The Churchill Series - Jun. 13, 2006

(One of a series of weekday posts on the life of Winston S. Churchill.)

Reader's Note: I always source the series posts. The source of today's post is the top of my head but I'm confident of what I'll say. John

As generally used now, the term Blitz refers not just to London but to German bombing throughout the United Kingdom from early September, 1940 to mid-May, 1941. Estimates are that about 43,000 were killed and about 150,000 injured as a result of the bombing.

Many, including Hitler, expected the British people to break under the horrific ordeal of the Blitz. But, of course, they didn't.

Churchill's stirring, defiant leadership helped the people sustain their morale and their own defiance of the Nazis. Humor helped too.

Shortly after the raids began people took to telling each other jokes and stories that even then they called "Blitz humor."

As you would expect Churchill loved Blitz humor. Here are two examples, both concerning incidents in London.

During one night's raid, buildings on both sides of a barber shop were destroyed but the shop was undamaged. The next morning a sign appeared in its window: "Close shaves our specialty."

The side and a large part of the roof of a police station were blown off. The Bobbies got a big tarpaulin and hung it on what remained of their station after painting on it: "We're now more open than before. So be good."

I hope you come back tomorrow.