British Military History
in World War II
Throughout World War II, the British military fought against overpowering odds to defend the United Kingdom from Germany. From disaster in the early part of the war to the eventual invasion of Europe, British army and navy personnel faced a number of challenges. Ultimately, the British, aided by its Allies, were victorious over the Axis powers.
Lend-Lease Act
The British military relied heavily on financial and material support from the United States, particularly during the early period of the war before American forces joined the fight. This agreement was called the Lend-Lease Act, a program that ultimately gave $31.4 billion in supplies to Britain in exchange for military bases in British territories.
The Blitz
One of the largest independent operations fought by the British military in World War II was the Battle of Britain. Known nationally as "The Blitz," the German Luftwaffe (air force) attacked the Royal Air Force and British infrastructure from fall 1940 to spring 1941.
Naval War
Due to the lack of British ground forces throughout the war, the British brought the war to the seas. Possessing a larger navy than the Germans, the British fought the protracted Battle of the Atlantic from 1939 until 1945. These battles were highlighted by the war against German U-Boats. In one of the major events in British naval history, the large German battleship Bismarck was sunk on its first mission in 1941.
Pacific Theater
In Southeast Asia, the British military faced a number of challenges. The same day as Pearl Harbor in 1941, the Japanese invaded Thailand and Malaya, eventually pushing their way into Burma, where British forces saw massive casualties throughout the war.
D-Day
On June 6, 1944, the British military joined the United States, Canada and remnants of French forces to invade Normandy, France, to begin the march toward Germany in the largest amphibious assault in history. The British were primarily in charge of the Sword and Gold Beaches.
