1: Introduction to Country Study – Great Britain

2. World War II.
In March 1939, Germany seized the rest of Czechoslovakia. On September 1, Germany in­vaded Poland and World War II began. Two days later, Britain and France declared war on Germany. In April 1940, German troops invaded Denmark and Norway. Chamberlain resigned on May 10, and Churchill became prime minister. That same day, Germany attacked Bel­gium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands and advanced toward France.
Churchill told the British people he had nothing to offer but “blood, toil, tears, and sweat” to win “victory at all costs.” Germany conquered France in June, and Brit­ain stood alone against the Nazi war machine.
Britain prepared for invasion, and Churchill urged the British people to make this “their finest hour.” He in­spired them to heights of courage, unity, and sacrifice. Hundreds of German planes bombed Britain nightly. German submarines tried to cut Britain’s lifeline by tor­pedoing ships bringing food and other supplies to the island country. Severe rationing limited each person’s share of food, clothing, coal, and oil. The British refused to be beaten, and Hitler gave up his invasion plans.
In June 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union. In December, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii, and the United States entered the war. Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union, and the other Allies finally de­feated Germany and Japan in 1945. Near the end of the war, Britain helped establish the United Nations. About 360,000 British servicemen, servicewomen, and civilians died in the war. Great sections of London and other cities had been destroyed by German bombs. The war had shattered Britain’s economy. The United States and the Soviet Union came out of the war as the world’s most powerful nations.
3. Decline of the Empire.
World War II sealed the fate of the British Empire, though Britain had begun loosen­ing control over its empire earlier. In 1931, Britain granted independence within the empire to Australia, Canada, the Irish Free State, New Zealand, Newfound­land, and South Africa. These countries became the first members of the Commonwealth of Nations, an associa­tion of countries and dependencies that succeeded the empire.
After World War II, the peoples of Africa and Asia in­creased their demands for independence. Britain could no longer keep control of its colonies. In 1947, India and Pakistan became independent nations within the Com­monwealth. In 1948, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) became an independent Commonwealth country. That same year, Burma achieved independence—and left the Commonwealth. In 1949, the Irish Free State declared itself the in­dependent Republic of Ireland and also left the Com­monwealth. That same year, Newfoundland became a province of Canada.