Why Londoners in the blitz accepted face masks to prevent infection – unlike today’s objectors

Why Londoners in the blitz accepted face masks to prevent infection – unlike today’s objectors

From the “blitz spirit” to the death toll, the German bombing campaign in the second world war has become a go-to for evaluating Britain’s response to the current crisis. Sunny references to the “blitz spirit” conveniently overlook the looting that accompanied the blackouts. Mask-wearing was, in 1941, a completely uncontentious and even patriotic activity.