THE REALITY OF BRITAIN'S WORLD AND IMPERIAL ROLE

• Despite being defeated in 1940 in both Norway & France, by 1941 Britain was playing a very considerable role in the world and was determining the way the war was fought. Until 1944, it did this without committing large land forces in Europe. Although US had interests in the war in the Pacific, they were persuaded to defeat Germany first and follow Britain's policy. The USSR losses were not matched by Britain and US (9 mil dead and additional 13 mill civilian deaths for USSR; Britain lost 452,000 and US 420,000).
• Although there was support from the Empire, there was no need for them to help and it was not certain that the self-governing dominions would support a war. By the end of the war, WSC had managed to hold on to Britain's world role as moral leader, champion of civilisation, major influence on war policy and imperial power.
• Alongside the US, Britain agreed to the Atlantic Charter which promised that neither US/GB wanted territorial gains and would respect the right of all people to choose the form of government they want to live under. Whilst WSC signed the Charter, he did not accept that it applied to Britain, and he was not forced to make any commitment to ending Britain's empire.