The second world war - GB

Just before the second World War Conservative british goverment was led by A. N. Chamberlein (1937 – 1940). Great Britain at that time was pacifistic country. In Monachium they did not opose Hitler’s threats. They agreed to Austrian Anschluss. They finaly reacted when German invasion forces attacked Poland. On 3rd september they declared war. Unfortunatly Poland did not manage to fight for long.
Although GB could not help Poland they send part of their army to help defend Norway and France. These small forces did not help much.. In 1940 GB was the only independent western european country, therefore it was the main target for the next offensive. In 8 August 1940 the Battle of Britain began. At first Germany tried to destroy Royal Air Forces with their own planes. In first phase 8-18 August they concentrated on bombing british airports with their tactical bombers. It took some time before england managed to intercept them with fighters of their own. When the aiports became better deffended Germans gradually focused on attacking british factories. It caused lack of resources on british site. It was critical moment for GB. There just was not enough planes to stop Germans. It would not take long before england would fall. Luckily on 4th September Hitler had his talk with Goring. He demanded immediate effects. From 6th September Luftwaffe started carped bombings on London and other english cities. It gave british time to reinforce RAF. The Greatest air raid was on 15-th September. Hitler send to London 500 airplanes. From 31 –th October German attacks ceased.
In August 1940 british army was driven off from Libia and western Egipt.. They were defending only in Tobruk. In April 1941 germans attacked Jugoslavia and Greece. They also conquered Crete witch was the main British base in Mediterrean Sea. In June, after German invasion on Soviet Russia ( operation Barbarossa ), British gained new powerful ally. It allowed british general Montgomery to launch offensive in Northern Africa. Decisive battle taken place in El-Alamen ( 23 October – 4 November 1942). After Montgomery’s victory wining the war in Africa was only a matter of time. Until May 1943 whole northern Africa was taken by Allies.
In Far East Japanese waged war with Chinese since 1938. On 7th December 1941 they attacked Pearl Harbour. That day USA, GB and Holland declared war with them. At first British were driven off from their colonies, but after battles on Coral Sea and Midway they managed to retake most of them. Fights in Birma and Indonesia continued until end of war.
On tenth July Allies landed on Sycylia. Two weeks later Mussolinies’s regime fell down. On 3rd September new Italian Government signed armistice. The same day Allies landed in southern Italy, while Germans occupied rest of the country. Allies were stopped on Gustav Line. It was not until beginning of 1944 when united British, Canadian and Polish forces broke through German defences in Monte Cassino Battle. On 4th June Allies took Rome and in April 1945 whole Italy was liberated.
On 6th July 1944 the operation ‘Overlord’ began. It was certainly the greatest seaborne invasion ever atempted. Landing sqads cosisted of 150 000 soldiers. In 90 days 1 400 000 soldiers were transported on 4000 ships. They were also aided by 32 000 planes. Although casualties were great operation was succesful. Allied troops also landed in southern France. On 19th August Paris was liberated and until 28th whole France was free. In September Allies were stopped on Zigfrid Line. In failed Market-Garden operation British general Montgomery did not manage to break through German defence. In middle of December German Army lanched surprise attack in Ardens, but they were stopped until end off January. Soon Allied troops were on offensive once more. On first April they crossed Rhine and two weeks later they reached Łaba. There they met Russians and on 25th April Germans capitulated. The war was over.