Did Britain really 'keep calm and carry on' in WW2?

Did Britain really 'keep calm and carry on' in WW2?

August 27, 2026 · 46 min · Episode 2615

About this episode

The episode explores the reality of Britain's wartime morale versus the popular memory of unity and stoicism.

'Keep calm and carry on' has long been held up as the defining spirit of wartime Britain. But was the nation really as united, stoic and unquestioning as popular memory suggests? In this episode, Steven Casey takes Isabel King through the often surprising reality of Britain's wartime morale. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about the experience of evacuees during the Second World War, check out our 2025 'everything you wanted to know' episode with Joshua Levine: https://bit.ly/4bF3gvB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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