Churchill Flashcards

1
Q

What were Churchill’s views on India

A

He took the view that India was the jewel in the crown of the whole empire and that it had to be protected to prevent the empire from falling apart.

He also believed that Britain’s greatness was bound to its imperial status. He also had the view that British rule alone prevented the domination of Hindu elites in India over Indian Muslims.

He thought that British rule was beneficial for India and prevented barbaric practices and provided economic and social progress. This was bound to an innate racial idea, that Anglo-Saxons were superior.

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2
Q

Examples of British repression in India

A

The Rowlatt Acts of 1919 increased police power by allowing imprisonment without trial.
In April 1919 Gandhi led a mass campaign against the Rowlatt Acts and troops fired on a protesting crowd at Amritsar, killing 400 people.

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3
Q

Examples of British reform in India

A

1919 Montagu-Chelmsford measures gave locally elected councils some control over internal matters.

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4
Q

How did Britain respond to the Amiritsar massacre?

A

Ghandi was released from jail to attend conferences in London in 1930 and 1931 to get agreement on ending the conflict. This was ineffective, he was arrested on his return.

But, in 1933 Britain announced its intentions of allowing India greater self-government. 1935 the Government of India Act was passed, taking effect in 1937, the electorate expanded to 35 million (out of a population of 338 million) and they set up elected legislatures to deal with local affairs.

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5
Q

Why were the British public more accepting of reform in the 1920s and 30s?

A

Many in England had looked at the increasing costs of maintaining the status quo in India, the existence of educated Indian elites, and the changes in public and international opinion.

Before 1918 only one person in seven was able to vote in Britain. British women and male workers had little more say in the democratic process than Indians. After 1918, Britain had become more democratic.

Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa had been utterly loyal to Britain during WW1 despite enjoying self-government. More self-governance in India seemed to many not a danger but rather a necessity.

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6
Q

How did Churchill respond to the Indian protest movement? How did the Conservative Party react?

A

Churchill made increasingly extreme public statements and supported eccentric and racist organisations that were opposed to negotiations with the Indian protests movements.

Even more moderate Conservatives disagreed with him. Stanley Baldwin, the Conservative leader, undermined Churchill’s position through calm and moderate speeches, and by mocking references to Churchill’s views.

1934 Churchill made bitter attacks on the government ministers over India reform proposals. Even his former supporter Leo Amery, said that Churchill had stirred up a hornets’ nest where there were no hornets. In aiming to make Sir Samuel Hoare, the Secretary for India, resign, he threatened to shatter the Conservative party.

This won him ridicule from Conservative MPs and the deep distrust of the Conservative leadership.

Still, when the GoIA was finally passed, he stopped agitating and invited a close friend and political supporter of Gandhi to lunch, claiming he wished India well.

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7
Q

What was Churchill’s early position on rearmament

A

When German rearmament started, Churchill became more alarmed. Churchill saw the regime as brutal, he disliked the racism and violence, and the murder of political opponents.

He also feared a repeat of the situation before 1914 when Germany had been a threat to the peace of Europe.

Churchill wrote a book about the German naval threat in his history of the First World War, The World Crisis.

Unlike other leaders, Churchill had been a member of the government which had agreed to the ToV and took it more seriously that HItler wanted to break this up.

Churchill was also worried about air power and Hitler building a new air force. He was colonial secretary and had approved air attacks on Iraqi rebels in 1920 and knew the effects of aerial bombing.

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8
Q

Why was Churchill criticised for his policy on rearmament?

A

Some critics pointed out that he himself had been responsible for disarming in the 1920s and maintaining the 10 Year Rule (defence planning should not consider a war likely for the next ten years and justified cut backs in defence, lasted 1919 to 1932. Financial crisis had necessitated deep cuts in expenditure. 1934 the means tests imposed stringent conditions on any public help for the unemployed, an arms race that seemed inappropriate.

Many thought that WW1 had originated because of an arms race. Many thought it was ridiculous to restrict Germany’s army forever. People thought Churchill was still in a WW1 mentality, his tendency to exaggerate figures and to speak in alarmist terms reduced his credibility. People that the LoN was strong and could handle international disputes.

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9
Q

How did Germany become increasingly agressive 1930-36?

A

Left the League of Nations in 1933
Hitler introduced conscription in 1935, breaking the ToV.
He remilitarised the Rhineland in March 1936.

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10
Q

Why did Britian not react to German rearmament 1930-35?

A

The British were more anxious to stop French action against Germany that could lead to war rather than taking action themselves

Italy had aligned itself with Britain and France against German expansion into Austria in the Stresa Front in April 1935. Mussolini was no longer a possible ally because Britain had been forced by public opinion to condemn Mussolini’s invasion of Ethiopia in 1935.

The Anglo-German Naval Treaty in 1935 agreed that the German fleet could only be limited to 35% of the British fleet.

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11
Q

What were Chamberlain’s views on taking office in 1937?

A

Chamberlain had little faith in international bodies like the League or vague agreements for peace like the Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928.

Chamberlain was told by the chiefs of the armed forces that if peace policies failed, Britain could not fight a war against Germany in Europe, Italy and the Far East at the same time.

There was a small regular army with massive commitments in the Empire, the navy could not ensure the defence of home and commitment to a worldwide war, the air force needed building up.

Chamberlain had the support of most of the Conservative Party.

The Labour opposition had not supported rearmament.

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12
Q

Why did Britain do little when Austria was annexed by Germany in March 1938?

A

There were limited grounds for any action because this was popular in Germany and Austria seemingly.

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13
Q

What occured in the Sudeten Crisis (before the Munich Agreement)?

A

The Sudetenland had never been a part of Germany, but contained German speakers (2 million).

Czechoslovakia was a democracy with substantial ethnic minorities. It had alliances with the SU and France. Britain was not obliged to act but the French were. If France supported the Czechs, who had an army of 35 divisions, there would be a European war, which Britain could not have ignored.

Chamberlain put pressure on the Czechs to make concessions, and, as agitation grew amongst the sudeten Germans, Hitler’s speeches became more war-like, Chamberlain flew to see Hitler to negotiate.

Chamberlain did not involve any other countries, not Czechoslovakia. No attempt to involve the LoN and very little discussion with the international community.

Having negotiated an agreement for self-government in the Sudetenland, Chamberlain was outmanoeuvred by Hitler, Hitler insisted on a full union with Germany.

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14
Q

What happened in the Munich Agreement?

A

After Hitler insisted on full union with Germany, Britain prepared for war. Then Mussolini offered a mediatio at a four power conference in Munich.

Mussolini was allied with Hitler in the Pact of Steel. The French government did not want to fulfil its obligation to the Czechs. Chamberlain asked Hitler to agree to further consultation, which was what he waved at crowds on his return. Chamberlain was given gifts by admiring members of the public and songs were composed in his honour.

Britain’s rearmament now was accelerated and people began to lose faith in any attempt to negotiate with Hitler. Germany occupied Bohemia and Moravia and dismembered the Czech state in March 1939. On the 31st of March 1939, Chamberlain guaranteed Polish independence.

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15
Q

What did Churchill think of the Munich Agreement?

A

Churchill rejected the idea of persuading the Czechs to make concessions. He did not think one could meaningfully negotiate with Hitler. He was for collective security, the LoN and a Grand Alliance of countries ready to stop German aggression. Churchill thought that Britain was only encouraging Germany to go further.

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16
Q

How could one argue that the Munich agreement was justified?

A

Churchill offered no idea of who would be Britain’s allies.

Britain did not have an expeditionary force ready for war. Its troops were tied down in peacekeeping activities in the Empire, particularly in Palestine. War would lead to Italy and Japan threatening British interests in the Suez Canal, India, South East Asia.. 1938 Japan was fighting a bitter expansionist war in China, and looked towards western colonies in SouthEast Asia for rubber, ores and oil.

Churchill had been relentlessly hostile to the communist Soviet Union, which was undergoing massive internal change in the 1930s. It was unlikely that a meaningful alliance could be made with Stalin given the concerns about Russian activities in the Spanish Civil War and the distrust in France of communism.

France was looking to Britain to provide excuses for not acting. Opinion in France was profoundly opposed to any action which risked a war like the First World War. The Maginot Line had been expanded but this was a defensive measure.

Eastern European nations were more concerned about the threat from the Soviet Union.

The USA favoured isolationism, the Neutrality Acts had been passed preventing the USA from supplying other countries engaged in War. League had consistently failed.

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17
Q

How did war become more likely in 1939?

A

By 1939 conscription, planning for air raids, the formation of an expeditionary force and an air force had made war more of an option than previously. British guarantees of Poland did not make war inevitable but more likely. Hiter made a nonaggression pact with the USSR in August 1939. Lands gained by Poland in 1919 were the ones closest to German hearts and their recovery would complete the destruction of the ToV and open the way to eastern expansion. Poland was invaded on the 1st of September 1939 and Chamberlain asked Churchill to join the War Cabinet.

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18
Q

What had happened in the war prior to the Norwegian campaign

A

The British expeditionary force was sent to France but could not take initiatives and the French did not launch an offensive. The Nazi-Soviet pact led to German forces taking western Poland, the Soviets the East. The Soviet Union waged a winter war against Finland after taking back the Baltic States.

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19
Q

Why was Norway a problem for Britain?

A

Churchill pressed for action against Norway as its waters in the North Sea were a vital routeway for Germany to obtain Swedish iron ore.

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20
Q

How did the Norwegian campaign occur?

A

Churchill proposed mining Norwegian waters and action to prevent a German invasion. Chamberlain agreed to mining on the 28th of March 1940 but Hitler had already approved a German invasion on the 1st of March. This began in April.

Denmark was invaded, forces were landed in Norway. Germany lost 12 large ships against the British. British army landings were unsuccessful and there were disputes about methods and objectives. Forces landed at Namsos and Andalsnes were forced to withdraw in early May. Forces landed at Narvik achieved little and it fell to the Germany on the 28th.

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21
Q

How did Churchill become prime minister?

A

A debate in parliament began on the whole record of the government since the war began. It was obvious that the war was not well coordinated. There was an ineffective Minister for the Coordination of Defence, a military coordination committee had not proved effective, the economic planning had not been synchronised.

Sir Roger Keyes criticised the government. Chamberlain came under attack from his own side, especially from Leo Amery, a former ally. Labour forced a vote. Churchill took responsibility for the failure of the expedition and defended the government, increasing his own standing. The vote was 281 to 200 for the government.

Over 40 Conservatives had voted against the government, 40 had abstained. By May 1940 he was unwell. Only a minority of Conservatives wanted Chuchill to become PM. Lord Halifax, the former Foreign Secretary and friend of George VI was wanted . He sat in the HoL and would not have been able to without renouncing his title.

Churchill became the only alternative. He was backed by a group within his party and support from Labour and its leader Clement Attlee. Labour would not have served under Chamberlain. On 10th of May Germany had invaded Holland and Belgium. Chamberlain wanted to stay on but it became clear his war cabinet would not support him, especially Kingsley Wood. The King appointed Churchill PM on 10th of May 1940

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22
Q

What problems did Britain experience in the first months of Churchill’s premiership

A

Roosevelt was not keen on his appointment and the HoC and government contained many that did not support him.

4th of May Germans broke the French defences. 28th May British army was cut off from the French and had fallen to Dunkirk, 300,000 troops. Italian entry into the war was a threat, threatening Egypt and Suez. Gold reserves were running out. Germany had bombed Poland and the Low Countries, fear of bombing.

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23
Q

What was Halifax’s proposal for the war

A

Halifax, who had supported appeasement, was still in the cabinet as foreign secretary and wanted to approach Germany for peace. Italy was neutral, and could be used as an intermediary. 28th of may, the Cabinet discussed a French proposal to approach him. Halifax’s proposal to approach Mussolini and to appeal to the USA were rejected. The Australian High Commissioner pleaded for an appeal to Roosevelt for a peace conference but this was dismissed by Churchill.

24
Q

What happened at Dunkirk?

A

By the 4th of June, 224,318 British troops and 11,172 of their allies had been evacuated from Dunkirk. Belgium had surrendered and relations with France were poor. Churchill made his ‘fight them on the beaches’ speech, there was a direct appeal to the USA. This was broadcast, with the actor Norman Shelley impersonating Churchill. 3rd of July 1940 there was an attack on the French fleet, which had rejected the British offer of union.

25
Q

What were Churchill’s early mistakes as a wartime leader?

A

August 1940 Hitler decided to launch an air offensive on Britain. In September they moved to bombing cities. Sir High Dowding mobilised small groups of fighters. Did not pursue German planes over the channel. Churchill did not back him despite his successes. He was removed from command in November 1940.

He was fascinated by imaginative ideas. A close adviser Frederick Lindermann suggested germ warfare, which Churchill took into account despite scientific opinion that it was impractical.

hen the German forces broke through the French lines at Sedan, the British commander Lord Gort was forced to ignore Churchill’s orders to preserve British forces, which allowed Britain to continue the war. Churchill wanted Calais to be defended to the last. He also wanted to send another force to France when it was about to be defeated, this was only thwarted by the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, Sir John Dill. Churchill then got rid of Dill.

26
Q

What were Churchill’s past failures as a military leader?

A

He had little experience of command planning, strategy, naval experience. He did, however, give direct commands to the navy when lord of the Admiralty, a political post, he was responsible for the disastrous Gallipoli campaign of 1915, he was forced to resign thereafter

27
Q

How was Churchill’s relation with Brooke?

A

Field Marshal Sir Alan Brooke was a competent organiser and professional. He was careful with British forces and wished to avoid heavy casualties. On major decisions, however, they agreed. In 1940, Churchill decided to send forces to the Middle East. Brooke and other generals were in support.

28
Q

How was Churchill’s relationship with Wavell?

A

Sir Archibald Wavell was the commander responsible for British victories in NA in 1940 but was given little credit. Churchill personally disliked him and took forces from him when Italy invaded Greece in 1940. Cabinet made a decision to send troops to defend it and establish a Balkan front.

Wavell was not given time to prepare. His troops were taken on a flawed campaign, with little planning and few resources. The British had to be evacuated to Crete and were then defeated by a German attack and forced out. The early successes in North Africa were thrown away, and Wavell did not have the resources to meet German forces under Rommel. He took the blame and was demoted.

29
Q

How was Churchill’s relationship with Auchinleck?

A

Wavell’s successor, Sir Claude Auchinleck was not prepared for a premature attack on the Germans and, to Churchill’s annoyance, he insisted on delaying the attack. Despite effective defence against German attacks and preparations for a counter attack, he too was sacked for not being daring enough.

He was replaced by Bernard Montgomery, who was confident though insisted on thorough preparations, accumulating more than twice the men that Rommel had before attacking at El Alamein in October 1942. The credit should have gone to Auchinleck because of the preparations, though Churchill favoured Montgomery, who was very slow in following up his victory, allowing the Germans to retreat to Tunisia. Churchill continued to favour him.

30
Q

How was the Italian Campaign prosecuted?

A

Germany was defeated in Tunisia. American and British forces invaded and captured Sicily and then landed in southern Italy. This was a long slow campaign, occupying American and British forces, forcing Russia to take on the main task of moving towards Germany. The British commander, Sir Harold Alexander showed persistence in maintaining a slow advance, but Churchill admired his gentlemanly and unruffled style of leadership. Neither Brooke nor the other generals wanted to invade France.

31
Q

Who was in charge of D-Day?

A

Eisenhower, the planning was conducted by General Morgan.

32
Q

What was Operation Market Garden and what were its results?

A

Montgomery favoured airborne landings to outflank the Germans by taking the bridges at Nijmegen, Eindhoven and Arnhem, leading to an invasion of the Ruhr. The US doubted this but it went ahead. It failed. It was poorly planned and executed

33
Q

What was the justification of the Mediterranean Strategy?

A

Italy had troops in Libya, naval base at Taranto. Britain controlled the entrance to the Mediterranean at Gibraltar but there was a danger that Franco might threaten that control.

Britain had possession of the Suez Canal, unofficial control of Egypt, controlled Palestine, dominated Iraq and Transjordan and had a colony in Somalia. 1941 Germany had gone to war with Russia, by 1942 Russian forces were driven back south. If a North African attack by Germany broke through into Egypt then German forces might link up with forces in Russia and secure oil in southern Russia and the Middle East.

34
Q

Why did Churchill want to open a front in the Balkans?

A

Churchill wanted to secure the Balkan front and sent troops to Greece when Italy invaded in 1940. He wanted to draw Germany and open up the prospect of increased British influence in south-east Europe.

35
Q

How did the USA disagree on the Mediterranean

A

George Marshall saw little point in wasting resources in the Mediterranean and argued for taking the pressure off Russia by establishing a western front: German Atlantic fortifications were not yet built in 1942, Russia was important, Mediterranean was not important after the defeat of Rommel.

36
Q

What were the arguments against an invasion of Italy

A

In 1943 considerable resources were devoted to the invasion of Sicily, which failed to prevent the Germans retreating to the mainland. With North Africa, Gibraltar, Malta, Cyprus and Sicily in Allied hands, the Mediterranean was secure. By 1943, Italy had been weakened by defeats. Germans were established in Italy but Britain had naval supremacy and air power.

Only in June 1944 was the invasion of France conducted. There had been high casualties and there was a plan to wait until Russia weakened Germany and allied bombing did the same. Allies had hoped Italy would be captured more quickly, though bold landings such as that at Anzio in 1944 failed.

37
Q

What were the arguments against area bombardment?

A

A specialist report in 1942 had indicated that bombing was not effective or precise enough to damage German industrial production. The Blitz had not destroyed civilian morale in Britain. From 1943, many Germans saw Hitler’s supposed genius as the only way to stop Russia invading and taking revenge once it was clear that Germany could not defeat the USSR. There were ethical objections to killing large numbers of civilians including women and children. Bishop Bell of Chichester protested on the radio when heavy bombing raids initiated by Sir Arthur Harris began in 1942.

In February 1945 Dresden was bombed, the death toll was likely 40,000. The total casualties for the bombing of Britain from 1939 to 1945 were 60,595. All in all, between 400,000 and 600,000 Germans died in bombing raids. Dresden was not an obvious military target. The city was sheltering thousands of refugees.

38
Q

Greater social welfare during the War evidence

A

1942 British railways united and nationalised the rail network. 1940 Factory Acts improved welfare for 6 million workers, improved conditions of work for younger workers. Catering Wages Act of 1942 and the Wages Councils Act of 1945 improved wages for the low paid.

The Emergency Hospital Service brought 8 out of 10 hospitals under a national scheme by 1941. National Fire Service brought together 1500 different fire services.

The Beveridge Report of 1942 had proposed a far-reaching series of changes designed to achieve freedom from want after the war. Everyone of working age would be expected to pay a weekly national insurance contribution. In return benefits would be paid to the sick, widowed, retired and unemployed. The Conservatives on the whole supported this but many feared the growth of the state. The report was debated in February 1943 and Churchill expressed concern about the cost but overall the Conservatives and the Liberals accepted the principles of a social service state

39
Q

Reasons for Churchill’s failure to be elected post-war

A

Many voters were sceptical that conservatives would be committed to this reform programme. During high unemployment in the 1930s, the party was accused of doing too little. People thought that Labour would most likely implement the Beveridge Report, despite the fact that the report was written by a Liberal, supported by the Conservatives and criticised by Labour.

The Conservatives were also blamed for appeasement, whilst Labour offered a progressive manifesto for change and were proponents of collective security and were seen as supporters of Churchill in 1940. During the campaign he made aggressive speeches, made associations between the Labour Party and the Nazi Gestapo.

The Labour Party had a good war record. Herbert Morrison was a household name after the air raid shelter that was named after him. The great achievements of the USSR pointed the way to greater economic control and social reform by the state, which Labour promised to deliver. The war had produced more social mobility, as men of ability were promoted in the forces. During the war women had taken on key roles in previously male-dominated occupations. Many saw a vote for Labour as a vote for more social change and less rigidity in class structures.

40
Q

Churchill and Roosevelt poor relations evidence

A

Roosevelt first met Churchill in 1918 and described him as ‘a stinker’, Churchill made unfavourable remarks about Roosevelt in 1937, which were quoted by Roosevelt’s opponent Wendell Willkie, during the US election campaign of 1940.

August 1941 Atlantic Charter: Churchill agreed to respect he right of all peoples to choose the form of government under which they will live; that all states should have access on equal terms to the trade and raw materials of the world. Churchill never accepted that it applied to Britain’s subject peoples.

The US military chiefs were concerned that Britain was dispersing its forces by fighting in North Africa. The State Department was concerned that Britain wanted to gain territories as it had in 1919 when it gained control over German and Turkish colonies. The US Secretary of State Cordell Hull was concerned that the British Empire stood in the way of world free trade.

Roosevelt did not like Britain’s backing of de Gaulle as representing France, the USA preferred Giraud, who was higher ranking.

In Washington in May 1943 US pressure forced a date for the invasion of France, May 1944. Roosevelt was increasingly convinced that US diplomacy should be to negotiate with Stalin and to sideline Churchill. In August 1943 at a meeting in Quebec, splits were apparent. The USA wanted to attack southern France, Churchill wanted to attack the Balkans.

Churchill met at Cairo in November 1943 and then at Tehran to meet Stalin. Roosevelt refused to meet Churchill privately to decide on a joint policy before the conference. Roosevelt had met the Chinese leader Jiang JIeshi without Churchill’s knowledge. Roosevelt made it clear that he wanted British attacks in Burma instead of more in the Mediterranean. The USA had now abandoned Europe First and were working for the defeat of Japan. There were bitter exchanges about the invasion of northern France. Roosevelt favoured Stalin over Churchill. Churchill’s plan of bringing Turkey into the war and setting up a Balkans front were rejected.

41
Q

Churchill and Roosevelt good relations evidence

A

In September 1940 50 old US destroyers were exchanged with Britain for leases to 8 British naval bases. In December Roosevelt used the phrase ‘arsenal of democracy’ in describing the sale of weapons to Britain. In March 1941 the Lend-Lease Act was passed, which allowed the President to sell, transfer title to, exchange, lease, lend defensive articles to any country whose defence the President deemed vital to the defence of the USA. By 1945 31.6 billion dollars had been given to Britain.

in August 1941, Churchill wanted to make a good impression by making a joint declaration of certain common principles known as the Atlantic Charter.

The USA supported Churchill’s strategy of fighting mainly in the Mediterranean and also supported the policy of ‘Europe First’.

In June 1942, Churchill met Roosevelt in New York and later that month at Washington. He persuaded the USA against the idea of Operation Sledgehammer for an invasion of France to take pressure off the Russians and promoted the joint campaign in North Africa. At the next meeting at Casablanca the British strategy for invading Sicily and then Italy was accepted.

t Yalta in February 1945 Roosevelt and Churchill agreed to the policy that there should be free elections and democracy in post-war Europe

42
Q

Churchill relations with Stalin Poor

A

Churchill was very anti-communist.
Churchill first met Stalin in 1942, and was criticised for Britain’s failure to invade Europe.
Churchill was concerned about Russian advances into eastern Europe.

At the Yalta Conference in 1945 Churchill had to accept that Poland would lose her eastern territories to Russia and be dominated by a pro-Russian government. He had to accept the loss of Polish territory and independence.

43
Q

Churchill and Stalin relations positive

A

Churchill reverted to old-style diplomacy and made an agreement on the spheres of influence both leaders would have in post-war Europe. This was called the percentages agreement, without consulting the countries in question they agreed how much influence they would have in various parts of eastern Europe. Stalin respected this sort of deal and returned the favour by not aiding communists in the Civil War in Greece

Churchill got on well with Stalin, sharing a similar capacity for drink, and sharing an unwavering support for the interests of their own country. Theyy were both interested in maintaining their empires, and had limited sympathy for the view that people ruled by their countries should have the ability to govern themselves

44
Q

Churchill and De Gaulle positives

A

Churchill loved France and spoke fluent French. He wanted to send further forces even after Dunkirk and to commit air resources to France against the advice of the RAF. He even offered a union between Britain and France as an attempt to keep France in the war.

45
Q

Churchill and De Gaulle negatives

A

Churchill attacked the French fleet after the treaty between France and Nazi Germany, killing 1297 French servicemen.

De Gaulle would not work closely with former Vichy leaders in North Africa, which annoyed Roosevelt and embarrassed Churchill.

46
Q

Atlantic Conference when, what was discussed?

A

August 1941, the Atlantic Charter

47
Q

First Washington Conference, when and what was discussed?

A

December-January 1941-42
Europe first policy, established a United Nations organisation for after the war

48
Q

Second Washington Conference when and what was discussed

A

June 1942: opening another front in North Africa

49
Q

Second Moscow Conference, when and what was discussed

A

August 1942, Churchill, Stalin and Harriman discussed the Second front and the Mediterranean strategy

50
Q

Casablanca Conference, when and what was discussed

A

January 1943, Churchill, Roosevelt, de Gaulle, Giraud disucussed italian campaign, cross-channel invasion of 1944.

51
Q

Third Washington Conference, what and when

A

May 1943, Churchill, Roosevelt and Marhsall discuss italian campaign, air attacks on Germany, the war in the Pacific.

52
Q

Quebec Conference, what and when?

A

August 1943, D-Day set for 1944, war in East Asia discussed

53
Q

Cairo Conference, what and when?

A

November 1943, Churchill, Roosevelt and Jiang Jieshi discuss plans for post-war Asia.

54
Q

Tehran Conference, what and when?

A

November-December 1943, Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin discuss final strategy for the war against Germany, set the date for the invasion of northern France.

55
Q

Significance of Yalta Conference

A

February 1945: Stalin had treated Polish leader brutally during the occupation. London Poles had formed a democratic government in exile. Churchill could do nothing to prevent Stalin extending his control over Poland, despite England having gone to war for Poland’s sovereignty.

Churchill agreed to the return of Russian prisoners of war, who would almost certainly face death in Russia as traitors.

56
Q

Significance of the iron curtain speech

A

March 1946 given at Fulton Missouri: set up the image of a real and permanent division between West and East, seen as hostile by Stalin. Chicago Sun newspaper referred to the speech as poisonous.

Still, anti-communist sentiment had already been building: Kennan’s (US expert on Russia) telegram declared that Stalin was heavily expansionist and called for the USA to intervene abroad.