August 29, 2009

27 August 2009

The BBC Archive is today launching a new online collection dating back to 1939, as part of the corporation’s plans to mark the 70th anniversary of the Second World War.

Documents, a new image gallery and 20 rare recordings dating back over 70 years have been made available online for the first time, giving a unique insight into the how the BBC prepared the country, and itself, for the outbreak of the Second World War.
Never-before-seen internal BBC documents and historic radio broadcasts have been released, including Richard Dimbleby reporting on Neville Chamberlain’s return after signing the Munich Agreement, Chamberlain’s declaration of war, and King George VI’s radio address to the nation.

Surprising recordings which illustrate the reality of war for ordinary people have also been released, including a broadcast reminding people not to try out their gas masks in the oven or behind the exhaust of a motorcar.

Read the full press release here.

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