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The military history of the United Kingdom in World War II covers the Second World War against the Axis powers, starting on 3 September 1939 with the declaration of war by the United Kingdom and France, followed by the UK's Dominions, Crown colonies and protectorates on Nazi Germany in response to the invasion of Poland by Germany.
A British development of the Sherman led to the Sherman Firefly, which was the only tank able to defeat German Panther, Tiger I and Tiger II tanks at range, until the Comet tank entered service in late 1944. [77] The British divisional anti-tank weapon was the Ordnance QF 2-pounder, which had three times the range of the German 3.7 cm PaK 36. [78]
Within the British military, armies were commanded by lieutenant-generals. For a variety of reasons, once the appointment was made, commanders could be promoted to a full general. [ 10 ] There were several exceptions to this norm; John Vereker was a full general when he was placed in command of the BEF, [ 11 ] as was Henry Maitland Wilson when ...
The following is a list of British military equipment of World War II which includes artillery, vehicles and vessels. This also would largely apply to Commonwealth of Nations countries in World War II like Australia, India and South Africa as the majority of their equipment would have been British as they were at that time part of the British Empire.
Special Operations Executive (SOE) was a British organisation formed in 1940 to conduct espionage, sabotage and reconnaissance in German-occupied Europe and to aid local resistance movements during World War II.
British infantry on the move, alongside Universal Carriers, 1945. The infantry were the backbone of the British Army, and were intended to be mobile and with sufficient integrated artillery to be able to overcome opposing forces. [112] At the start of the war, the infantry were separated into two classes: infantry divisions and motor divisions ...
A British soldier on a beach in Southern England, 7 October 1940. Detail from a pillbox embrasure.. British anti-invasion preparations of the Second World War entailed a large-scale division of military and civilian mobilisation in response to the threat of invasion (Operation Sea Lion) by German armed forces in 1940 and 1941.
XIII Corps was formed in 1941, and was the first British corps to be formed outside the UK. [b] Within the British military, corps were commanded by lieutenant-generals. [3] The size and composition of a corps could vary depending on the mission assigned to it, as well as the tactical and strategic situation.