What was Churchill's role in the war? 1939-1945
- Created by: hastr010
- Created on: 15-05-18 10:33
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- What was Churchill's role in the war? 1939-1945
- Battle of Britain
- Churchill: 'the battle of France is over, the battle of Britain is about to begin'
- 10th July 1940
- Sir Hugh Dowding refused to comit 10 squadrons to assist France. He also refused to launch an all out attack on the Luftwaffe
- September 1940 - Germans changed tactics and began aerial bombardment of london (black Saturday)
- The RAF were in tact due to Sir Hugh Dowding and able to withstand the German attacks.
- September 1940 - Germans changed tactics and began aerial bombardment of london (black Saturday)
- Bombing
- Sir Harris AKA 'Bomber Harris'
- Sir Arthur Harris believed this would lower morale in Germany
- Was seen as extreme and immoral
- 1943 - bombing on Ruhr and Hamburg
- took key Luftwaffe aeroplanes away from Russian borders
- had an effect on war production
- 1,000,000 tonnes of Bombs dropped by British and American Air forcers
- Half a million died
- 1945 - Bombing on Dresden
- Dresden seen as industrial region but about 40,000 died.
- Military value of bombing questioned by Churchill
- Dresden seen as industrial region but about 40,000 died.
- Had an effect on German economy
- Wasn't enough to win the war alone.
- Revenge seeking
- More than 55,000 bomber commanders were killed in action
- Sir Harris AKA 'Bomber Harris'
- D-Day
- North Africa Campaign ended in 1943
- america and Britain turned attention towards France
- Largest seaborne invasion launched - led by Eisenhower
- 150,000 troops, 12,000 aircraft, 7000 ships
- Huge losses anticipated but never materialised
- German army were strong but had to report commands back to Hitler and therefore were delayed and Allies were victorious
- Churchill was apprehensive to launch attack on northern France under USA Command due to memories of Gallipoli
- He stalled which allowed German's to increase troops and fortify their position in France
- Dunkirk
- May 1940: collapse of French army: retreated
- Churchill sent Alan Brooke to continue the fight in France and create a second front
- Brooke refused as this would be impossible
- Blitzkreig - Lightening war tactic of Germnas - Annihilated allies
- Britain retreated and withdrew from Dunkirk and it was seen as a victory for Churchill
- Was a sign that Germany were stronger in Europe
- Mediterranean and Far East
- South East Asia
- did not think Japan was a threat
- 1942 - Singapore had been surrendered and the British had been overrun in Asia
- believed superiority of British navy and army would be enough to hold Singapore and Malaya
- they were sunk in December 1941
- North Africa
- Battle of El Alamein
- First and Second battle successful
- Second Battle delayed by Montgomery but was successful - 1942 - victory for british
- Auchinleck successfully defeated Rommel and Africa Korps in first battle of El Alamein in 1941 - due to his meticulous planning and use of secret information/intelligence
- Churchill had disapproved of Auchinleck's planning and believed he was too cautious
- Wavell had initial failed advance on Africa Korps in Somaliland and was fired and repalced by Auchinleck in 1941
- This attack came after a successful attack in which British troops pushed back Italians hundreds of miles: they had been driven out in 1940 but against Churchill's will Auchinleck launched the successful counter-attack
- Wavell had wanted to rebuild the army and get more supplies before launching a second attack but Churchill had pushed for it leading to failure. 1941
- Wanted to protect vital trading routes such as the Suez Canal
- Battle of El Alamein
- South East Asia
- Battle of Britain
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