What problems was Churchill facing in May 1940?

Created by: Saf2202
Created on: 23-10-18 23:44

Summary of Problem: Germany had bombed Poland and the low countries. There was a considerable fear of large - scale bombing of Britain and very heavy casualties were expected.

Why was this a danger to Churchill/Britain? If Britain was bombed, then money will be lost, and there will be a loss of life and moral. Also, if factories are bombed, then production will slow down

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Summary of Problem: Gold reserves were running out, and it was not clear whether Britain could afford to go on fighting

Why was this a danger to Churchill/Britain? Money drove all of the war, if not money, this means no supplies, and consequently the loss of the war.

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Summary of Problem: Japan was a possible threat to British possessions in South Asia

Why was this a danger to Churchill/Britain? If Britain lost India, that would mean a loss of a lot of soldiers and life for Britain

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Summary of Problem: Danger of Italian entry into the war, which would threaten Egypt and the Suez Canal. This would out off Britain's quickest sea route to india, and its colony in the Far East

Why was this a danger to Churchill/Britain? If Italy entered the war effort, this threatened Egypt and the Suez Canal. It would have cut off Britain's quickest sea route to India, and its colonies in the Far East

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Summary of Problem: Lord Halifax who had been a major supporter of appeasement was still in the cabinet as foreign secretary, was making discrete approaches to discover what German terms of peace with Britain might be

Why was this a danger to Churchill/Britain? Halifax could try and make people turn against Churchill. He is not a team player and he could have deceived Churchill

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Summary of Problem: The British army had been cut off from French forces and had fallen back on Dunkirk, hoping to be evacuated. The chances of rescuing 300,000 troops seemed low given German air superiority and the possibility of a German assault

Why was this a danger to Churchill/Britain? It was a possibility of loosing 300,000 men, would have possibly destroyed moral. Germany would get much closer to Britain if they had Dunkirk.

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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Summary of Problem: Gold reserves were running out, and it was not clear whether Britain could afford to go on fighting

Back

Why was this a danger to Churchill/Britain? Money drove all of the war, if not money, this means no supplies, and consequently the loss of the war.

Card 3

Front

Summary of Problem: Japan was a possible threat to British possessions in South Asia

Back

Card 4

Front

Summary of Problem: Danger of Italian entry into the war, which would threaten Egypt and the Suez Canal. This would out off Britain's quickest sea route to india, and its colony in the Far East

Back

Card 5

Front

Back

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What problems was Churchill facing in May 1940?