Steve Morewood

The British Defence of Egypt, 1935-40

Conflict and Crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean

• Gebundenes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

This book offers a comprehensive and challenging analysis of the British defense of Egypt, primarily against fascist Italy, in the critical lead-up period to the Second World War, culminating in the decisive defeat of the Italian military threat at Sidi Barrani in December 1940. The security of Egypt, a constant of British imperial strategy, is a curiously neglected dimension of the still burning appeasement debate. Yet it was a factor which demanded constant consideration by British policy-makers and figured in the crises of the period over Abyssinia, Czechoslovakia, Albania and Poland. By giving equal weight to the perspectives and assessments of the men on the spot, Steven Morewood adds to the originality of his interpretation by suggesting the old view should be reinstated: that Mussolini should and could have been stopped in his empire-building at the Abyssinian hurdle. Thereafter, as Nazi Germany tore the Versailles peace settlement to shreds, the drift to war accelerated as British resolve and credibility were brought into question. The fascist dictators in Rome and Berlin held no respect for weakness and Mussolini became the conduit through which Hitler could apply pressure to a sensitive British interest through reinforcing Libya at critical moments. The efforts to appease Mussolini are reprised through the prism of the Egyptian dimension. Because of Il Duce's grandiose ambitions to usurp the dominance of Britain and France of the Mediterranean such efforts were doomed to failure. Notwithstanding its manifest imperial over stretch, Britain remained determined to retain axiomatic parts of its empire, not least Egypt. Once Nazi Germany knocked out Britain's key ally thefirst and only Anglo-Italian war became inevitable. The author considers these developments and the Anglo-Egyptian relationship, wherein Britain was always the dominant partner. Symbolizing that dominance was its ambassador, Sir Miles Lampson, who was also an incessant campaigne

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Taylor & Francis
• Seitenzahl: 294
• Erscheinungstermin: 25. November 2004
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 236mm x 162mm x 22mm
• Gewicht: 567g
• ISBN-13: 9780714649436
• ISBN-10: 0714649430
• Artikelnr.: 22156726

Autorenporträt

Steven Morewood is a lecturer in international history in the School of Historical Studies at the University of Birmingham.

Inhaltsangabe

Acknowledgements Preface Erik Goldstein 1. Introduction: Defending Egypt in the Era of Appeasement The Lingering Strategic Significance of Egypt: The appeasement debate and egypt 2. The Nature of the Italian Threat to Egypt : Sir Miles Lampson and the Security of Egypt: The Decision
Making Process. I The Defence of Egypt in the Interwar Period: Strategic Imperatives and Rationale No Surrender
The Role of Egypt in Imperial Defence. II The Defence of Egypt and the Onset of the Italo
Abyssinian Emergency The Emergence of the Italian Threat
The Origins of the Italo
Abyssinian Crisis: the Egyptian Dimension
The British Response to the Growing Abyssinian Crisis
The Position in Egypt
Countdown to War. III Defending Egypt during the Italo
Abyssinian Emergency: First Phase, August
December 1935 Policy Imperatives and Dilemmas
Preparations for War
A Clash of Attitudes: The Men on the Spot and the Chiefs of Staff
The Imperial Defence Dimension and the Hoare
Laval Pact. IV Defending Egypt during the Italo
Abyssinian Emergency: Second Phase, January
July 1936 The Capacity to Defend the Egyptian Power Base
Too Far Too Fast
An Oil Embargo: So near and yet so far
The Suez Canal Closure Issue
The End of the Emergency. V The Making of the 1936 Anglo
Egyptian Treaty of Friendship and Alliance: The Military Aspects Early Efforts to Conclude a Treaty, 1924
1930
Commencing Negotiations
The Negotiations: First Phase
The Negotiations: Middle Phase
The Negotiations: Final Phase
An Assessment. VI Securing an Exposed Flank: The Defence of Egypt through Diplomacy, June 1936
April 1938 The Debate over the Way Forward
Defence Planning Priorities and Egypt
Assessing the Italian Threat
From Eden's Resignation to the Easter Pact. VII 'Bloodless War' Prelude to the Munich Agreement
The Mediterranean Dimension of the Munich Crisis
The Aftermath
Bloodless War Begins
Preparing for War
Improving the Intelligence Picture. VIII The Approach of War in the Mediterranean A Summer of Tension
Anglo
French Incongruity
Preparing for Battle
War Comes Closer
The Onset of War. IX Implementing the Treaty of Friendship and Alliance: Anglo
Egyptian Relations, 1937
1940 Implementing the Treaty: Immediate Achievements and Complications
A Changed Leadership
Munich and After
The Power Struggle in Egypt
The Lead Up to War in Europe
Egypt Stays Out
The Lead Up to War in the Mediterranean
The Removal of Ali Maher. X The Suez Canal and the Defence of the Far East, 1919
1941 The Origins of the Suez Canal Defence Plan
The Suez Canal Defence Plan
The Suez Canal Defence Plan and Interwar Crises 1937
1939
The Advent of War in the Mediterranean
The Canal at War
Italo
German
Japanese Motives for Closing Suez. XII Conclusion Bibliography Index