Victory at a cost
After six years of grim fighting and countless fatalities, the Battle of the Atlantic, as well as the entire war, ended. The success of this war depended mostly on this specific battle, and losing it would have had horrible repercussions. The outcome of the World War ll was dependent on the protection of ships and the success of Atlantic merchant ships reaching Britain. If German U-boats were successful in cutting off Britain from its resource supplies in North America, the country would’ve easily succumb to Hitler’s regime.
During 1941, advantage in the battle shifted towards the British. But, in 1942, the Germans dominated the sea. Then, in 1943, advantage fell to the Allies once again. The U boats had become unsustainable, and the Allies were taking control. This was a vital turning point. From here on, the German U-boats were more defensive than offensive. Although the Battle of the Atlantic continued until the end of the war and there remained attacks during 1944 and 1945, the Allies held the advantage from 1943.
A significant event from this battle was the 1941 destruction of a German U-boat and the capture of the German Navy’s Enigma coding machine. The Allies were now able to decipher German war messages in order to re-route the British convoys to safety, playing a huge part in the success of the Allies.
When the battle was finished, more than 25,000 merchant ship voyages successfully arrived at British ports, which delivered close to 165 million tonnes of vital equipment to Britain. Along with assisting in the liberation of Europe, warships and aircraft were crucial in the destruction of German U-boats. At the end of the battle, Canada ended up with the third largest navy in the world.
Roughly 2,000 members of the RCN were killed in the Battle of the Atlantic. Around 100 convoy battles were estimated to have taken place during the Battle of the Atlantic, costing the Merchant Navy more than 30,000 men, and around 3,000 ships. Civilian Seamen and passengers made up the majority of the Allied deaths. The Germans lost 783 U-boats, and 28,000 sailors.
"Battle of the Atlantic." HISTORY. N.p., 01 Apr. 2014. Web. 9 Jan. 2015. <http://www.history.co.uk/study-topics/history-of-ww2/battle-of-the-atlantic>.
"The Battle of the Atlantic." N.p., 25 May 2009. Web. 8 Jan. 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.canadaatwar.ca%2Fcontent-54%2Fworld-war-ii%2Fthe-battle-of-the-atlantic%2F>.
"Education." The Royal Canadian Navy and the Battle of the Atlantic, 1939-1945. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Jan. 2015. <http://www.warmuseum.ca/education/online-educational-resources/dispatches/the-royal-canadian-navy-and-the-battle-of-the-atlantic-1939-1945/>.
"Publication." Veterans Affairs Canada. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Jan. 2015. <http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/battle-atlantic/publication>.
During 1941, advantage in the battle shifted towards the British. But, in 1942, the Germans dominated the sea. Then, in 1943, advantage fell to the Allies once again. The U boats had become unsustainable, and the Allies were taking control. This was a vital turning point. From here on, the German U-boats were more defensive than offensive. Although the Battle of the Atlantic continued until the end of the war and there remained attacks during 1944 and 1945, the Allies held the advantage from 1943.
A significant event from this battle was the 1941 destruction of a German U-boat and the capture of the German Navy’s Enigma coding machine. The Allies were now able to decipher German war messages in order to re-route the British convoys to safety, playing a huge part in the success of the Allies.
When the battle was finished, more than 25,000 merchant ship voyages successfully arrived at British ports, which delivered close to 165 million tonnes of vital equipment to Britain. Along with assisting in the liberation of Europe, warships and aircraft were crucial in the destruction of German U-boats. At the end of the battle, Canada ended up with the third largest navy in the world.
Roughly 2,000 members of the RCN were killed in the Battle of the Atlantic. Around 100 convoy battles were estimated to have taken place during the Battle of the Atlantic, costing the Merchant Navy more than 30,000 men, and around 3,000 ships. Civilian Seamen and passengers made up the majority of the Allied deaths. The Germans lost 783 U-boats, and 28,000 sailors.
"Battle of the Atlantic." HISTORY. N.p., 01 Apr. 2014. Web. 9 Jan. 2015. <http://www.history.co.uk/study-topics/history-of-ww2/battle-of-the-atlantic>.
"The Battle of the Atlantic." N.p., 25 May 2009. Web. 8 Jan. 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.canadaatwar.ca%2Fcontent-54%2Fworld-war-ii%2Fthe-battle-of-the-atlantic%2F>.
"Education." The Royal Canadian Navy and the Battle of the Atlantic, 1939-1945. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Jan. 2015. <http://www.warmuseum.ca/education/online-educational-resources/dispatches/the-royal-canadian-navy-and-the-battle-of-the-atlantic-1939-1945/>.
"Publication." Veterans Affairs Canada. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Jan. 2015. <http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/battle-atlantic/publication>.