17. Reading The Atlantic

Title	17. Reading – The Atlantic
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Author	Mark Callagher
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There were five principle theatres where World War II was to be fought The Atlantic The Mediterranean and North Africa Eastern Europe The Pacific and Asia Western Europe (from June 1944) The Axis Powers had gained considerable successes right up to the middle of 1942. It was in the critical 18 months from mid 1942 through to the end of 1943 that the tide was turned in the Allies favour.

HMS “Prince of Wales” arrives for Atlantic Charter Conference

In August 1941 Churchill arrived just off Newfoundland (near Canada) on board the battleship HMS “Prince of Wales”. The occasion was to be his first meeting with President Roosevelt. When Churchill boarded the USS Augusta and came face to face with the American President there was a moment of silence until Churchill said “At long last Mr President”, to which Roosevelt replied “Glad to have you aboard Mr Churchill”. The meeting was to establish the Atlantic Charter, a vision for a post-World War II world, despite the fact that the United States had yet to enter the war. The participants hoped that the Soviet Union would adhere as well, after having been attacked by Nazi Germany two months earlier.

Roosevelt and Churchill together

The Eight Points of the Atlantic Charter were that: No territorial gains were to be sought by the United States or the United Kingdom. Territorial adjustments must be in accord with wishes of the peoples concerned. The peoples had a right to self-determination. Trade barriers were to be lowered. There was to be global economic cooperation and advancement of social welfare. Freedom from want and fear was to be enforced. There was to be freedom of the seas. Disarmament of aggressor nations and post-war common disarmament was to be done.

Before America entered the war Roosevelt had agreed that it was to be a priority to defeat Germany before Japan.

The treacherous Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbour both delighted and worried Churchill. He knew that the United States would now be fighting the Axis powers with Britain, but he was concerned that President Roosevelt would be unable to resist public pressure to exact vengeance for Pearl Harbour.
Germany First

Churchill travelled to the USA two weeks after Pearl Harbour to convince Roosevelt to stick to a “Germany First” war strategy.

Appreciating that the American public and Congress would not tolerate a war strategy that allowed the Japanese to proceed on an unchecked rampage across the Pacific, President Roosevelt decided to keep secret his government’s commitment to the “Germany First” war strategy.
Battle of the Atlantic

The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest battle of the Second World War, beginning from the first day of hostilities and ending on the very last day of the war. It was also the most important battle during the entire Second World War because the success of every other campaign in every other theatre of war depended upon its success. Many experts agree that defeat of the German U-Boats and control of the shipping lanes linking the Allied nations of Great Britain, United States and Canada was a key factor if the Allied nations were to invade occupied Europe and the heartland of Germany itself. Churchill said that: “The Battle of the Atlantic was the key feature of the War. Never for one moment could we forget that everything happening elsewhere on land, sea or in the air depended on its outcome.” Winmedia File sonar ping2.wav Path C:\Documents and Settings\Mark Callagher\My Documents\History\PPT Origins of World War II\ Width 75 Height 42 Autostart True Align Left Long description Caption Sonar Ping Link to player False

Battle of Atlantic begins

Ship sinks in the Atlantic after a German U-Boat torpedo attack

Germany had almost won the First World War in 1916 and 1917 by cutting off Britain’s supplies from the USA. The Germans tried to do the same thing in the Second World War. German U-boats sank as much Allied shipping as possible. If the Germans sank more ships than the British could build, Britain would be cut off and lose the war.

Britain dominated above the waves
At the start of the war the British & French Navy were far superior with 22 Battleships and 83 Cruisers to Germany’s 3 small “pocket” Battleships and 8 Cruisers

The balance began to change in the summer of 1940 with the defeat of France when Hitler ordered an air and submarine assault on British shipping to cut off British imports and starve Britain into submission.