Cold War: Allies at war - what the public did not see Return to the case study menu
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Comprehension
1a How can you tell from this extract that convoys were regular?
1b According to this extract, what goods were in short supply and what goods were not?
1c Explain the problem with regard to Hurricanes.
1d What were the problems with Churchill tanks?


Analysis and Interpretation
1e Put yourself in the position of the War Cabinet looking at the issue of the tanks. Here is your situation:
Soviet troops are actively fighting German forces in the East while your troops are fighting in North Africa. They need the more powerful tanks, and so do you. What would you have done?
1f The War Cabinet continued sending the less powerful tanks to the USSR, even thought they were not a match for the German tanks. How do you interpret this? Would you say:
  • It shows an early example of Cold War tensions
  • It simply shows that supplies were in short supply all round
  • I want to study the other sources in this Case Study before I answer.


Case Study Question
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The Big Question
Look at your answers to the questions on source 1.
Have they provided you with any evidence or ideas which will help you answer the Big Question in this Gallery?
Have you found any extracts or images which you might use in your storyboard?
Make sure you note down your ideas so you don't forget them.
Source 1Source 2Source 3Source 4

Extracts from a War Cabinet meeting concerning convoys of supplies to the USSR, December 1942

Extracts from a War Cabinet meeting concerning convoys of supplies to the USSR, December 1942