Text | Lanzi Ji
Ed Lanzi Ji
World War II, as a war that swept the world, Britain also played an indispensable role in it.
During the war, its relations and decisions with other countries were also engraved in the history books of history, so that future generations will talk about it.
The role of Britain in the First World War, 1914-1918
Since the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, the nations of the world have been fighting on the European continent like soldiers on a chessboard.
On this long and arduous road, one historic moment after another has emerged.
Between April 1915 and January 1916, British, Australian, and New Zealand forces laid siege to the Dardanelles in an attempt to open the gateway to Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire.
However, for various reasons, this effort was ultimately in vain, and although the Allies lost nearly 50,000 soldiers, the Turkish side also lost more than 120,000 men.
In June 1916, Britain and Germany fought a fierce war in the North Sea, which established British supremacy in the North Atlantic, but did not completely destroy German naval power.
In March of the same year, the victory of the British army in Mesopotamia paved the way for the next campaign.
In the ensuing process, the British conquered Palestine in December 1917 and supported the Arab uprising in collaboration with the British.
Despite the help of the British, the Arab uprising endured its twists and turns, and it was not until November 1918 that the uprising against Turkish rule was fully successful.
During the reign of the British Empire, there was a large and diverse military force that covered vast areas such as India, South Africa, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Behind the scenes, it is the Chinese and South African labor teams that provide support.
Industrial upheavals of 1920-1939
In the changing chapter of history, the time scale has moved towards the end of the 1920s. In the dark of the night, the workers in the port of London made a silent protest against their decision to stop shipping arms to the Soviet Union.
The background of this incident is the tense situation of the war between Poland and Russia. In 1930-31, the British Communist Party became active again, signaling its growing influence in the political system.
One of the most striking events was the successful coming to power of the British Labour Party in 1921, becoming the ruling party for the first time.
In 1926, however, Britain experienced a devastating general strike, which was eventually suppressed by the Conservative government. After these upheavals, the Labour Party came back to power in 1929-31, but only for three years.
In the process, we have seen dramatic changes in British society. The rights and interests of the working class are constantly being challenged and violated, and the Labour Party plays an extremely important role in this.
Map of Britain in 1920
In 1919, Togo, Cameroon, Namibia, Tanzania and other places that had been occupied by Germany came under British trusteeship.
In addition, South-West Africa (now the Dominion of South Africa, formerly part of Germany) and German New Guinea (which in turn became the Dominion of Australia, which was returned to the United Kingdom) were also brought under British jurisdiction.
These places were previously German overseas colonies, but with the end of the First World War, they also disappeared.
This historical event had a profound impact on the spheres of influence of the European powers, and at the same time marked the formation of a new international order
Britain and the Middle East in 1919-1967
In the long period from 1919 to 1967, the Middle East has undergone countless political and geographical changes. During this time, the British Empire developed a unique model of governance for the different regions under its rule.
Many countries, including the Mandate Powers of Palestine, Iraq, and Jordan, have left their mark on this colorful political wave.
Palestine, located in southwestern Asia, strengthened Britain's colonial power through two important agreements, the San Remo Agreement and the Paris Peace Treaty.
Britain was in fact the supreme representative of Palestine, and the League of Nations mandated them to perform administrative functions in the land.
After that, the wheel of history continued to move forward, and in 1932 Iraq successfully broke away from British control and became an independent sovereign state, but British influence remained deeply rooted.
Also in eastern Palestine, the British began to exercise their mandate powers, which later evolved into an independent state called the Hashemet Kingdom. This is what we now know as Jordan.
On the other hand, Egypt officially declared its independence as a constitutional monarchy through the Egyptian Constitution published in 1922, although Britain still exerted military and economic influence. This is especially true for the area around the Suez Canal.
In the early stages of the Cold War, Iran had been jointly built by Russia and Britain, but after World War II, the balance of power between East and West reversed into a Soviet-dominated sphere of influence, and Britain's influence in Iran began to wane.
At the same time, Turkey, another power, has also played a marginal role in the race. It is worth noting that in this period of geopolitical games and social unrest, countries in the Middle East have sought independence, ending the period of British and other foreign occupations.
Looking back on this past, we can't help but sigh at the weight of history, which not only shaped the identity of each country, but also determined its future development trend.
Violence in India, 1919-1947
The year 1947 was undoubtedly a powerful chapter in India's history: the summer after the end of the Second World War, the British colonial government finally relinquished power and handed over the ancient country to a vibrant people.
Behind all these hopes, however, a bloody storm was not foreseen, and from that moment on, the curtain began on decades-long sectarian conflicts.
In 1919, 379 innocent people were killed in violent clashes between British police and Indian people, and later that year British forces brutally murdered al-Qaeda members.
On the other hand, in 1921, a great peasant uprising broke out between Hindus and Europeans, in which about 3,000 civilians were implicated and lost their precious lives.
Moreover, in the years that followed, the whole country was overshadowed by the terror of the Sikh organization Akali Party. Strong anti-British sentiment spread like a flame.
In the spring and early summer of 1930, Gandhi united the people in demonstrations against the British monopoly on the salt trade. It was also at this time that anti-British sentiment gradually grew and intensified under the impetus of the global anti-colonial wave.
During this time, Indian society was soaked in the smell of gunpowder, and violent clashes and large-scale nonviolent resistance movements were intertwined.
Especially during the campaign to withdraw from India in 1942, there was war and turmoil in all corners of the country.
British diplomacy in 1939
In 1939, on the eve of the outbreak of World War II, the world was full of gunsmoke and various forces were constantly competing, among which Britain, as a traditional power, had a profound impact on this war that decided the fate of mankind.
Britain's security guarantee to Poland was undoubtedly an important chapter of that era. At the time of the German advance, Britain decisively extended a helping hand to Poland, providing it with military support and security.
At the same time, Romania and Greece have received security commitments from the United Kingdom and France. In April of the same year, Britain joined forces with France to provide security guarantees to the two countries in the hope of forming a strong line of defense against German aggression.
Obviously, this form of action will have a profound impact on the world pattern and even the future trend.
It is worth noting that in the summer of 1939, with the clarion call for war, Poland also became a de facto ally of Britain.
This turn of events heralded Britain's open engagement in the perilous battlefields of World War II and its determination to defend Poland. At the same time, it also embodies the remarkable characteristics of the unity of the Allied forces in the face of danger.
However, the world is not always so harmonious. In the summer of the same year, Germany's secret contacts with the Soviet Union were shocking, and they went so far as to sign the so-called Soviet-German Non-Aggression Pact.
The move provoked the international community and caused consternation among Western allies in particular. Both Germany and Italy are expanding their influence.
The signing of the German-Italian Steel Treaty in 1936 was a major event, which further strengthened the military and political ties between the two countries, thus forming a solid foundation for the "Axis powers".
Despite the passage of time, the treaty still had a subtle impact on international relations in 1939.
At the same time, despite the failure to reach a formal military alliance, France and Great Britain worked closely together on foreign policy and defense matters, working together against Germany's iron hooves and facing the enemy together in times of war.
The year 1939 was a significant chapter in the history of British diplomacy. In the face of the sinister threat of Nazi Germany, Britain took a series of forceful measures to protect peace and stability in Europe, but the smoke of gunfire could not be avoided.
After the outbreak of war, Britain and other allies had to face the endless test given by history.
German threat to Britain in 1939-1941
During the period from the late thirties to the early forties of the twentieth century, the whole world was in turmoil, and the outbreak of this war was undoubtedly like a heavy blow in the catastrophe, pushing the whole world into the abyss.
Britain, the former superpower, has also not escaped the specter of war.
However, although Germany seemed to have the upper hand in the early stages of the war, Britain was able to overcome the difficulties and defend the dignity of the country with its strong military strength and determination.
This is a crucial moment for Britain and has become one of the focuses of future history researchers.
The German threat to Britain was everywhere. From the German invasion of Poland in 1939, Britain was already in the whirlpool of war.
During this time, Britain was constantly dealing with a variety of challenges from Germany—the Battle of Great Britain, the French Campaign, the Norse Expeditions, the Sea Crossing Attack, and so on.
In particular, in the 1940 air battle, the British Royal Air Force and the Luftwaffe fought to the death, winning air supremacy in the sky, thus effectively thwarting Germany's attempt to carry out air raids on the British mainland.
In the summer of the same year, in order to cut off British transportation on the North Atlantic route, Germany launched Operation Battell-Brest in an attempt to weaken Britain's economic and military potential through a naval blockade.
Although the German strategy was not fully realized in the end, such a threat did happen, which is enough to make us feel the cruelty and severity of that war.
For Britain, the war was more than just defeating the enemy. On the contrary, the war had a more profound impact in that it profoundly changed the British people's perception of the country and their perception of the country.
Through this experience, the British people became more aware of the cruelty and destructiveness of war, and at the same time, they cherished their homeland and happy life even more.
Moreover, in terms of military science and technology and weaponry, the war has also given rise to many major breakthroughs, such as the invention of radar and the development of rocket artillery, which have greatly promoted the process of global modernization.
In the days to come, when we look back at those years of war, we may feel a trace of emotion and awe in our hearts.
However, it is more important for us to remember those who fought for the good of their country and the well-being of humanity, because it was their courage and dedication that shaped the world today.
Great Britain and Japan at war in 1941-1945
In the early summer of 1944, the British army successfully captured Burma, declaring that it was finally free from the long-term intrusion of the Japanese army. In the autumn of the following year, Borneo returned to the hands of freedom, and the hope of stopping the fighting spread like a spring breeze.
However, Mamalaya, another corner of Southeast Asia, was not liberated until the formal surrender of Japan in August 1945. During this time, the smoke on the sea never stopped.
summary
Between 1914 and 1967, Britain and the European continent underwent great changes like a gripping epic.
This thrilling chapter of history is full of deep and complex elements, such as post-war reconstruction, the establishment of the welfare state, the adjustment of political institutions, and the collapse of empires and the process of European integration.
First of all, we should mention the post-war reconstruction stage, when the land was devastated by the war, and the ruins and dilapidated scenes of the houses were in urgent need of reconstruction in various countries.
Britain was not immune, and the war took a heavy toll on it.
Fortunately, the UK government has launched a comprehensive redevelopment plan in a timely manner, including infrastructure construction, economic recovery and housing projects.
Second, let's look at the process of building the welfare state. The shadow of war has dissipated, and the times call for an appeal for the well-being of the people.
Based on this, the British government decided to go all out and launched a vast welfare state movement.
One of the most notable results was the establishment of the National Health Service (NHS), which aims to guarantee the right to health of every citizen.
In addition, the British government is also actively promoting public education and social welfare, and strives to achieve an overall improvement in people's living standards.
Moreover, we cannot ignore the role that political system change has played during this period. In the 1945 general election, the Attlee government, led by the Labour Party, won a landslide victory and successfully came to power.
They have formulated and implemented a series of far-reaching reforms and social policies, such as the implementation of public ownership, the establishment of social safety nets, and the protection of labor rights, etc., which have enabled the vast number of workers to receive unprecedented social care.
With the decline of the empire came the idea of European integration.
In June 1951, representatives of France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands gathered in Paris to sign the famous Treaty of Paris, which gave birth to the landmark European Coal and Steel Community.
Subsequently, in 1957, the more complete European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community were formally established, and in the following years, the European Union, the European Central Bank, the European Commission and other institutions were established one after another, making European integration reach a new peak.
However, it wasn't all smooth sailing behind all this. Despite the confidence of European countries, from the early 50s of the 20th century, some differences emerged, and the "European crisis" gradually became a hot topic.
This ambitious journey not only demonstrates the spirit of European solidarity at the political and economic level, but also has a profound impact on the changing global landscape.
Resources:
《英格兰的气质》（The English and their History） by Robert Tombs:
《大英帝国的崛起与衰落》（The Rise and Fall of the British Empire） by Lawrence James:
《不列颠的历史》（The Oxford Illustrated History of Britain） edited by Kenneth O. Morgan:
《不列颠王朝》（The Plantagenets） by Dan Jones:
《不列颠史》（A History of Britain） by Simon Schama:
《英国简史》（A Short History of England） by Simon Jenkins: