Churchill in final years of War Flashcards
How Important was Churchill during 1944-45?
Churchill was anxious about the invasion of Northern France but was eager to be with his troops after a successful invasion, but Britain’s position had changed form standing alone in 1940, Britain had found itself bring dominated by the richer and more powerful Americans with whom strategy had to be agreed. Britain had no choice but to be aware of the immense Russian losses and their vital role in defeating Germany, they had now become a junior partner in the Grand Alliance, they lost their freedom of action and in their last imaginative campaign (Operation Market Garden) the British had been defeated by an unexpected SS division and confusion, they were forced to advance at the pace set by General Eisenhower in a dogged fight against determined German forces until Germany itself was invaded. Churchill was side-lined at the meetings between the ‘big three’ was forced to g o against their pledge of protecting Poland by ceding Eastern Poland to Stalin in 1943. Russian POWs were handed back to Stalin where they were punished, and they were in no way able to speak out against Stalin ignoring the Warsaw rebellion as they were spirited enough to provide resistance to Russian domination. Ever keen to exert influence in Eastern Europe, Churchill sent troops to Greece to fight a communist rebellion and protect the Greek Monarchy which had stretched troops even further.
