The British Empire and the Second World WarIn 1939 Hitler went to war not just with Great Britain; he also went to war with the whole of the British Empire, the greatest empire that there had ever been. In the years since 1945 that empire has disappeared, and the crucial fact that the British Empire fought together as a whole during the war has been forgotten. All the parts of the empire joined the struggle and were involved in it from the beginning, undergoing huge changes and sometimes suffering great losses as a result. The war in the desert, the defence of Malta and the Malayan campaign, and the contribution of the empire as a whole in terms of supplies, communications and troops, all reflect the strategic importance of Britain's imperial status. Men and women not only from Australia, New Zealand and India but from many parts of Africa and the Middle East all played their part. Winston Churchill saw the war throughout in imperial terms. The British Empire and the Second World War emphasises a central fact about the Second World War that is often forgotten. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 87
... world , from the South Atlantic Station to the Mediterranean Fleet and from the China Station to the Eastern Fleet . All over the world imperial ports were used to the full by warships and merchantmen , as they travelled ... SECOND WORLD WAR.
... Second World War , notwithstanding the Eurocentric manner in which it is often remembered , was viewed at the time as an imperial struggle , not only by the politicians and senior servicemen responsible for grand strategy , but also by ...
... world . Royal tours of the Empire and Commonwealth had been commonplace since the death of Queen Victoria , becoming part of the pageant of Empire as well as its high - level diplomacy , strengthening the bonds between ... SECOND WORLD WAR.
... Second World War were from the Dominions , including the Australian general Thomas Blamey , the New Zealand general Bernard Freyberg ( who nearly became Commander - in - Chief Middle East in August 1940 ) , and the New Zealand air ...
... world's surface is British ? ' ' Two - fifths , Miss ' , answers Jennifer Baker . ' Yes . Two - fifths - ours . That's what this war is all about . Men are fighting and dying to save all the pink bits for you ungrateful ... SECOND WORLD WAR.
Contents
1 | |
11 | |
21 | |
41 | |
5 The Atlantic | 53 |
6 The Caribbean | 77 |
7 The Mediterranean | 97 |
8 Iraq Iran and Syria | 145 |
11 The Islands of the Indian Ocean | 307 |
12 India and Burma | 351 |
13 SouthEast Asia and the Far East | 405 |
14 Australia and New Zealand | 463 |
15 The Pacific | 513 |
16 Epilogue | 525 |
Notes | 535 |
Bibliography | 561 |