WW2 Flashcards
How many Indians volunteered for WW2
Over 2 million
How did Britain enter India into WW2
Unilaterally, did not consult indians
What did Congress do in reaction to India being in the War
Instructed all of its provincial ministers to resign
What was 22 December for the Muslim League
Jinnah declared it Deliverance Day, in reaction to Congress resignation
When was the August offer
1940
What was the August offer?
promised Indian constitutional reform to be resumed AFTER the war
-Guaranteed steps towards Dominion status starting ONE year after the war
Who formed and set up the INA
INA-Indian National Army, set up and led by Subhas Chandra Bose
What did Bose do in 1941
Left India in order to fight its independence (met up with Hitler, Stalin to try persuade them to help the Indian independence movement).
What did Bose do in 1943
made a deal with Japanese leader General Toto who was more supportive to his cause
What was the membership of the INA
15,000
Where was the INA sent to
sent into action against the British in Burma.
-Were decimated and many surrendered
When was the Atlantic Charter
August 1941
What did the Atlantic Charter state
Support for ‘sovereign rights and self-government’
Why was Cripps sent to India
To discuss the implications of the declaration on Dominion status made in the August Offer
What were Cripps’ proposals (2)
- Dominion status would include the right of provinces not to join the dominion
- Th Executive Council should include an Indian as defence minister
Failure factors identified by Cripps
- defeatist attitude aggravated by enemy propaganda
- Hind-Muslim antagonism
What was Cripps criticised for doing?
Going beyond his brief
What proposal was jointly made and by whom
Indian as defence minister and was jointly made by Colonel Louis Johnson
Congress reaction to the Cripps mission
Formally rejected.
-Not enough concessions and so no point inrushing to agree when they could be offered more later, due to the deteriorating war situation
Muslim League reaction to the Cripps’ mission
Accepted the proposals and was confident in challenging Congress’ clain to represent all of India’s opinion
What did the Cripps mission result in
Quit India Campaign and both sides saw this as the opportunity to harden their approaches further
What did Gandhi declare in the Quit India Campaign
Britain was unable to defend India
-All Indians should prepare a defence strategy of peaceful non-cooperation
-How did Britain react to the Quit India Campaign (5)
Congress Leaders across India were arrested in morning raids
REPRESSION- police shot on sight those breaking curfew
- Public whippings
- Hundreds killed
- 500 arrested without trial
Result of the Quit India Campaign
-Britain able to suppress it, overall unsuccessful for Congress
BUT
- -Britain lost its moral authority
- US public opinion saw the British as more focused on preserving its empire, than defeating enemies of democracy
