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battle of the atlantic - Coggle Diagram
battle of the atlantic
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enigma
code breakers at Bletchley park worked throughout the war to break the code which told them where and when German U-boats would attack
second six months of 1941, estimated that ultra saved between 1.5 and 2 ,million. tons of allied shipping from destruction
however, couldn't use every piece of information they had on Germany as they would realise and change the code
professor David syrett- stresses huge importance of intelligence in winning, in particular, the cracking of enigma
convoy system
admiral horton was uncharge of the convoy system from nov 1942 and created convoy support groups- greater freedom to hunt down and destroy U-boats. -helped sink more and undermined morale of U-boat crew
america initially unwilling to use convoy system and britain had to eventually provide them with escort ships to protect merchant shipping
John keegan- stresses the importance of the revamped convoy system as an integral part of success against the u-boat threat
allied navies
American shipyards began too build liberty ships which were pre-fab. built 2710 during the war - significantly helped replace losses in allied merchant shipping
Canadians provided almost half of the convoy escorts between 1941-1943- crucial to protecting Britains merchant convoys
Jim lotz- Canadian historian, praises the enormous contribution of the Canadian navy to ultimate victory
max Hastings- with American ship building, the allies couldn't lose. he downplays the Canadian navy.
German errors
October 1941, hitler ordered doenitz to transfer u-boats fleet to the Mediterranean- this gave the Atlantic convoys a period of rest at a challenging time.
germany didnt focus on u-boats but instead focused on large surface vessels. would have had a much greater effort if they had focused on u-boats
historiography
AJP Taylor - highlights the importance of a combination of factors- Hortons support groups, sustained by huff-duff, centrimetirc radar and aircraft patrols won the battle of Atlantic.'
Richard overy is reluctant to pinpoint any one factor- but commends highly the drive and invention of Horton.
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