What really happened inside Churchill's secret War Rooms?
Beneath the streets of Whitehall, Churchill's War Rooms served as Britain's secret command centre throughout World War II. Here's what happened inside.
Image: Churchill's War Rooms are now a popular museum offering guests a unique insight into how the war was won | stock.adobe.com
Hidden beneath the streets of central London, Churchill's War Rooms served as the secret command centre for Britain's war efforts during World War II.
Then known as the Cabinet War Rooms, these secret underground headquarters are now a historical museum that provides fascinating insight into Great Britain’s wartime government.
But what exactly went on behind closed doors? Below the streets of Whitehall, Sky HISTORY uncovers the story of the rooms where Britain's war was won.
The history of Churchill’s War Rooms
Plans for an evacuation location for the prime minister, along with essential staff and the government cabinet, began in the 1920s. The devastation caused by World War I led to fears of around 200,000 casualties, so planning began swiftly.
The Cabinet War Rooms construction began in 1938. In June of the same year, the New Public Offices building in Whitehall, now home to the Treasury, was selected as the bunker's location. This area offered a central London location close to Parliament. It also had a large basement and a strong steel frame, making it an optimal choice.
Work on the bunker included soundproofing and the installation of broadcasting and communications equipment, along with a proper ventilation system. It also needed pumps and flood doors to prevent flooding, as the basement was below the River Thames level. The War Rooms officially became operational on 27th August 1939, just a few days before the German invasion of Poland on 1st September.
The basement had to be made bombproof. It was still just a regular basement one floor beneath the New Public Offices rather than a bunker hundreds of levels below ground. This was done with a steel-reinforced slab of concrete, which was placed on top of the room during the Blitz in December 1940. This reinforcement provided additional protection that would have stood strong against bombs up to 500lbs. However, it would not have been able to survive a direct hit from a larger bomb. Despite this, the War Rooms made it through the war without a single hit.
What happened in Churchill’s War Rooms?
As mentioned, the War Rooms were a central hub for Prime Minister Winston Churchill and his cabinet and staff to oversee the war effort during World War II. It was where crucial wartime decisions were made. The War Rooms were constantly in use 24 hours a day until 16th August 1945 – the day after VJ Day. During critical situations, the War Rooms were used hundreds of times. For example, during the Blitz, the War Cabinet met around 115 times.
Staff efforts
There were also hundreds of people working alongside Churchill to aid with the war effort. This included military Chiefs of Staff, typists, secretaries, admin staff, intelligence officers and telephone operators. Each person had a critical role, working around the clock to ensure that every station was monitored effectively. For example, the switchboard operators were all civilian women, and many of them slept in shifts, staying underground 24 hours a day.
Map Room planning
The Map Room was a pivotal point of interest in the bunker, as it was the centre for all military information. This room was where some of the most important choices and strategies were made. It was staffed day and night continuously by officers of the Royal Air Force, British Army, and Royal Navy. Daily intelligence was also produced in the Map Room. This intelligence was compiled every day and would be given to the Prime Minister and the military Chiefs of Staff, but it was also delivered to King George VI.
As the name suggests, the Map Room was also home to a large hanging map. This map charted the advances of the German forces into Russia during 1941 and 1942. These notes feature fascinating insight and details of the historical attempts to capture the country by Nazi Germany. It also details the retreat that happened in the following years.
Speeches to the public
Churchill also made speeches during his time in the War Rooms. He only did this four times, but these speeches provided a much-needed boost of inspiration for the country during such a turbulent time.
When the war ended in 1945, the staff simply walked out and the rooms were sealed. They remained largely untouched for decades. Today, visiting Churchill's War Rooms means stepping into a place that time forgot – where the maps, the phones and the makeshift beds tell the story of a nation holding its nerve in its darkest hour far more powerfully than any textbook could.
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