1940s Quiz: Trivia, Pop Culture And History Questions
War, rationing, the NHS and the Windrush.
Below are 13 1940s questions with the answers underneath each one, sorted into pop culture, history and news, and art and design.
Every fact is real and dateable. Print it, read it out, or play the same questions against the clock in our decade trivia game.
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Shop greetings cards Play the decade quiz: test your memory Play the decade trivia game: score points against the clock Decade art finder: search artists and styles by era
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Yoda Best Multi-Occasion Greeting Card
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Happy Birthday Card For The World's Best Step Dad
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Ciao, Bitch (Italian-themed Goodbye & Good Luck Card)
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Happy Birthday Card For The World's Best Step Mum
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Years covered in the 1940s
- 1940 - Rationing, Dunkirk, Churchill and the Blitz - the year everything changed. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1940
- 1941 - The Blitz continued, clothes went on the ration and America entered the war. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1941
- 1942 - The Beveridge Report, soap on the ration and the first American troops arriving. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1942
- 1943 - The tide turned, the Dambusters flew and the country got used to going without. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1943
- 1944 - D-Day, the V-1s and the Education Act that changed school for everyone. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1944
- 1945 - VE Day, VJ Day, a landslide election and street parties on bomb-damaged roads. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1945
- 1946 - Television came back, bread went on the ration and the family allowance started. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1946
- 1947 - The worst winter in memory, a royal wedding and Indian independence. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1947
- 1948 - The NHS began, the Olympics came to London and the Windrush docked at Tilbury. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1948
- 1949 - Clothes rationing ended, the pound was devalued and the decade closed on austerity. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1949
- That is every 1940s year we have written up so far: 1940 to 1949.
1940s pop culture round
- Which London Olympics were known as the 'Austerity Games'? Answer: 1948. Athletes brought their own towels and were housed in camps and colleges.
1940s history and news round
- In which year was the National Health Service founded? Answer: 1948. It began on 5 July 1948 under Aneurin Bevan.
- The Empire Windrush arrived at Tilbury in which year? Answer: 1948. June 1948, carrying passengers from the Caribbean.
- What were the evacuations from Dunkirk in 1940 code-named? Answer: Operation Dynamo. Around 338,000 troops were brought home.
- What was the Home Guard originally called? Answer: Local Defence Volunteers. Renamed the Home Guard in July 1940.
- Which small corrugated-steel air raid shelter was buried in the garden? Answer: Anderson shelter. The Morrison shelter was the indoor steel table version.
- Food rationing in Britain finally ended in which year? Answer: 1954. It outlasted the war by nine years.
- The first stored-program computer ran at which university in 1948? Answer: Manchester. Known as the Manchester Baby.
- What was the wartime campaign urging people to grow their own food? Answer: Dig for Victory. Lawns and parks were turned over to vegetables.
- Which country gained independence from Britain in 1947? Answer: India. Independence and partition came in August 1947.
1940s art and design round
- Which sculptor drew the famous shelter drawings of Londoners sleeping in the Underground? Answer: Henry Moore. Made as an official war artist during the Blitz.
- Which American artist began making drip paintings in 1947? Answer: Jackson Pollock. He laid the canvas on the floor and poured the paint.
- The Arts Council of Great Britain was established in which year? Answer: 1946. It grew out of the wartime CEMA.
How to run it
- Read the question and hold back the answer - the note after it makes a good follow-up fact.
- Ten questions is one round; split the pop culture and history sections for two shorter rounds.
- For a birthday party, use the decade the guest of honour was born in and finish on their birth year page.
- In a care home session, stop wherever the conversation starts rather than finishing the list.
Found your words? Now find the card
Shop greetings cards Play the decade quiz: test your memory Play the decade trivia game: score points against the clock Decade art finder: search artists and styles by era
How to write it so it lands
- Mix two decades in one round if the room spans a wide age range.
- The notes under each answer are the bits people actually enjoy - read them out.
- Pair the quiz with that decade's party playlist for a themed night.
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Where to shop next
- Play the decade quiz: test your memory
- Play the decade trivia game: score points against the clock
- Decade art finder: search artists and styles by era
- Guess the year quiz
- Care home reminiscence quiz
- All decade quizzes in one place
- 1940s trivia: fun facts
- Look back to 1940
- Look back to 1941
- Look back to 1942
- Look back to 1943
- Look back to 1944
- Look back to 1945
- Look back to 1946
- Look back to 1947
- Look back to 1948
- Look back to 1949
- 1940s history: events, politics and culture
- 1940s calendar: year by year
- 1940s timeline: key dates and events
- 1940s music: songs, genres and trends
- 1940s films and directors
- 1940s books, films and TV
- 1940s books: novels and authors
- 1940s art: artists and styles
- 1940s fashion: styles, designers and trends
- 1940s food: dishes, restaurants and trends
- 1940s travel: destinations and holidays
- 1940s technology: gadgets and computers
- 1940s shopping guide: what to buy
- 1940s games: board, card and video
- The 1940s: the whole decade
- The decade before: the 1930s
- The decade after: the 1950s
- All decade guides in one place
- Card messages by occasion: every guide in one place
- Card hub: cards, badges and messages by occasion
- Decade history by era
- Decade calendars: every year from 1920
- Decade timelines: key dates and events by era
- Decade music: songs, genres and trends
- Decade films: best movies and directors
- Decade books: novels, authors and reading trends
- Decade art: artists, styles and trends
- Decade fashion: styles, designers and trends
- Decade food: dishes, restaurants and eating trends
- Decade travel: destinations and holidays
- Decade technology: gadgets and computers
- Decade shopping guides
- Decade games: board, card and video games by era
- Decade trivia: fun facts by era
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Frequently asked questions
What are some good 1940s quiz questions?
In which year was the National Health Service founded? The answer is 1948. There are 13 more above, with answers, across pop culture, history and art.
How many questions are in the 1940s quiz?
13, split into a pop culture round, a history and news round and an art and design round.
Can I use these for a quiz night or care home session?
Yes, freely. Print them, read them out, copy them - no permission needed.
Is there a version I can play online?
Yes. The decade quiz gives instant feedback and a score, and the decade trivia game is timed with points for speed and streaks. Both use these same questions.