KEY DEBATE: What was Britain's contribution to Allied victory?
Taken from Hodder Education 'Access To History' The Experience of Warfare in Britain: Crimea, Boer and First World War 1854-1929.
Chapter 6, pages 184-185
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- KEY DEBATE: What was Britain's contribution to Allied victory? (1)
- The Royal Navy's Role
- Maintained links with the Empire.
- Blockade destroyed German economy and Civilian morale.
- BEF's Role: It's 1918 offensive won the war.
- 1. British Artillery became an effective force.
- Had huge destructive power.
- Neutralised enemy guns & defences so infantry could advance.
- Progress had been made in the use of the Creeping Barrage and in survey techniques.
- 2.Sophisticated co-ordination (helped by wireless telegraphy) of various military branches.
- Artillery
- Machine Guns
- Tanks
- Gas
- Aircraft
- 3. Most highly mechanised army world had ever seen.
- It was reliant on 'a vast force of specialists and technicians closer in spirit to the world of mass production.
- 4.Tactical lessons were learnt.
- 1918 offensives didn't aim to capture pre-set objectives.
- They took place across a wide front with the centre of attack repeatedly switched from one area to another.
- This prevented German resistance solidifying.
- They took place across a wide front with the centre of attack repeatedly switched from one area to another.
- New tactics entailed departure from earlier battle-plans masterminded from GHQ.
- Army commanders now had to show greater initiative and flexibility.
- They in turn relied even more on corps and divisional leadership as the war became more mobile and technical.
- Army commanders now had to show greater initiative and flexibility.
- 1918 offensives didn't aim to capture pre-set objectives.
- 1. British Artillery became an effective force.
- Britain's Economic Role
- 1918: German army was outgunned by BEF in almost all areas of munition.
- British Industry delivered the materials that made victory possible.
- Britain's Technological role
- 1. Churchill viewed war as 'engineer's war' where Allied technology and ingenuity in weapons design was a decisive factor.
- 2. Royal Naval Air Service proved to be innovative
- It's engineers and inventors claim to have originated tanks and aircraft carriers.
- Tanks were very useful in 1918; they were the most striking evidence of Britain's ability to integrate Science, technology and tactics with greater success than the Germans.
- HOWEVER: technological inventiveness couldn't guarantee victory by itself.
- 3. The tank is a case in point; WHILST THEY WERE PUT TO USE AT AMIENS IN AUGUST 1918, the machines frequently broke down and high mortality rates were among their crews.
- 4. It was only once on September 29th 1918 that Britain utilised more than 100 tanks in the field.
- 3. The tank is a case in point; WHILST THEY WERE PUT TO USE AT AMIENS IN AUGUST 1918, the machines frequently broke down and high mortality rates were among their crews.
- HOWEVER: technological inventiveness couldn't guarantee victory by itself.
- Tanks were very useful in 1918; they were the most striking evidence of Britain's ability to integrate Science, technology and tactics with greater success than the Germans.
- It's engineers and inventors claim to have originated tanks and aircraft carriers.
- 3. The tank is a case in point; WHILST THEY WERE PUT TO USE AT AMIENS IN AUGUST 1918, the machines frequently broke down and high mortality rates were among their crews.
- 4. It was only once on September 29th 1918 that Britain utilised more than 100 tanks in the field.
- British Leadership
- 1. Lloyd George was a magnificent war leader.
- Minister of Munitions = He ensured Britain began to produce the materials that'd eventually help win the war.
- Prime Minister = Kept Britain united and committed to victory.
- 2. Debate continues on effectiveness of Haig's leadership.
- He undoubtedly made mistakes in 1916-1917, but her arguably learnt from them and helped to bring about victory in 1918.
- 1. Lloyd George was a magnificent war leader.
- The Royal Navy's Role
- Infantry
- 2.Sophisticated co-ordination (helped by wireless telegraphy) of various military branches.
- Artillery
- Machine Guns
- Tanks
- Gas
- Aircraft
- 2.Sophisticated co-ordination (helped by wireless telegraphy) of various military branches.
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