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av patrik blom » 30 december 2014, 17:10
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Liverpool’s role in the Second World War (1939-1945) was even more crucial. Her importance as a convoy was second to none in that she maintained a lifeline, with the USA and Canada in particular, which was vital to Britain’s survival, and eventual victory. Much of the ‘Battle of the Atlantic’ against the U-boats was indeed, fought and won from Liverpool. From 1941 the headquarters of Britain’s Western Approaches Command was established in the fortified basement of Derby House, Exchange Flags, Liverpool. From there the anti-submarine war was planned. Pivotal to the campaign against the U-boats was the work of the Special Support Groups, composed of escort vessels such as corvettes, frigates and destroyers. One of the most famous and successful of these groups was that based in Liverpool’s Gladstone Dock (where a plaque still hangs in its honour) and commanded by the legendary Captain ‘Johnny’ Walker.
Liverpool’s importance to the allied war effort was clear to Hitler, who ordered his Luftwaffe to ‘destroy’ the port. During the war, Liverpool was subjected to more bombing raids (68) than any British city outside London, the worst being the terrible 8-night ‘May Blitz’ of 1941. Between 1940 and 1942, nearly 4,000 Merseysiders were killed and 4,000 seriously injured in these raids, which did immense damage to the port and city. But despite this devastation, the work of the port continued. As well as food and war supplies, from 1942 thousands of American and Canadian troops were transported to Britain via Liverpool in readiness for the Allied landings in Normandy, which led to the German defeat in Western Europe.