The British people experienced total war, meaning that civilians were heavily involved in supporting the war effort.
The Blitz (1940–41) saw German bombing raids on London and major cities. Thousands were killed, and many homes were destroyed.
Children were evacuated from cities to the countryside to keep them safe from air raids.
Rationing of food, fuel, and clothing was introduced.
Women took on jobs traditionally held by men.
Civilian morale remained relatively high.
Post-war, the hardship led to increased support for social reforms and the creation of the welfare state.
Soviet Union
The USSR suffered the highest civilian casualties of the war, (over 10 million civilian deaths.)
Entire towns and villages were destroyed, especially during the Siege of Leningrad, which lasted nearly 900 days.
Scorched-earth policies, meaning civilians had to destroy their own homes and crops to prevent German forces from using them.
Civilians worked in war industries, often relocated to the east.
Mass evacuations occurred to move factories away from the front lines.
The state enforced strict control and repression. Anyone seen as disloyal could be arrested or executed.
Despite the suffering, there was a strong sense of patriotism and resistance.
After the war, many civilians faced famine and displacement.
Exam technique
Use both countries equally. Don’t write mostly about one and mention the other briefly.
Organize your answer by themes: e.g., bombing, rationing, roles of women, morale, propaganda.
Define "civilian population" early, making sure your answer focuses on non-combatants.Use specific examples: The Blitz, Siege of Leningrad, ration books, evacuations, scorched-earth tactics.
Compare and contrast in each paragraph if it’s a comparison question.
Common Mistake
Only writing about soldiers or military battles. (Focus on civilians: workers, families, children, women)
Mixing up impacts with causes (Show how the war affected people, not just why it happened)
Ignoring post-war impact (Include how civilian experiences shaped post-war reforms or attitudes)
Tip
Make a comparison table of impacts in two countries under headings like: death toll, rationing, women’s roles, bombing, propaganda, long-term effects.
Practice timed writing using real Paper 3 prompts to structure your answers.
Case study
The Siege of Leningrad (1941–1944)
What Happened?
The city of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) was surrounded by Nazi German forces for nearly 900 days (Sept 1941 – Jan 1944).
The siege aimed to starve the city into surrender without direct invasion.
Over 1 million civilians died mostly from hunger, cold, and disease.
Conditions During the Siege
Food supplies were cut off.
Temperatures dropped. There was no heating, water, or electricity.
Civilians ate anything they could find (wallpaper paste, pets, even reports of cannibalism.)
Factories continued to produce tanks, weapons, and supplies.
Civilian Response
Massive suffering but also heroic resistance.
Some 500,000 civilians worked to repair infrastructure, build defenses, and keep morale up.
Cultural life continued: e.g., Shostakovich's 7th Symphony was composed and performed in the city during the siege.
Significance
Demonstrates the brutal cost of total war for civilians.
Shows how ideology and patriotism were used to keep people fighting.
Reveals the scale of destruction on the Eastern Front.
Important for discussing civilian morale, government propaganda, and military strategy.
Exam technique
When writing about the Soviet Union, always include the Siege of Leningrad to show detailed knowledge of how civilians suffered and contributed to the war effort under extreme conditions.
Active recall
Compare and contrast the impact of the Second World War on civilians in two countries.
Evaluate the effects of the Second World War on the civilian population of one European country.
To what extent did total war affect civilians in Britain and the Soviet Union?