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 83
... Indian Ocean 269 11 The Islands of the Indian Ocean 307 12 2 3 4 India and Burma 351 13 South - East Asia and the Far East 405 14 Australia and New Zealand 463 15 The Pacific 513 16 Epilogue 525 Notes 535 Bibliography 561 Index 593 This ...
... Indian Ocean , as much as the Mediterranean and Atlantic , was the scene of significant naval operations and was a major naval battlefield by virtue of its vital sea routes . These connected Britain to Australasia and the major theatres ...
... Indian Ocean , the Mediterranean , the Caribbean and the Atlantic all put men into British uniforms and dug for victory on the home front . The Empire provided many bases . India was a launch - pad for the war against the Japanese army ...
... Indian Ocean and Pacific , were a part of the British war effort , often performing vital roles . Even the polar ice caps were not immune from mili- tary operations during this six year imperial war . Britain sent warships to protect ...
... Indian Ocean , and in India and Burma the Fourteenth Army relied for its supplies on American - built Dakota transport aircraft . The Fleet Air Arm received 38 per cent of its aircraft over the course of the war from American factories ...
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 |