WSC And The Mediteranian Flashcards
Why was the Mediterranean important ?
- vital trade route which increased with the Suez Canal as a major link to India
- the Middle East provided Britain with much of its oil
- Britian controlled Gibraltar the entrance to the med
Why did the Mediterranean take priority over France ?
WSC thought delaying invasion of France benefitted the allies as Germany would be weakened from the US and Brit bombing raids and troops lost by USSR
Did not think invasion of France would be delayed by long as Mussolini was weak indicating Italy and the threat to North Africa was limited
Britain faced the strong German Africa Korps and General Rommel and if they could link up through Egypt into its controlled Russia it could dominate the oils fields
Churchill wanted influencer in South East Europe something he considered to be vital
Why were there objections ?
Big objections from US General Marshall and Stalin
- Germany only defeated at homeland and engaging the bulk meaning invading France
- Up to 1942 German defense along coast were not developed and the great Atlantic Wall of fortifications was not built until later
- idea of involving Germany through Italy deemed flawed. Military theory stresses engagement at crucial points not peripheral threat
- fighting in the med diverted resources from other campaigns
- success of the war depended on Russian survival meaning invasion
Who was right ?
WSC correct that defending oil supplies was crucial and Britian had to prevent a German link with southern Russian forces in 1941-2 and defeating Rommel required large forces
Invasion to Italy tied up valuable forces and was not over quickly with trench warefare. Germans reinforced Italians and Britian had to focus on Greek civil war 1944
In terms of France, 1944 Germans hilt fortifications and Stalin blamed heavy casualties on the USA delaying the invasion. But an early invasion would have likely been costly
