Blackout (wartime)

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Blackout in Wartime

A blackout is when towns and cities turn off or dim outdoor lights at night to stop enemy aircraft from finding targets. It was used in the 20th century during wars.

World War I
- Britain planned blackouts in 1913 and began them after entering the war in August 1914.
- In London, bright exterior lights were turned off or dimmed, and street lamps were painted or covered.
- By February 1916, the blackout covered all of England.
- France also used a blackout for Paris during German attacks in 1915 and again in 1918. Germany kept blackout rules only in a zone near the front.

World War II
- Britain expected night bombing and believed turning off lights would make targets harder to find.
- Blackouts started on 1 September 1939, before war began. People covered windows with heavy curtains, cardboard, or paint to stop any light from escaping.
- Outside lights were turned off or shielded to shine downward. Important lights like traffic signals got special covers to aim beams at the ground.
- Shops and factories faced problems. Large glass roofs and other layouts made blackout changes hard. Some places used “airlock” doors to stop light from leaking out.
- Civil defense wardens checked buildings and punished those who showed light. Night driving became dangerous, causing more accidents. Drownings in docks and other injuries happened too. Crime rose in the dark.
- A lighter period began in September 1944 called a “dim-out,” allowing moon-like lighting. Full blackout stayed in place until April 1945, and on 30 April 1945, Big Ben was lit again after Hitler’s death.
- The coast faced a special problem: without a blackout, ships could be seen from submarines at sea. Coastal areas resisted, worried about tourism and fishing, which led to shipping losses.

Other notes
- Some people thought blackouts didn’t stop bombers from navigating, because pilots used other landmarks like water, trains, and roads. Different methods were used to reduce light, such as turning off windows or painting them.
- In the 1940s and 1950s, cities like Detroit practiced blackout drills, with neighbors quickly responding to air raid sirens.
- Modern weapon systems and night-vision gear make blackouts much less effective against today’s attacks.
- In the 1991 Gulf War, Baghdad also used blackouts, along with other civil defense measures, before air strikes began.

Bottom line
Blackouts were meant to protect people and towns by making it harder for enemies to see targets at night. They were hard on daily life and sometimes dangerous, and their usefulness declined with newer technology.