4 - “British Humor” as an Agent of Civility

Summary

Walking a tightrope, the British government exhorted the people to take up arms while simultaneously seeking to prevent the turmoil that might result from this. One risk of this balancing act was to trigger acts of violence against downed airmen contrary to international law. If Britain mistreated its German prisoners, Germany would not fail to take retaliatory measures against the thousands of British prisoners it already held. It was thus necessary to at once encourage and restrain the population, inciting the citizens to a determination that was both resolute and calm. Doing so was all the more important given the fear that a panic similar to that which seized hold of the Belgians and French during the invasion of their territory would once again happen if the Germans crossed the Channel. The exodus of 1940 had contributed to defeat on the continent. Order and calm must thus reign in men’s minds at all costs. So how was one to fire and dampen, arouse and soothe, incite and pacify at one and the same time?