Churchill's Mediterranean Strategy Flashcards
What was the Mediterranean Strategy?
Protection of British influence and control in the Mediterranean sea.
Churchill prioritised Military activity against German troops and Italian troops in North Africa and Italy.
Why was Churchill worried about losing control of the Mediterranean?
- Chance of Franco (Spanish Dictator) joining the war.
- This could weaken Britain’s control of the Mediterranean
- Vital for trade routes and oil supplies.
What was the Balkan Campaign and did it support the Mediterranean Strategy?-
- Attacking Germany via the ‘soft underbelly’ of Europe.
- Opens a new front of Greece, Yugoslavia and Turkey to increase South European influence and force Germany to fight another front.
- Would wear down German resources.
- Decrease focus on France and Russia.
How did America feel about the Mediterranean Strategy?
- Believed collaboration with the USSR was more important.
- Believed the Med Strategy was a distraction, with limited strategic importance.
- Suspected that Churchill was more focused on protecting the Empire than defeating Germany - imperialistic.
Why did Churchill’s focus on Italy seem strange?
- Italy was already weak
- Defeating Italy would not defeat Germany
- Mediterranean was already secured by this point.
Why did Churchill use Italy as an excuse to delay opening a second front?
- Saw how many casualties the USSR had.
- Was okay to let the USSR take the brunt of the casualties.
What were the total casualties of Britain, USA and USSR?
BRITAIN - 380,000
USA - 460,000
USSR - 8-10 million
When did the Mediterranean strategy begin?
December 1941
When did the Mediterranean strategy end?
January 1943
What was ‘Operation Barbarossa’?
Surprise attack from Germany on Russia in 1941. This turned the USSR onto the side of the British.
