Britain in the Second World War
The Second World War ran from 1939 to 1945. Churchill, Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain come up most often.
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What the test asks about this period
Britain declared war on Germany in September 1939, after Germany invaded Poland. The war in Europe ended in May 1945.
For a year after the fall of France, Britain and the Commonwealth fought on without a major ally in Europe.
The test asks who led the country, what happened in 1940, and how the war changed life at home.
The war begins
- Britain declared war on 3 September 1939.
- Winston Churchill became Prime Minister in 1940 and led Britain for most of the war.
- King George VI was on the throne throughout.
1940, the hardest year
- At Dunkirk in 1940 over 330,000 troops were rescued from the beaches. Navy ships were helped by small civilian boats.
- The Battle of Britain was fought in the air that summer. The RAF stopped the German air force and a planned invasion never came.
- Churchill said of the RAF pilots: "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."
- Radar, developed by Robert Watson-Watt, gave early warning of German aircraft.
Test yourself on British history
Thirteen history questions with the answers explained, then a full mock test when you are ready.
British history questionsThe home front
- The Blitz was the bombing of British cities, especially London, Coventry and Liverpool.
- Over a million children were evacuated from cities to the countryside.
- Food and clothing were rationed.
- Women worked in factories, on farms as Land Girls, and in the armed services.
Winning the war
- D-Day, 6 June 1944, was the Allied landing in Normandy. The codename was Operation Overlord.
- The war in Europe ended in May 1945, known as VE Day.
- The war against Japan ended in August 1945.
- The Beveridge Report of 1942 set out the plan that became the welfare state.
Practice questions on this period
Here are 4 questions from our bank. The correct answer is marked, and under each one is a short reason.
Question 1. Who was Prime Minister of Britain during most of the Second World War?
Topic: British History
- Clement Attlee
- Neville Chamberlain
- Winston Churchill(correct answer)
- Anthony Eden
Why: Winston Churchill was Prime Minister for most of the Second World War. He led Britain from 1940.
Question 2. What was the Battle of Britain (1940)?
Topic: British History
- A naval battle in the North Atlantic against German U-boats
- An air campaign in which the RAF defended Britain against the German Luftwaffe(correct answer)
- The Allied D-Day landings on the beaches of Normandy
- A ground battle in North Africa between British and German forces
Why: The Battle of Britain in 1940 was fought in the air. The RAF stopped the German air force and prevented an invasion.
Question 3. What was the Dunkirk evacuation of 1940?
Topic: British History
- The Allied seaborne landing in Normandy to liberate France from German occupation
- The emergency rescue of over 330,000 Allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk using naval ships and civilian 'little ships'(correct answer)
- A naval battle in which the Royal Navy destroyed the German invasion fleet in the English Channel
- The evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Norway after the German invasion
Why: In 1940 over 330,000 soldiers were rescued from the beaches at Dunkirk. Navy ships and small civilian boats brought them home.
Question 4. What was the evacuation of children at the start of World War Two?
Topic: British History
- The emergency removal of children from occupied Channel Islands to mainland Britain
- The mass movement of over one million children from British cities to the countryside to protect them from bombing(correct answer)
- The evacuation of British children to Canada and Australia to keep them safe from potential German invasion
- The removal of orphaned children from bombed cities to government-run residential schools
Why: Over a million children were moved from cities to the countryside to keep them safe from bombing. This was called evacuation.
These are not the real exam questions, which are not published. Ours are written from the same official handbook.
Where to go next
- Previous period: Britain in the First World War
- Next period: Modern Britain
- All history questions: British History Questions
- The full chapter: British History study guide
- Drill this topic: practice by topic
History is the largest topic in the test. You need 18 out of 24 overall, so it is worth more of your time than any other period.
Common questions
Who led Britain during the Second World War?
Winston Churchill was Prime Minister for most of the war, from 1940. King George VI was the monarch throughout.
What was the Battle of Britain?
An air campaign in 1940 in which the RAF defended Britain against the German air force. It stopped a planned German invasion.
What happened at Dunkirk?
In 1940 over 330,000 Allied troops were rescued from the beaches at Dunkirk by navy ships and hundreds of small civilian boats.
What was the Blitz?
The sustained German bombing of British cities during the war. London, Coventry and Liverpool were among the worst hit.
Practise the whole test
24 questions across all six topics, marked against the real pass mark of 18.
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