Importance of Strategic Decisions Flashcards
The Medeteriarian and Suez Canal
Protection of the Mediterranean was a historically vital strategy for the British who wanted to protect their trade routes, and this strategy became more important with the building of the Suez Canal. Before 1939 British military leaders were intensely concerned about a possible Italian invasion of the Mediterranean possessions (particularly the Suez Canal), their main worry was that of an Italia-German alliance which became true in 1940 when Italy invaded southern France and had troops in Libya. Britain also controlled the ‘door of the Mediterranean’ in Gibraltar, this was threatened by Franco who could ally Hitler and threaten the rock. In general, for the Mediterranean the British had heavy influence/controlled: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan, Palestine, Malta, Cyprus, Gibraltar and a colony in Somalia. The Suez Canal was a major trade link with Asian colonies, especially India and the sea was a vital trade route for middle eastern oil supplies. By 1940 the Mediterranean was at the front of military thinking for the British as the defence of the empire and the route to India was of vital strategic importance. From 1942 another dimension was added with operation Barbarossa and the Germans had made huge gains into Southern Russia, the possibility of a German assault over the canal and through the middle east could lead to link of German troops in Southern Russia and secure the vital oil fields in Southern Russia and the Middle East.
Success and Failure
The British were very successful against the Italians in Northern Africa but became stuck when they face the formidable German Afrika corps under Erwin Rommel who began to threaten Egypt but after running low on men and supplies the British pushed them out at El-Alamein. The Mediterranean strategy was more for Churchill than just Northern Africa, he wanted to launch an invasion through the Balkans, specifically Yugoslavia, Turkey and Greece, this new front could provide the ‘soft underbelly of Europe’ just like the Gallipoli campaign in 1915 was supposed to. This desire for a new front was shown in 1940 when Churchill relocated troops to Greece to defend against the Italian invasion, this failed. One of the reasons Churchill wanted to open a new Balkan front was to gain influence over the South Eastern Europe.
Allies role
After 1941 the British had to take the USA into account, Churchill was persistent in pursuing the Mediterranean strategy but the US favoured a direct invasion of Northern France, the American General, George Marshall saw little point in wasting resources on the Mediterranean and argued to take pressure of Russia and establishing a western front, some military historians agree with this view because:
● The Atlantic wall wasn’t completed until 1942
● The success of the war depended on Russia surviving and the defeating of German forces in Europe.
● The Mediterranean strategy offered no real strategic importance, especially after Rommel’s Afrika Corps had been
defeated.
The War in Italy
In 1943 considerable resources were devoted to an invasion of Sicily by British and American forces, which failed to stop the Germans retreating to the mainland. With Northern Africa, Gibraltar, Cyprus, Malta and Sicily in Allied hands the Mediterranean was secure also by 1943 Italy had suffered a series of defeats and was significantly weakened. The Germans were established in Italy but the British had Naval superiority and considerable air power so what was the point of extending the Italian campaign. Due to the invasion of Italy 16 divisions were held up in heavy fighting in Italy. As the Germans had roughly the same number of troops in Italy, there was no question off a smaller allied force holding down and stopping the Germans from deploying these troops in Russia or France, instead the allied were tied down. Even if Italy had capitulated you would need to defeat the German troops in France before defeating the German Army.
It wasn’t until June 1944 when D-day finally happened, the bulk of the war in Europe had been centred on the Mediterranean, why was there such a delay.
● Such high casualties were expected that an invasion of France was put off for as long as possible. The more Russia was weakening Germany and the allied Bombing campaign was hitting German cities, the fewer losses there might be from a possible invasion of Northern Europe.
● The long struggle in Italy was not anticipated and the allied hoped that the bold but failed landings in Anzio (1944) would speed up the process.
● British policy was to maintain dominance over the Mediterranean and South Eastern Europe, this was shown in the percentages agreement which essentially divided Europe into Soviet and British spheres of influence.
● The invasion of Sicily was seen as the next logical step after beating the Germans at El-Alamein and pursuing them out of Tunisia in 1942.
