Essay about World War Ii and Neville Chamberlain

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Essay Question:
“The failure of the Norway campaign was the most significant cause of Neville Chamberlain’s resignation in may 1940”. How far do you agree? (25 marks)

Neville Chamberlain became prime minister of Great Britain on the 28th of May 1937, just 3 years later on the 10th of May 1940, Chamberlain resigned. The out break of the war was a personal disaster for Chamberlain, for over two years he had pursued a policy of accommodation with Germany over her territorial claims with remarkable devotion and determination. There where many factors in this time period that contributed to Chamberlain’s resignation as prime minister including the failure of the Norwegian campaign. One other factor was that of appeasement. A further reason for Chamberlain’s resignation was that of Britain failing to form an alliance with Russia. Further more the fact that Britain failed to go to the aid of Finland and Poland was one more reason. Britain failing to fully prepare for war was another factor that contributed to Chamberlain resigning as well as the hatred that was felt by the Labour Government towards Chamberlain. This shows that there were many factors that contributed to Neville chamberlain choosing to resign as the British prime minister.

The failure of the Norwegian campaign was one main reason for Chamberlain resigning. A few months into World war Two, in April 1940, Adolf Hitler made a huge strategic gamble. He and his strategists knew that the Norwegian coastal waters were vital for the transport of Swedish iron ore via Narvick to German blast furnaces and, more generally, recognised that German control of Norwegian waters would make breaking the allied blockade of Germany a little easier. Germany had also seen the signs that the British would not necessary be bound by Norway’s neutrality, and could hinder the process if they were so minded. The British position was made fairly clear when Royal Navy seamen boarded the German naval auxiliary Altmark, In Norwegian waters, to free the prisoners on board, and the allies had indeed for some time been making plans for aggressive action to plug the gap in their blockade. Hitler’s plans in the face of this situation were decisive. The idea was that the whole Strength of the German navy was to land powerful forces all the way along the Norwegian coast, from Oslo to Narvick, to protect the coastal waterways which the iron ore was transported. This was very risky for Germany as their navy was greatly inferior to the Royal Navy in every category meaning, that even if they managed to get their troops ashore through the element of surprise, it was quite possible for them to be cut off. The British changed their plan. They began to make their mining operation lass complex .Then at near enough the same time both the British and the German went ahead with their operations. British mine laying began early on 8th of April however; it abruptly disturbed by the news of major German fleet movement. German troops landed on Norwegian soil the next day.

Narvick was a place that Germany could not afford to loose to the British at all costs. It was a good battle arena as well as having a port for transportation. There was also a railway that went from Lulea in Norway across to Kiruna in Sweden where there was abundant ore reserve. In times of peace Britain owned 10% of it and Germany owned the large majority of 90%. The British wanted to terminate the shipments so on the 13th of April the British entered the Fjord with one battle shit and three destroyers however, a German ship spotted the attack and so a battle commenced. Three more destroyers departed from Narvick to join the battle. Due to this mistake the British troops had to be evacuated, with two allied destroyers, one British and one French, being sunk. It was still hoped that northern Norway might be held, to deny the Germans their iron ore. Narvick was occupied by a mixed force of mountain troops, reinforced by the crews of the
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