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dot com and secure your seats today welcome to the history extra podcast fascinating historical conversations from the makers of BBC History Magazine.

In September 1940, German planes began raining bombs on British cities, causing death and destruction on a scale never before seen.

But in the capital, the Blitz wasn't their only threat to people's safety. In today's episode, John Borkham talks to Professor Amy Helen

Bell about London's Second World War crime wave, exploring dark moments that challenge the

cosy idea of Blitz spirit, and revealing

how serial killers, such as Gordon Cummings and John Christie, exploited the chaos of war to

carry out their heinous acts. So, Amy, your new book takes us back to London during the Second

World War, at the time of the

blitz of blackouts and of fear. Before we get going, Amy, I just wondered whether you could take

us back to the beginning of the conflict to the outbreak in 1939. What was the atmosphere like

on the streets during those early days?

I think it's hard for us to imagine it now because there aren't a lot of images or recordings.

It was a world of intense anxiety and fear.

The streets were blacked out, really even before war was declared.

They were in darkness at night.

People were forbidden to shine lights.

The children were being evacuated. They were evacuated two days before where it was declared from London.

...