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. |
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... Middle East Command ( MEC ) was the largest military command in the world . It was responsible for the British imperial war effort in countries and colonies across North Africa , the Mediterranean , East Africa , Arabia , the Middle East ...
... Middle East's principal supplier of manufactured goods , but American supplies became more important as the war adversely affected Britain's non - military manufacturing capacity . Despite the growth of America as a Middle East supplier ...
... Middle East . Whilst there he supervised the withdrawal of impe- rial forces from Crete , and served briefly as Deputy Commander - in - Chief Middle East . Upon his return to Australia he was appointed Commander - in - Chief Australian ...