Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 5:04:41-5:05:14

Britain's investment in wartime special operations

Political sponsorship and a long habit of irregular warfare helped Britain treat special operations as an instrument worth funding during the Second World War.

British MilitaryIrregular WarfareSpecial OperationsWorld War II
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Question

Why was Britain so effective at special operations in the Second World War?

Short answer

Churchill's funding and a longer tradition of irregular warfare supported the wartime acceptance of unconventional methods.

Notes

Churchill's willingness to fund unconventional methods gave British special operations important political backing. Britain could draw on a longer tradition of irregular warfare and a willingness in wartime to depart from conventional expectations of gentlemanly conduct when that seemed necessary to defeat the enemy.