London at the outset of war in 1939 was the greatest city in the world, the heart of the British Empire. The defiant capital had always been Hitler`s prime target & 1945, the last year of the war, saw the final phase of the battle of London. The Civil Defence could not have succeeded without the spirit, courage, resilience & co-operation of the people. London 1945 describes how a great city coped in crisis, how morale was sustained, shelter provided, food & clothing rationed, & work & entertainment carried on. Then, as the joy of VE Day & VJ Day passed into memory, Londoners faced severe shortages & all the problems of post-war adjustment. Women lost the independence the war had lent them, husbands & wives had to learn to live together again, & children had a lot of catching up to do. The year of victory, 1945, represents an important chapter in London`s -- & Britain`s -- long history.