starter activity

Churchill said that the Battle of the Atlantic was ‘the only thing that frightened me.’ What do you think he meant?

Click picture to run film

Why was the battle Why was the battle of the Atlantic so of the Atlantic so

frightening?frightening?What was life like on board What was life like on board

ship?ship?

Your taskYour task

Divide the class into two halves. One Divide the class into two halves. One half should research question a half should research question a below, the other question b. Read below, the other question b. Read pp.176-179 in ‘Peace & War’pp.176-179 in ‘Peace & War’

a. Why were the Germans initially a. Why were the Germans initially successful in winning the battle?successful in winning the battle?

b. Why were the Allies eventually b. Why were the Allies eventually successful in winning the battle?successful in winning the battle?

Why were the German Why were the German initially successful in initially successful in winning the battle?winning the battle?

Capture of naval Capture of naval bases on North Sea bases on North Sea in Denmark, Norway in Denmark, Norway & France& France

German intelligence – German intelligence – deciphered codes deciphered codes used by convoysused by convoys

Tactics used by U-Tactics used by U-boat ‘wolf packs’, e.g. boat ‘wolf packs’, e.g. attacking from attacking from surface to avoid surface to avoid ASDICASDIC

Lack of air coverLack of air coverWhy were U-boat bases on the North Sea and Atlantic coastline?

Why were the allies Why were the allies eventually successful in eventually successful in

winning the battle?winning the battle? Ultra - Allied intelligence Ultra - Allied intelligence

– deciphering German – deciphering German codes with ‘Enigma’codes with ‘Enigma’

Tactics used by Tactics used by convoysconvoys RadarRadar RationingRationing Greater air cover after Greater air cover after

Portuguese allowed Portuguese allowed Allies to use airbases in Allies to use airbases in AzoresAzores

US Liberty ships, US Liberty ships, produced in 6 weeksproduced in 6 weeksAn enigma code-breaker.

What sorts of secret messages do you think it was used for?

Your taskYour task

What does the chart tell us about the battle of the Atlantic? (3 marks)

Your taskYour task

Imagine you are a sailor on a merchant Imagine you are a sailor on a merchant ship travelling between America and ship travelling between America and Britain. Write a letter home describing the Britain. Write a letter home describing the experience of being part of an Atlantic experience of being part of an Atlantic convoy. Try to refer to the following:convoy. Try to refer to the following: Tactics used by German U-boatsTactics used by German U-boats Tactics used by Allies to detect and destroy U-Tactics used by Allies to detect and destroy U-

boatsboats Experiences of fellow sailors who had been Experiences of fellow sailors who had been

attacked by German U-boats attacked by German U-boats

Writing frame