Summary
Summary World War Two - Britain
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Notes on the response of Britain to the War politically - this document doesn't go into warfare tactics.
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Starter: chicken or egg? Losses at Gallipoli/establishment of the Asquith coalition (Henderson - Labour, Irish Unionists
(Carson and Cragg), Conservatives – Bonar Law and Balfour)
Shell crisis/LG takes over Ministry of Munitions (later becomes Minister of War)
Maurice debate/LG takes over as Prime Minister
What advice would Asquith offer to Chamberlain at the outbreak of war in 1939? Cabinet v
presidential – if you cant be presidential then step back. Don’t be too concerned about remaining
wedded to your political ideologies. Work on shell production to avoid another crisis. Don’t be
weary to introduce conscription.
A brief over view of World War II
September 1939 the War began for Britain and France when Nazi Germany invaded Poland using
Blitzkrieg (lightning) tactics – air attacks followed by ground troops. Little action (war in name
only) was taken (phony war – evacuation taking place, but nothing happened so many went
back) until 1940 as German offences rapidly defeated Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the
Netherlands, and small parts of France – at a time where we declared war and should have been
preventing this. The British army was on the retreat being evacuated by Dunkirk – trapped on
the beaches of France and Belgium one beach being Dunkirk and was happening during the
transition from Chamberlain to Churchill (10 th May 1940).
Britain alone was attacked during the battle of Britain and the Blitz (against Luftwaffe) – RAF won
‘’never has so much been owed to so many by so few’’.
June 1941, Hitler invaded Russia under the codename Operation Barbarossa – there was the
nazi-soviet pact which had been keeping Russia out of the war. Dec 1941 the Japanese attacked
Pearl Harbour bringing in the USA and Asia – conflict over ownership of the Pacific due to the
economic gains which could have been sourced.
Germany, Italy, and Japan formed the axis powers – real alliance – Britain, Russia (USSR), and the
USA on the ally’s side.
Midway in the Pacific area 1942. El Alamein Egypt, Nov 1942. Stalingrad Russia 1943. June 6 th,
1944, D-Day, the Allies launched operation overlord. Red army advanced in the East and was
first to reach the German Capital Berlin.
Germany surrendered in May 1945 shortly after Adolf Hitler Committed suicide. The war was still
not over as the Japanese were still fighting.
6th August 1945 Americans dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima Japan causing them to
surrender 15th August 1945 – V-J Day. Another on the 8 th in Nagasaki.
IMPACT OF WWII
Fall of Chamberlain – steps down as PM but remains leader of the conservatives Churchill was
without party.
Churchill’s success as a war leader
Role of key individuals
Social and economic impact
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