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
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... Empire and Commonwealth played a notable part in fighting the Japanese and aiding American forces . The Fourteenth Army , which consisted of Indians from every corner of the Raj , Gurkhas from Nepal , Kenyans , Nigerians , Rhodesians ...
... Empire and Commonwealth forces fought a host of subsidiary military campaigns and obscure operations launched from little - known imperial bases . The names of Alamein and Malta , Singapore and Tobruk are familiar , but there were also ...
... Empire , in war as in peace . In war , the sea lanes of the world were also vital for the movement of martial resources to and from Britain , North America and the Empire's ... Commonwealth at war is a highly important but neglected one .
... Empire and Commonwealth either by their side or forming the vital rear echelon units supporting them - fought major campaigns in regions where the Empire had grown and therefore had to be defended . New territorial responsibilities were ...
... Commonwealth countries , India and the Colonial Empire . This is not surprising , given the lengthy delay before Britain's great power allies came onto the scene . For nearly two years the American alliance remained strictly non ...
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 |