The Second World War was one part of Britain's financial exhaustion. The cumulative sequence includes the First World War, the Great Depression, the Second World War, and later policy failures by governments of different political colours. The Suez Crisis and other postwar shocks followed those earlier burdens rather than standing alone. Shortening the Second World War changes one layer of the problem, not every cause of Britain's later weakness.
Notable Point · 44:51-45:24
Britain's financial strain was cumulative
Britain's later weakness accumulated through two world wars, the Depression, and postwar policy rather than beginning with one wartime purchase or crisis.