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Describe two features of the South Hallsville School disaster (1940) - Edexcel - GCSE History - Question 1 - 2022 - Paper 1
Question 1
Describe two features of the South Hallsville School disaster (1940). Feature 1 Feature 2
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Describe two features of the South Hallsville School disaster (1940) - Edexcel - GCSE History - Question 1 - 2022 - Paper 1
Step 1
Feature 1: The School's Basement Safety Concerns
Answer
During the South Hallsville School disaster, it was initially thought that the school basement would provide safety from potential aerial attacks. However, this assumption led to tragedy, as many who took shelter there ended up suffering. The school was believed to be a secure location, thus families and children were advised to seek refuge in the basement, which ultimately was not as safe as anticipated.
Step 2
Feature 2: The Casualty Figure and Government Response
Answer
The school was directly targeted on September 10, leading to the basement's collapse. Official reports stated that the casualty figure reached 77 dead. In response to the disaster, the government was concerned about public morale and did not want to reveal the full extent of the tragedy. Consequently, a press blackout was ordered to manage the information being disseminated to the public.