Sandbags outside Buildings; what purpose?

[Shangas]

Hey guys,

I asked this question once before on a history forum, but I wasn't able to find the topic where I asked the question, and that was years ago now...

...But...In period movies, in old movies, in photographs, in newsreel footage of the Second World War, we sometimes see buildings with sandbags stacked up outside them, up against the walls.

What was the purpose of the sandbags? What were they meant to prevent or protect against?

 

[Smithy]

They were/are used as an inexpensive protective against explosive blasts and shrapnel. All the tiny grains of sand also help dissipate the blast.

 

[Shangas]

Ah-hah! Thanks, Smithy.

**Includes this fact in his two-part article in his blog, about the home front of WWII**

 

[BellyTank]

I thought it was because they didn't have room for them indoors...


B
T

 

[H.Johnson]

...and the tape criss-crossed on the window panes was to keep the sun off the furnishings of course...

 

[BellyTank]

...stop the sandbags escaping..?


B
T

 

[Shangas]

Okay, okay, okay, I get it. Ask a stupid question get a stupid answer...sheesh...

 

[DutchIndo]

Shrapnel Protection , also placed waist high around GP Tents. On Quonset huts sandbags are placed on the roofs. This was placed to prevent the roofs from flying off during Monsoons.

 

[derleicaman]

Sandbags also used to be placed in front of building entrances/exits as a "shrapnel trap" as well.

 

[alden405]

Really really paranoid about flash flooding?

something to lean on?

 

[Story]

You're all pathetically wrong.

They kept the buildings anchored, during periods of high wind gusts generated by low-flying Dorniers.

 

[thecardigankid]

You're all still wrong! It was a wartime fashion statement, they made the buildings look really really cool! The fact that it protected the building from bomb blasts and shrapnel just happened to be a convenient coincidence,

 

[ron521]

Everyone has seen the episode of "Friends" in which Monica puts her bottom in the open refrigerator to cool off?

During the Golden Era, most buildings were not air conditioned, so people would open their icebox doors to cool the interior rooms.

Sandbags helped insulate the buildings and keep the cool, comfortable air inside.