KT2 - Churchill as wartime prime minister

Norway Campaign

-1940
-Churchill proposed laying mines in Norwegian waters as the North Sea was vital for Germany to obtain Swedish iron ore. Chamberlain agreed on 28 March
-Germany invaded in April
-British army landings unsuccessful and Norway fell in May

Criticisms of Norway Campaign

-Took valuable resources that were needed elsewhere such as in France.
-Churchill interfered ineffectively

When did Churchill become Prime Minister

10 May 1940

How did Churchill become Prime Minister

-Substantial show of no confidence in Chamberlain - Norway
-Labour would not serve under Chamberlain
-Lord Halifax would not take office
-Need for a decisive leader

Churchill speeches

-oratory rallied nation

How many troops rescued from Dunkirk

338

Battle of Britain

-July 1940

number of German planes to RAF

1

17 September 1940

Operation Sealion postponed

The Blitz

-Began Sept 1940
-bombings on cities
-aimed to damage Britain's ability to fight the war and to destroy morale
-Ended 16 May when Luftwaffe reassigned for invasion of Russia
-58

How many consecutive nights was london bombed during the blitz

57 consecutive nights

Churchill during The Blitz

-Took unnecessary risks. Standing on roof tops during air raids

How many died during the Blitz

58

16 May 1941

Blitz ended as Luftwaffe called east for invasion of Russia

Action This Day

-Red labels with 'ACTION THIS DAY' printed
-gave sense of urgency
-any matter be summed up on one sheet of A4

1 July 1940

-Churchill ordered destruction key part of French fleet at Oran

Gallipoli Campaign

-1915
-aimed to take Constantinople
-Churchill's plan

Why Churchill wanted to closely manage generals

-experience in WWI where heavy losses were caused by politicians allowing generals like Haig pursue costly plans without supervision
-frustrated by caution of generals

Lord Gort

-forced to ignore Churchill's orders in order to preserve the British forces

Churchill's relationship with Wavell

-Led British victories in North Africa

Auchinleck

-insisted on delaying attack until being well prepared
-annoyed Churchill
-sacked for delays and lack of aggression

Montgomery

-won Churchill over through his self-confidence
-insisted on very thorough preparations
-had twice the men of Rommel
-El Alamein 1942

Who was in charge of D Day

-US general Eisenhower

D Day

-6 June 1944
-British faced relatively limited resistance compared to USA but were slow to break through

Churchill interfered with operational matters

-overruled generals

Generals sometimes had to ignore Churchill's orders

-Lord Gort

Sacked able and thoughtful commanders

-Wavell led Britain to rapid victories in North Africa

Support for Mediterranean campaign

-vital for Britain to keep control of Suez Canal

Support against Mediterranean campaign

-After Rommel had been defeated at El Alamein it can be seen as a distraction and of little importance
-Took away valuable resources

Cause of the bombing of Germany?

-Public pressure to take the war to Germany after the Blitz
-to destroy war capacity and morale
-post war evidence suggests major element in German defeat

Dresden

-Sheltered thousands of refugees

Was the bombing of Germany justified

-Blitz had not destroyed mood in Britain

How many Germans died during the bombings?

500

Churchill's role 1944-45

-side-lined

Why did Churchill lose office in 1945?

• The Beveridge report gave better prospects to working classes