The Great British Empire in World

War II
Presentation made by:
Florescu Adrian
Gheorghe Viorel-Catalin
Viorel-Catalin
Professor: Oana Naidut
Naidut
Course: British Civilisation L1
 The Beginning of World War II
• The Second World War was a major conflict that involved the entirety of the globe
between 1939-1945. The main combatants were the Axis Powers, represented by
Germany, Italy and Japan and also the Allies which were France, Great Britain, the United
States, the Soviet Union and China.

• The war represents in many ways a continuation of the left-over disputes started in the
First World War, being considered the bloodiest and largest war in the history of mankind.

• On the 1st of September 1939, Germany successfully invaded Poland. Only two days later
on the 3rd of September, after the British gave Germany an ultimatum to cease hostile
activities, the British Empire entered World War II by declaring war, alongside France, to
Germany.
HOW THE BRITISH SOLDIER
GOES TO WAR:
• Steel Helmet
• Anti-gas Cape
• Respirator
• Haversack
• Straps Belt
• Pouches
• Bayonet & Scabbard
• Rifle
• Ankle Boots
 How the British Society was
affected by WWII
The Second World War represented a decisive moment for the British
community, being the essential element that changed the way in which
the public perceived it as a country and also as a political regime.
During WWII all social classes were brought together on the Homefront
to fight for a common purpose – to support their soldiers who were
fighting for them and for their beliefs. This simple act will eventually
come with some long term effects that will change Britain politically as
well as socially.
• It is important to note that the War greatly affected the way in which
societal roles were viewed. From now on women have the possibility of
working in fields that were only allowed to men, such as the chemical,
metallurgical or transportation field. Therefore, crass discrimination
wasn’t possible anymore and so employers were forced to assign
women on jobs that were previously allowed only to men.

• This implies that instead of destroying Britain, WWII actually

transformed it into something new, drifting the Government away from
the pattern of the classic liberal state.
• It should also be emphasized that at the time the population’s
morale was awfully high that not even a defeat – for instance, the
Battle of Dunkirk - could bring their souls down. They were prepared,
no matter the outcome, to defeat Hitler, once and for all.
• Even Prime Minister Churchill’s attempts to prohibit the discussions
involving the future of Britain were in vain as he had no control over
the mind of the population. Everybody knew that, at the end of the
War, Britain will never be the same, witnessing the departure of its
colonies slowly seeking independence from the empire,
subsequently turning into a welfare state.
 The Battle of Britain
• The Battle of Britain took place during the time of the Second World
War being a clash between the Nazy Germany’s air force, the
Luftwaffe and the British Royal Airforce also known as the RAF.

• The Germans and the Brits were fighting over the control of the
airspace over Germany, Great Britain and also the English Channel.

• The most important fact about this event is that it is the first battle in
history to take place exclusively in the air.
• Knowing that he was under the possession of the best airforce in the
world, Hitler attempted to intimidate Britain in order to surrender, but
his actions were to no avail as he underestimated Britain, the morale
of the British people and their new Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

• Churchill knew that Hitler and the Nazism must be defeated once and
for all and so he makes his “Finest Hour” speech in the House of
Commons in which he expresses clearly that he has no intention to
surrender.
• In their many attempts to defeat the British RAF, the germans did little to no
damage and in the end Hitler decided to call off the planned invasion of
Britain and so the Battle of Britain ended on the month of October 1940.

• Interesting facts:

• The Battle of Britain is the first battle that Hitler had ever lost.

• It’s name comes from Winston Churchill’s Finest Hour speech: "the Battle of
France is over. I expect the Battle of Britain is about to begin."
 Hermann Göring
• He was a german political and
military leader, being among the
most important figures of the
Nazy Party.

• Being a veteran fighter pilot ace,

he was chosen by Hitler to be in
charge of the Luftwaffe during
“The Battle of Britain”.
1893 - 1946
 Hugh Caswall Dowding
• He was an officer in the Royal Air
Force,being in charge of the RAF
Fighter Command during “The Battle of
Britain”.

• His presence was crucial for Britain’s

defence during the battle, as he
managed to bring Hitler’s invasion
attempt to an end.

1882 - 1970
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Historia.ro – How did the Second World War affect the British Soc
iety

• Wikipedia.com - Hermann Gorinng

• Wikipedia.com - Hugh Dowding

• History.com - Battle of Britain

OPERATION OVERLORD
THE ALLIED ENDGAME
SUMMARY

 Operation Overlord started on 6 June 1944, the so called D-Day.

 The operation was massive, it involved 1’200 planes, 5’000 vessels and 160’000
troops. But by the end of August more than 2 million Allied troops were in France.
 The British troops landed on sectors of Normandy code-named «Sword» and «Gold».
 The Allied did not accomplish their objectives for the first day, but kept pushing and
captured the port at Cherbourg and the city of Caen.
 On August 15 the Allied launched a second invasion from the south coast of France
(Operation Dragoon), Paris was then liberated on August 25.
 Operation Overlord ended on August 30, with the retreat of the German troops across
the Seine, to the east.
THE BRITISH LANDINGS

 At Gold there were strong winds that day, so the amphibious DD tanks had to be landed
close to the shore or on the beach, instead of further out as planned. Aerial attacks had
failed too, missing the Le Hamel strong point. This meant that the Allied troops were under
heavy fire until 16:00. On the western flank the First Battalion managed to capture
Arromanches and made contact with the Canadian troops at Juno.
 On Sword, 21 DD tanks successfully landed on the beach, the troops quickly disembarked
and created several exits for the armoured vehicles. The Second Battalion advanced on foot
and arrived near Caen, unfortunately the tide came in sooner than expected, making the
armoured vehicles difficult to manouever: this meant that the Second Battalion didn’t have
sufficient armour support and had to retreat. At 16:00 the German Panzer Division intiated a
counterattack between Sword and Juno and nearly reached the coast, but met stiff resistance
from the British Third Infantry Division and were called to assist in the area between Caen
and Bayeux.
BREAKOUT FROM NORMANDY

 By late July 1944 British and Canadian forces destroyed most of the German armour in the east
of Normandy, allowing the U.S. troops to breakout. Allied forces then began to surround the
German troops still located in Normandy.
 While American forces swept around to the south, the British troops alongside the Canadians and
the Polish pushed the German troops from the north. The Allied forces met to the south of
Falaise, trapping the Germans and adding around 60’000 soldiers to the body count.
 After the Battle of Normandy, British forces swept north entering Belgium on 2 September 1944,
while American forces swept east. Paris was liberated at the end of August of the same year by
General De Gaulle and the Free French troops alongside American troops (Operation Dragoon).
By the end of September most of France was liberated.
 At his point the Allied forces started facing logistical problems: supplies had to be transported
from Normandy and they could not sustain the fast paced Allied advance. Allied troops were
forced to a halt in Belgium and Lorraine.
OPERATION MARKET GARDEN

 Due to the aforementioned logistical problems a broad front attack was not possible, so
Allied forces went for a narrow front strategy suggested by Field Marshal Sir Bernard Law
Montgomery which involved landing airborne troops in the Netherlands to take vital
bridges from the Germans in order to cross the river Rhine. Armoured relief troops would
then come in support of the airborne forces to advance into Germany.
 Initially the plan seemed to work, but then the Allied paratroopers met heavy resistance on
the Nijmegen bridge. The British XXX Corps (the relief forces) had to advance on a single
road, the Germans took advantage of the situation and attacked from both sides. The XXX
Corps had to seize the Nijmegen bridge in order to advance to Arnhem, where the First
Airborne had already capitulated. The First Airborne was decimated in the process.
 The operation succeded in liberating Eindhoven and Nijmegen, but the Allied failed to
cross the river Rhine. The frontline was however moved forward near the river itself.
BATTLE OF THE BULGE

 In late 1944 the plan was to complete the conquest of the Rhineland (west Germany),
and properly invade Germany but what happened next took the Allied by surprise.
 In December the Germans launched their last great offensive: German troops came
through the Ardennes and encountered weak resistance at the front, but something
went wrong when the bad weather suddenly changed, allowing the Allied Air Force to
properly intervene. Most of the troops that took part in the Battle of the Bulge were
American, but because they were cut-off from their HQs they were shifted under the
control of the British forces. The XXX Corps also had a back-stop role, containing
the German advances.
 By the end of January the offensive was effectively stopped and the original plan was
resumed.
CROSSING THE RHINE AND FINAL
SURRENDER

 It’s 1945 and the end of the war is near, the British troops start clearing the Roer Triangle, formed
by the cities of Roermond and Sittard in the Netherlands and Heinsberg in Germany. By the end of
January the XXX Corps had already removed the German forces from the west side of the river
Roer. This operation was code-named «Blackcock» and it was a success.
 By 5 March British, Canadian and American troops had closed up to the Rhine.
 On 23 March the operations to cross the Rhine started, The British Second and U.S. Ninth Armies
took the lead. Ninth Army closed the Germans in the Ruhr. The U.S. First Army crossed the Rhine
in early April and then proceeded to liberate the north of the Netherlands, while Second Army cut
across Germany and reached the Weser on 4 April. On 15 April the British Troops liberated the
Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
 On 19 April Second Army reached the Elbe and the Baltic Sea on 2 May, where they came to a halt
as they had reached the agreed line of meeting the Soviet Troops. The war ended on 7 May and the
British returned to the task of occupying Germany itself.
BIBLIOGRAPHY

 Military History of the United Kingdom in World War II – Wikipedia

 Operation Overlord - Wikipedia