Reading the section of Richard Overy's Bombing War on the Blitz, was struck by the parallels between British officialdom now and then. Obviously the covid crisis is a completely different kind of crisis, but the similarities in approach and attitude are eerily similar.
First, preparation for wrong disaster. As is well known, our pandemic plan was based on assumption of flu pandemic. In late 30s they were convinced Germany would attack with gas, and poured resources into gas masks, decontamination procedures etc. Entered war unprepared for explosive and incendiary attack, which is what Germany actually did.
Second, general crapness. Govt knew deep shelters only secure option, but refused to build any because it was too expensive. Many surface shelters collapsed in *heavy rain* before any bombs hit.
Third, the "one rule for them" problem. One of the worst offenders against the blackout regulations were government offices. They tried to claim Crown immunity from prosecution and ended up in a fight with the police, until agreeing to hold individual civil servants liable.
Fourth, hostility to public's own solutions, until they were eventually forced to back down. Public mostly refused to use official shelters because they knew they were crap. Spontaneous responses included sheltering in tube stations, and leaving cities nightly to camp outside. Govt tried to stop both: tube sheltering because it prioritized keeping traffic flowing; camping out because it worried people wouldn't return to work (in fact they did). Eventually govt was forced to accept both and provide facilities.
Fifth, classist assumptions that turned out to be entirely wrong. Govt assumed that working classes would crack under pressure while the middle classes would display the stiff upper lip. In fact it was pretty much the opposite, with very low absenteeism in factories even among people who had lost their houses, while every hotel within 70 miles of London was booked up for months as the middle classes fled.
Lastly, bizarre British exceptionalism. Working assumption across Europe prewar was that urban bombing would cause total social collapse. UK govt was very pleased to discover that this didn't happen during Blitz: in fact there was no decline in support for war or govt and minimal disruption to economy. Regardless, UK went on with strategy of carpet bombing German cities in order to cause total social collapse. Because obviously foreigners are different.
