The exhibition is divided into two parts: the Cabinet War Rooms, from which the British government operated out of during World War II; and an exhibition space dedicated to the life of the prime minister during much of the conflict — Winston Churchill.
With the war rooms, the exhibition follows through the underground bunker that protected the staff and secrets at the heart of Britain’s government during the Second World War.
As well as seeing where Churchill and his inner circle plotted the route to Allied victory, the bunkers provide a glimpse of what life would have been like during the tense days and nights of the Second World War.
Some of the bedrooms were more salubrious than others.
The bunkers were built in 1938, a year ahead of the war starting based on fear of a conflict with Germany. The Cabinet War Rooms became fully operational on August, 27 1939.
The rooms were most often used by politicians during bomb raids, especially during ‘The Blitz’. However, they were staffed at all times.
The Cabinet War Rooms were in use 24 hours a day until August, 16 1945, when the lights were turned off in the Map Room for the first time in six years.
Two other notable rooms include the Transatlantic Telephone Room and Churchill’s office-bedroom.
Churchill made four wartime broadcasts from the Cabinet War Rooms.
After the end of the war, the Cabinet War Rooms became redundant and were abandoned until the Imperial War Museum took them over in the mid-1980s.
In the Churchill section, visitors can listen to extracts from Churchill’s rousing wartime speeches. Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill was a British statesman who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955. The first period coincided with most of the Second World War.
The museum gallery makes effective use of modern technology to depict the war and Churchill’s role.
Within the museum there is plenty of memorabilia relating to Churchill’s life.
There are also letters and other correspondence.
The museum, although celebrating Churchill, also acknowledges some of his more controversial aspects, such as relating to his reluctance to agree to independence in India. Also featured are other items relating to the war effort, such as one of the code breaking machines used to crack the German Enigma code.
There is also plenty of video footage, covering the war and up to Churchill’s state funeral.
The exhibition is located at the Churchill War Rooms, King Charles Street, London. The war rooms provide a fascinating glimpse into life during wartime.
