How was the British Empire affected by the war during the period from 1902 to 1945?

When the Empire is at war... so Australia is at war1, throughout the period outlined in the question, Britain use the empire as a resource to fund the lack of money, troops and materials, that the small island had gained. Some would argue that the sheer size of the empire, and wealth within it (including people) allowed Britain to fight successfully in the two world wars which happened during this period. But this doesnt address how the empire was affected by war. No one could have foreseen how the wars during this period would affect the British Empire. Lord Milner argued that it was not the strain of war that led to the fragmentation of the empire, but the aftermath of war2 Changing perceptions and greater dissent led to the breakup of Britains vast empire, the shift of global powers after the Second World War left the British Empire in a vulnerable state. So by the end of this period, legislation had been set in motion and actions taken to end or significantly reduce British imperialism. But it could be argued that this was not an intention of the fighting during this period but fuelled by vacuum of power within Europe and change in circumstances that the fighting resulted in. Anti colonial movements increased during this period, dissent although a feature of British imperial rule had not been seen before on this scale. Germanys assumption at the beginning of the First World War, was that Britain dragging its colonies into to a war, would fuel dissidence across the empire. Although it was not as prompt as Germany had hoped by the end of 1945, Britains abuse of the empire throughout their imperial rule was having repercussions, bigger deficits across the dominions and colonies, the huge loss of life and materials have been stripped from the nations across the globe. This had caused contention within the empire which could have further fuelled the empirical breakup; Britain was vocally being seen as unfair. Britains aim during the First World War was not to expand their empire, but through a series of circumstances, this ended up being the case as the war dragged on. War on various fronts was inevitable in a period, in which most military powers had some form of empire. Attacking your
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A.J.Stockwell The War and the British empirep37 A.J.Stockwell The War and the British empirep44

opponents assets, is not a new concept, and has been used in many wars. British expansion in Africa was defensive, although, there had always been an Anglo-German rivalry. Britains reaction was due to largely the fear of Italian and German penetration into the area3As results of these German colonies within Africa were quickly occupied by British colonies in the same area, this not only asserted British power, in a militaristic sense but it also cut Germany off, financially. As Africa provided considerable economic wealth to its European occupiers. Prior to the break out of the war, there had been a race to cement European power within Africa; this was directly linked to the arms race which was happening at the same time, was part of the Anglo-German fight for dominance within Europe. The German had only recently gained its colonies within Africa, and was attempting to cement itself as imperial power. Within two months of the war starting Britain using its colonies in Africa, had seized Togoland and destroyed an important German radio station. This was done with less than 50 people dying in military skirmishes. The war had allowed Britain take decisive military action, without the same repercussions it would have faced during time of peace. Britain managed to further cement its standing in Africa without being seen as the aggressor.

Britains involvement in the First World War was forced upon the dominions and colonies, Britains declaration of war included them, whether this was supported by its inhabitants or not. The colonies provided a vast number of volunteers (some even proposed conscription), masses of raw materials and most importantly financial support. Britain was provided with over 2 million men from dominions and thousands of volunteers from the colonies, these proved indispensible to the British war effort, winning some decisive battles. Support came all corners of the empire, including Canada, Australia and even South Africa, despite the armed revolt, by Afrikaner nationalists. Conscription was a good barometer of the colonies and dominions majority opinion on their involvement of the war. Australian PM, believed
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7 day loan book, pg 75

strongly on the matter, but when put to referenda, it was rejected both times. Smith argues that this indicates the limit of tolerance to imperial demands4 Canada passed the military service act in 1917, it opposed, especially by French Canadians, as they saw it as unfair and an attack by the English speaking Canadians. Economically the empire was affected by the wars in this period. Prior to this period, Britain used the colonies and dominions as a captive market for its goods. With the outbreak of war, international shipping, essential to British life, was severely hindered. It could be seen that this was a chance for colony and dominion governments, to try and make some money off their oppressors. But there is no consistency on whether colony economies prospered. Canada, prior to the war their primary export was wheat, and after the outbreak of the war, it was widely believed that their economy would go into decline. But on a smaller scale, than America, it became essential for the British war effort. Canadas main export remained wheat, but its role was now to provide the allies with food, as well as raw materials (metals) and manufactured goods. This led to a surge in prices and cultivated land; farmers began to purchase farming machinery to tend to the farmland which had increased by more than four million5. Industrialisation also increased as Canada began to provide Britain with 1/3 of ammunition requirements. Although during the war Canada prospered from British dependence on its exports during the war, in the period after the adaptations to manufacturing and industry introduced, hindered Canada economically. It supposed agricultural boom was only due to the British empires demands. India had a bigger share of world trade than other colonies but was less industrially developed than Canada. At the beginning of the century did not have the process in place to produce any goods. They exported raw materials in exchange for manufactured goods; by 1918 India

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S.C.Smith British Imperialism 1750-1970p31 G.Hardach The First World War p 275

had exported 80 million pounds of raw materials to the allies6. Even throughout this period India made profit, it did not provide the nation with stable economy. Although India began to manufacture its own products, rather than outsourcing to Britain, but there was still no system, these led to short term gains but no structures set into place to prolong the short term benefits. Although there was not a growth to the economically to the extent of India and Canada, for the individual, the war allowed then independent trader, offload any goods at any price, regardless of quality or price. It was not until after the First World War that South Africa was able to begin the process of industrialisation.

Dominions gained their own representation at the Paris Peace conference in 1919; Australia, New Zealand and South Africa were all granted former German colonies by the League of Nations. This established them with a place on the international scene, but the change in status, however slight led to strains on the dominions imperial relations. This new found recognition an international scale (with the dominions gaining former German territories) but with the dominions still subordinate to the empire, left the relationship more unbalanced than ever. The dominions were all constitutionally bound to Britain, although they had began to gain their own colonies, this caused dichotomy in their position. In First World War, Britain had included the dominions in their declaration of war. The dominions had relinquished the power to declare war, and were expected to follow Britain into a war. When the dominions were nearly dragged into another war due to the Treaty of Sevres without consulting the dominions (and the newly established dominion war cabinet) Canadian Prime minister was outspoken, and argued that it was the Canadian governments role to decide whether or not we should participate in war7 The treaty of Sevres led to the Chanak crisis, and this brought to the fore the issues in imperial relations. With Canada being the frontrunner, for

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Aristey, Economic Development of India, p216 Robert Macgregor (ed) the development of dominion status 1900-36,London,1965,p244

a revision in its relationship with Britain. It broke with unity, by agreeing to a fishing treaty with the US, this is the first example of a dominion ignoring imperial rule, and following its own foreign policy. There was further dissent from Canada when it was proposed that it sign the Treaty of Lausanne, it refused on the basis that Canada had not been represented at the negotiations. Britain had a problem, prior to the war the dominions had in most cases fallen into line, but the freedom and power that the war had granted them, had given them the right to question the empirical authority. New Zealand and Australia believed that the work of the ANZACs had proved them as a nation, and this was a belief across most dominions. Initially, Britain was seen to do nothing, it signed the Treaty of Locarno, and did not expect the dominions to abide by its terms. In 1925, Britain established a department to deal with exclusively dominion relations. In 1926, all dominion relations came to a head, at the Imperial Conference. At this conference, the dominions established their position within the empire. This was discussed and it was agreed that the dominions were autonomous communities within the British Empire, equal in status...united by a common allegiance to the crown8 Throughout this period Britain wasnt trying to diminish imperial links, but solidify them through a process of appeasement to the ever growing dominions, this is exemplified by the Westminster statute. The dependence of the dominions and colonies on Britain, was primarily reliant on the idea that Britain will protect them. Even though there is varying perceptions on Britains treatment of the colonies, the ability to maintain ties with the increasing strain, is commendable. This is shown through the colonies (with the exception of Canada) looking to Britain, with the deteriorating international situation, and power of Britain over the dominions is shown through with all dominions (bar the Irish Free state, which remained neutral) supporting them with the outbreak of the Second World War.

A.B. Keith(ed.) speeches and documents on the british dominions, 1918-1931: from self government to national sovereignty, London, 1961

The empire characterized Britains effort during the Second World War. As the centre of the empire, the government controlled over 60 dominions and colonies, in what today would be called coalition warfare9

CONCLUSION Even though most of the colonies and dominions showed solidarity during the wars, cracks began to show. Especially due to the financial burden which was placed upon them, this caused unprecedented pressure on imperial relations, an example of this is Canadas national debt after this period, which had increased from 67 million to 317 million10, from the weight of these wars.

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The british empire and the second world war,a.jackson,pg ix S.C.Smith British Imperialism 1750-1970p31