppose they come back?"

"We expect them back to have another crack at us," she replied. "Meantime I hope they are bloody well enjoying our own show."

The shelter marshal pointed out that Mrs. Lee, the first time, had used "ruddy" instead of the inelegant "bloody."

He thought she had a right to have used bloody both times. She was almost killed May 10, 1940, in the last big German raid. Her home was demolished and she was blown through a window. She had neglected to come to the shelter that night. She hadn't missed a night since.

"It isn't worth it," she explained. "Besides, down here we get a full night's sleep."

She knows few details of the raids on Germany. She is too busy, after the regular working hours in a camouflage factory, caring for her seven daughters to read the newspapers.

"I'll know more when my boy joins up," she said. "He is 15 now. He works in the same factory with me."