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European colonialism was a factor in World War II. It affected several campaigns in a variety of ways. Most of the major combatants were either colonial powes are aspired to be so. And some of the colonized peoples played a variety of roles in the War, both supporting and resisting the colonizing country. The two major colonial powers were Britain and France. Their colonies increased the resources available to fight the War. This was primarily the case for Britain as the Germans in the first year of the War invaded and defeated France. Some of the British Empire countries had obtained Dominion status (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa) and voluntarily joined Britain in the War, playing very important roles. The issue of colonialism was one of the few issues dividing America and Britain during the War. The French Empire became contested by Vichy and the Free French. While not often classified as one, the Soviet Union was also a colonial powers with ethnic Russians ruleing over many other national groups in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The Axis countries (Germany, Italy, and Japan) were countries aspiring to carve out and enlarge colonial empires. This was in fact the major reason why they launched World War II. The colonial people reacted differently to the War. India was Britain's major colony and played an important role, although complicated by Congress' refusal to support the British. The Arabs reacted to the War in large measure according to who the colonial power was which in most cases was Britain and France. NAZI Germany's anti-semitism was another factor.
The two major colonial powers were Britain and France. Their colonies increased the resources available to fight the War. This was primarily the case for Britain as the Germans in the first year of the War invaded and defeated France.
Some of the British Empire countries had obtained Dominion status (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa) and voluntarily joined Britain in the War, playing very important roles. Other Empire countries also played roles in the war. The British Indian Army played a key role in the Middle East. Two colonies were occupied by the Japanese (Burma and Malayia). The Japanese victory in Burma brought them to the border of India. The Empire was a major source of raw materials for the British war effort. Iraqi oil fueled the British fleet based in Alexandria as xwell as the 8th Anmy in the Western Desert. One of the reasons why the British were able to prevail when the Germans failed to win the war in the first 2 years. As in World war I, Germany was not able to win obce the War turned into a war of attrition.
The French Empire became contested by Vichy and the Free French. France fell to the Germans (June 1940), so the French Empire, unlike World War I, was unable to offer much support to the French war effort. Most of the colonies declared alegience to Vichy. And some even supported Axis military and covert activities to vary degrees. This gradually changed as the War progressed. The British Royal Navy and the American Navy were factors here. The British and Free French launched several campaigns to replace Vichy authorities. German military reverses and expanding Allies naval power brought the remaining colonies over to the Free French after the Torch Landings in North Africa (November 1942).
The issue of colonialism was one of the few issues dividing America and Britain during the War. This was a topic on which President Roosevelt and Prime-Ministerv Churchill disagreed. America's only colony was the Philippines and before the War, the United States had agreed to Philippine independence. In fact it was delayed oinly by the Japanese invasion (December 1941).
While not often classified as one, the Soviet Union was also a colonial powers with ethnic Russians ruleing over many other national groups in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
The Axis countries (Germany, Italy, and Japan) were countries aspiring the carve out and enlarge colonial empires. This was in fact the major reason why they launched World War II.
The colonial people reacted differently to the War. India was Britain's major colony and played an important role, although complicated by Congress' refusal to support the British. The Arabs reacted to the War in large measure according to who the colonial power was which in most cases was Britain and France. NAZI Germany's anti-semitism was another factor.
India was Britain's major colony and played an important role, although complicated by Congress' refusal to support the British.
The Arabs reacted to the War in large measure according to who the colonial power was which in most cases was Britain and France. NAZI Germany's anti-semitism was another factor, especially in Palestine and the surrounding countries. Iraq attempted to join the Axis and therewas also support for the Axis in Syria. The Grand Mufti had tried to drive the British out of Palestine even before the War began. The Young Officers in Egyot were prepared to offer the Afrika Korps with open arms. The Libyans having experienced Axus (Italian) colonial rule were less enthusiastic. Arab leaders for the most part seemed oblivious to the New Order that an Axis victory would have brought. While British and French colonialism may have been unpleasant to the Arabs, it was nothing like Italin and German colonial rule would have been and that is not even including the NAZI racial attituides toward Arabs. And even after the War, Aran leaders (the Bath and Moslem Brotherhood) continued to be influnced by NAZI totalitarianism.
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