Chapter Two Flashcards
(26 cards)
Where was Halifax sent after the election?
USA as the foreign secretary
When was Dunkirk and how many were evacuated?
- 4th June 1940
- 338,000 evacuated
What did the ‘we shall’ speech do?
Got cabinet on side and silenced opponents
What was Roosevelt’s view on Churchill as PM?
Thought he was the wrong person for the job
Give details of Churchill’s special leadership style
- worked irregular hours
- had imaginative but impractical ideas
- wanted all ideas on one sheet of paper - double spaced
- keen to sack people
- wanted strong, personal relationships with allies
- most travelled PM at the time
- master of written and spoken expression
- flamboyant
Daring and ruthless - operation catapult
How did France falling in 6 weeks leave Britain?
- isolated
- forced to do operation catapult to stop ships going into German hands
Why were some people sceptical of Churchill leading the country during the war?
Past record was not encouraging - Gallipoli, Norway campaign
Describe Churchill relation with Brooke
:I
Brooke was highly competent and organised but had different views to Churchill as he was a lot more cautious. This annoyed Churchill and led to disagreements. They agreed on sending resources to Italy and Middle East
Describe Churchill’s relationship with Wavell
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Given little credit for victories in North Africa and was disliked by Churchill.
Churchill took forces from him in North Africa when Italy invaded Greece (1940) - deeply flawed campaign - and made North Africa victories impossible which Wavell was blamed for and demoted
Describe Churchill’s relationship with Auchinleck
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Auchinleck insisted on delaying attacks until we were fully prepared to make them more effective. He was sacked for it due to not being daring or aggressive enough
Describe Churchill’s relationship with Montgomery
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Won Churchill over with his self confidence but still insisted on thorough preparations which Churchill didn’t fully agree with. He got credit for first major British victory in North Africa which should have gone to Wavell and Auchinleck.
Got on well with Churchill and was nicknamed Monty
How did Britain Italians?
Easily, Germany sent support in the form of Rommel and German africakorps
What was the importance of North Africa for Britain?
- Suez Canal - link to eastern empire, 1/3 ships British
- Italy had troops next door in Libya
- key oil supplies
- huge stakes as of Germany gained control it would be game over
What was USA opinion on North Africa?
Generals wanted to open a second front on northern France to relieve Soviets
Give details about the fighting in Italy
- Churchill wanted to put off opening a second front in France for as long as possible
- long struggle in Italy not expected - harder due to terrain and the will power of the brainwashed German people
- seemed like the obvious next step after the win in El Alemein (1942)
Give details about the bombing of Dresden
- 13th to 15th February 1945
- wanted to damage German morale and shorten war
- asked by the Soviets to relieve them a little
- used in incineration bombs - causes fire
- controversial as it targeted a civilian population
- only 1/3 bombs hit their target
- deaths: 40,000
How many civillians (British and German) died in the war>
British - 60,595
German - 400,000
Give details about D-Day
- 6th June 1944
- largest amphibian landing
- 150,000 troops on 5 beaches
- long and costly campaign as it took 11 months till German defeat
- Americans nearly defeated on Omaha beach due to Germany’s experienced soldiers and air and naval bombardments failed to knock defences
- 200,000 - 300,000 allied troops killed
- ## germany tried to defend with Atlantic wall but they were too focused on Callie and the wall was built by prisoners of war
What was Churchill by 1944?
Junior ally
When and what was the Battle of the Bulge?
16th December 1944
German defences by Rommel and low morale due to time of year.
Won by allies in January and led by USA
When and what was operation market garden?
17th September 1944
Cross canals in Holland into Germany rather than Rhiene river
Poor planning and unexpected SS division arrived
8,000 men killed
Led by Britain and showed they couldn’t successfully lead a campaign
What policy that was promised failed after ww1?
Homes for heroes —> people didn’t want a repeat but Churchill was concerned about the cost
What was the Beveridge report in 1942?
Everyone contribute to national insurance and many supported labour as they promised to implement it
What did Labour promise in 1945?
New housing, end unemployment, national insurance and education
