This week in the War, 4–10 December 1944: Phasing out the Blackout

This week in the war throughout the British Isles from 9 December 1944 on, premises were no longer required to be blacked out when the air raid sirens sounded. The Luftwaffe was no longer perceived to be a threat, and light or its absence was irrelevant to the V-1s and V-2s that bombarded London.

The Blackout had begun on 1 September 1939, before Britain had even declared war. Despite the bombing, British morale stayed high, even during the eight months of the Blitz, September 1940–May 1941, which claimed the lives of over 40,000 civilians.