The British Defense of Egypt: Conflict and Crisis in the Eastern Mediterranian (Cass Series--Military History and Policy,)

A comprehensive and challenging analysis of the British defence 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, this is a fascinating new contribution to the field. The security of Egypt, a constant of British imperial strategy, is a curiously neglected dimension of the still burning appeasement debate. 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. How does the history of any given event come to be written in a certain way? A story can be told from many points of view. The significance that the event is deemed to hold may vary. Subsequent events will throw new light and alter its significance for some. Thus radically different versions of an event compete for attention. Often one particular version holds the field drowning out its rivals. This intellectual hegemony need have no relation to the accuracy of that version of history and alternative, equally valid versions can sink without trace. The Gallipoli campaign of 1915 serves as an excellent case study through which this process of 'making history' can be observed. This book traces the disparities in the memory of Gallipoli that are evident in the countries that participated in the campaign. It explores the way in which history is written at the personal, the local, the professional, and the national level. Among the case studies are Martin Gilbert on Churchill, Keith Jeffery on Gallipoli & Ireland, Feroze Yasamee on the Turkish perspective, and David Dutton on the French view of a campaign in which they were more heavily involved than the Australians. Christopher Pugsley uncovers the reality behind the myths of Anzac, and Keith Grieves writes on the local commemoration of the campaign in Sussex. Other chapters consider the writing of unit histories, the professional study of the campaign in the development of amphibious warfare, the romance of the British cultural history of Gallipoli, and the shifts that are evident in the portrayal of Anzacs in Australian cinema. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 List of maps......Page 11 Foreword......Page 12 Acknowledgements......Page 14 Abbreviations......Page 17 Introduction: defending Egypt in the era of appeasement......Page 20 The British defence of Egypt in the interwar period: strategic imperatives and rationale......Page 30 The defence of Egypt and the onset of the Italo-Abyssinian Emergency......Page 43 Defending Egypt during the Italo-Abyssinian Emergency: first phase, August-December 1935......Page 63 Defending Egypt during the Italo-Abyssinian Emergency: second phase, January-July 1936......Page 84 The making of the 1936 Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of Friendship and Alliance: the military aspects......Page 105 Securing an exposed flank: the defence of Egypt in British diplomacy, June 1936-April 1938......Page 117 'Bloodless War'......Page 131 The approach of war in the Mediterranean......Page 151 Implementing the Treaty of Friendship and Alliance: Anglo-Egyptian relations, 1937-1940......Page 172 The Suez Canal and the defence of the Far East, 1919-1940......Page 199 Conclusion......Page 224 Notes and references......Page 232 Select bibliography......Page 260 Index......Page 287 This book offers a comprehensive and challenging analysis of the British defence of Egypt, primarily against fascist Italy, in the critical lead-up period to the Second World War Steven Morewood. Series Numbering From Publisher's List. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [241]-267) And Index.