Events in WWII Flashcards
Fall of Singapore
February 1942
Number of British and Commonwealth troops that became POWs after the Fall of Singapore
130,000
Rising tensions with AUZ and NZ caused by the Fall of Singapore
Felt that they had been left unprotected against the threat of Japan - turned to America for protection
Rising tensions in SE Asia caused by the Fall of Singapore
Gave confidence to independence movements
Indian National Army under Bose from 1943
Aung San set up Burmese Independence Army
Pearl Harbour
7 December 1941
Example of imperial prestige suffering significant blows at the hands of the Japanese
Surrender of Hong Kong
25 December 1941
Example of imperial prestige suffering significant blows at the hands of the Japanese
Cripps Mission
1942
Sent to offer India dominion status (worried about INA)
Atlantic Charter
14 August 1941
Agreement between Churchill and Roosevelt in which they declared themselves committed to self-government
Battle of El Alamein
November 1942
British decisively pushed back the Germans in North Africa
Number of men raised for WWII
Dominions = 2 million men
India = 2.5 million men
Colonies = 1/2 million men
Southern Irish = tens of thousands of men
Trincomalee
In Ceylon
Important naval base for the WWII effort
Canada’s response to WWII
Declared unanimous support for the war effort
Ways in which the colonies did not help Britain during WWII
- Continued growth of nationalism and uprisings
- Exposed British hypocrisy (fighting for Poland’s freedom whilst having an empire)
- The colonies did not feel invested in the war
How did Britain use Africa strategically during WWII?
For its harbours and airfields (exploitation contributed to nationalist movements and discontent)
How did Britain exploit Africa’s resources during WWII?
Men were conscripted into the tin mines in West Africa when the Japanese took control of Malaya (exploitation contributed to nationalist movements and discontent)
