Women's Home Guard In The Second World War

For the most part, people are very knowledgeable about the Second World War. They are well informed about the countries that were involved, what happened during the war, and the aftermath. However, when individuals are asked about the term“Home Guard,” a term that was vital to Britain’s defenese mechanism to second World War, they are often not familiar with it. Home Guard, established in May of 1940, refers to a defense organization created by the Britains during the war. More specifically, it was a military strategy that was used as a security for the British nation against any possible bombardment, invasion, and incursion. Authors Penny Summerfield and Corinna Peniston-Bird in their book, “Contesting Home Defence Men, Women, And The Home Guard In The Second World War,” explain the impact home defense had on the second World War as a security instrument for the British people. Summerfield and Peniston-Bird wrote this piece after
The increase of women participation led to the creation of the term “Women’s Home Defense” (WHD). Eventually, there was a debate on whether the membership of women in the Home Guard was beneficial. The government argued that they will be a shortage of resources and there would be a demand for women in other aspects of the war efforts, such as nursing and factories. Expanding the women role in the war was beneficial, although they could not occupy combatant roles. This chapter also argues that the Home Guard was constructed as a counter-invasion force, since it was viewed as specifically anti-fascist, which meant it could potentially become revolutionary. The Home Guard started drawing rigorous army training regime that involved monthly military exercises. Eventually, the government introduced conscription of the Home Guard to ensure that the supply of personnel was sufficient for the guard, defense, and training duties required of