WWII

WWII

1. Declaration of war

   • Linlithgow's statement
     • Hypocritical - as he said they'd fight against rule of foreign power
     • Congress - Provincial Ministers resign in protest
       • Muslim League Leaders take their positions
   • No consultation with Indians
   • Congress
     • Support war against fascism esp. Nehru
     • Gandhi
       • Thinks war should be solved through Ahimsa
       • Offers to travel to Ger and negotiate with Hitler
   • Indian contribution
     • 2million fought - all religious/communal groups
     • Princes sent armies, munitions etc
       • British dropped the idea of federation to ensure princes support

2. Impact of Churchill

   • Views/attitudes
     • Imperialist
       • Key member of India Defence League
     • Saw India as 'jewel in the crown'
     • Wants to maintain status quo
     • stubborn, opionated
       • Lord Zetland (SoSI) resigns when Churchill becomes PM - knows his views would be incompatible
   • Atlantic Charter 1941
     • Agreement between Churchill and Roosevelt
     • Cemented mutual belief in values of 'sovereign rights and self gov' for nations
       • interpreted differently by C and R
         • R meant all nations C pretended he thought it meant newly created countries
     • Churchill had to sign - needed US support in WWII
   • 1940 offer
     • Offered dominion status after the war
       • Congress reject - are committed to 'purna swaraj'
     • Brit knew this would be popular in U.S
     • Churchill reluctant to offer even this limited solution
   • Cripps mission 1942
     • Offer: Dominion status at end of war, more reps on executive council now
     • Reaction - rejected Congress - Not Purna Swaraj
     • British motivation for mission
       • Appease US demands for more self gov - gain support in war
         • Show international community Brit is at least trying to make reforms and its Indians' fault they aren't working
       • Try and prevent Congress campaign
     • Set up to fail?
       • Didn't tell Linlithgow Cripps was going
       • Knew that the offer would be rejected
       • Wants to damage Cripps' rep too - political rival

3. Lahore Resolution 1940

   • Demand for a seperate Muslim state - Pakistan
   • Result of Congress' refusal to allow Muslims on Prov Govs after '37 elections
   • Made by Jinnah
   • Initially seen as a bargaining chip by Jinnah
   • Deliberately vague - wants to scare Congress into compromising

4. Quit India 1942-1943

   • Indian Actions
     • Mass Civil disobedience campaign
     • Some violent actions
       • Attempt to seize Delhi using guerrila tactics
         • Called on US soldiers to support
       • Public transport targeted
       • Riots, arson
   • British reactions
     • Coordinated by Linlithgow
       • Overides opposition of executive council
     • Hundreds killed
     • 500 imprisoned without trial
     • Villages burnt
     • Aircraft used to machine-gun crowd
     • Violent reaction due to war time
     • Successfully crushed by 1943
   • Why launched?
     • Failure of Cripps mission
     • Congress disillusionment with Political negotiations

5. INA

   • Independence group, led by Bose
     • Bose met with Hitler looking for support - he sent them to the Japanese
   • Supported by Japanese
     • Propaganda
     • Equipment
     • Men - taken from Japanese PoW camps.
   • Fought in India at Imphal and Kohima against the British
     • Easily beaten - lack of org, equip etc.
   • A threat?
     • Yes!
       • Somewhere between 15 and 50 thousand troops
       • Controlled Adaman Islands
       • ability to create unrest in India
     • No
       • destroyed in battle
       • Poor equip, org etc.
   • PoWs captured by British
     • Prob for Brit - either let them go = weak or punish them = create unrest
     • Put on trial one PoW from each religious community in attempt to seem fair.
       • This unites opposition Britian forced to release them. Worst of both worlds

6. Wavell

   • why chosen?
     • military
       • Churchill wanted to continue hardline approach
       • would follow orders
     • no real political views
     • Churchill thought he'd be easy to control
   • Bengal famine
     • Solved the problem
     • Took a humanitarian approach
     • Successfully negotiates grain from Churchill against Ch's wishes
   • Practical - 'great man for solutions'
   • Simla Conference 1945
     • Discuss moves towards further reform
     • Wavell organised this despite Churhill's opposition
     • No agreement reached - Jinnah particularly obstructive as he realises this gains him personal political power.