Interwar Period: United Kingdom

ObjectivesComprehend the factors that contributed to

British foreign policy during the interwar years.Describe the factors that influenced British

military doctrine during the interwar period

Each symbol indicates 100,000 dead

Transition to PeaceBritain throughout her history has attempted to remain relatively

removed from European power politics and the interwar years was no exception.

The British government had a great deal of difficulty in adjusting to post-war politics, especially in terms of maintaining her empire.

Economic ProblemsDuring WWI, British business lost

much of their commerce in Europe, China, India, and Latin America to American and Japanese businesses.

The 1920-1930s witnesses a series of industry strike, demanding higher wages, better working conditions, and shorter hours. Troops were called in on a number of occasions.

Factories owned by the government were sold off, and soon practically no businesses remained in government hands.

The British government hoped that laissez-faire economics would jump-start her post-war economy.

Great Depression The onset of the Great Depression in

the early 1930s tore the British Parliament apart, as disagreement over recovery measures divided the nation.

The Labour party advocated extremely leftist policies and unwise spending, while the Liberal and Conservative Parties were divided within themselves over just what to do.

Unemployment benefits were cut in 1931, and adjusted again in 1934. The remainder of the peacetime years was spent dabbling in a variety of potential solutions to the nation's economic problems.

Unemployment Rate

Maintaining the Empire During the interwar period the British

Empire was evolving into a ‘Commonwealth’; no longer a single political unit.

Through the Balfour Declaration of 1926 and the Statute of Westminster in 1931, England and its dominions (i.e. former colonies) became members of a trade and defensive association known as the British Commonwealth.

Each dominion had the right to choose chose its own government and promulgate its own laws. Dominions could accept or reject laws passed by the British government.

Foreign Affairs Strategy - Outside of Commonwealth

British imperial strategy throughout the 1930’s rested on short term appeasement and long term rearmament.

Britain both economically and internally could not cope with another war.

PM Chamberlain hoped that if the threat of Hitler could be appeased, Britain would be more able to deal with the growing Japanese threat in the Far East in regard to China.

Hence the policies of appeasement was pursued with Hitler

Munich Agreement The Munich Agreement was a pact signed in 1938 between Nazi

Germany, its ally, Italy, France and the United Kingdom. The pact allowed Germany to take over the borderlands of

Czechoslovakia, known as the Sudetenland. Most of the region’s 3.5 million inhabitants were ethnic

Germans and they wanted a union with Nazi Germany The Sudetenland included all of Czechoslovakia’s border

fortifications so the country was defenseless without it. “Peace in our time” – Chamberlin, 1938

Military Strategy and Readiness Influenced strongly by economic

realitiesSignificant downsizing following WWIRoyal Navy and RAF centered given

relatively low cost and long reach Air Policing (Horn of Africa, Iraq)

Following the failed Munich Agreement, Britain begins to rearm in preparation for possible war

However in many ways Britain militarily is a “Hollow Empire”-- decades of neglect cannot be overturned in several years. Singapore Harbor

Royal Air ForceSeparate service in 1919, however was in constant

budgetary competition with Royal NavyDoctrine centered on two landmark air theorists

Hugh Trenchard (1st RAF Chief) Centered on Britain’s traditional military-economic strategy. Advocated strategic attacks on industry to destroy the

capability (factory) and will (people) to fight.

PM Baldwin (1932) Bomber will always get through

Jack Slessor Winning air superiority critical – more balanced force

Budget considerations start to weigh in – 1 bomber = 3 fighters, so in 1938 as G.B. rearms it puts it’s faith into fighters and a new gadget called radar for it defense.

Interwar Period: Great Britain Battle proven Joint operations Allies privy to military plans Adaptive to new technology Consistency of command and

organization Technologically advanced

defense industry Industrial Capacity Military Readiness

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