End of an Empire: Britain vs The United States

Between 1945 and 1956, the British and American Empire's competed for dominance in the Middle East. Yet ironically, the US had recently begun a policy of trying to prop up British rule in strategic areas such as this.
This video charts how the British Empire collapsed in the Middle East, and Washington moved into the gap.
Oil Barrel image from Amiralis, licensed under: creativecommons.org/licenses/...
#britishempire, #usa, #history

[@OldBritannia]

I hope you all enjoy the final part in this series on the Anglo-American competition. Apologies for the delay in getting this up, the Cold War is not naturally my area of expertise, and the further we get from the 19th century the less I know as a starting point in my research. Thank you for watching, and to patrons for reviewing it initially.

[@talbro5419]

Doing great. Great work.

[@explodingwolfgaming8024]

Thank you!!!!

[@luisfilipe2023]

Yeah that shows but this video is still great I hope you return with more

[@chbober]

rest in peace the other great game

[@jackbharucha1475]

Great series.

[@rondoggish]

38:08 "We must play Greeks to the Romans." Symbolizing The Brits transfer of world domination to the US. Crazy quote for the time.

[@geordiejones5618]

Rome may have conquered Greece with hard power but the Greeks conquered the Romans with soft power.

[@dropandy1453]

@@geordiejones5618 maybe for a brief time, but Christianity totally overtook Greek cultural influence in Rome by late Antiquity.

[@goodpol5022]

@@dropandy1453Most of those Christian influences came directly from Greeks

[@dropandy1453]

@@goodpol5022 uh, no? there’s a reason the roman catholic and orthodox churches are separate.

[@goodpol5022]

@@dropandy1453 bait, used to be believable

[@sliftylovesyou]

It would be interesting to see an analysis of how France was able to more or less resist American demands and retain sovereignty and power in Africa.

[@christianbroadbent7489]

By putting national pride over the economy and international standing. Prolly cos they were conquered easily during ww2 they had something to prove by acting tough.

[@kingkiron2934]

France had a tighter grip on it's African colonies. Britain relied heavily on local elites to rule whereas the French more directly administrated and governed their colonies from the top down.

[@tylerclayton6081]

That didn’t really work out in the long run. France is getting kicked out of their former colonies like Niger. American troops are still in Niger and continuing to work with the Niger military. Only French troops were forced out

[@elemperadordemexico]

Major cope angloid ​@@christianbroadbent7489

[@truthseeker327]

They could not hold India after the Indian nationalists declared full independence. The survival of he empire largely rested on the manpower of the Indian Army. Once they mutinied in 1946 it was clear the British could not hold on to their dominions. As a result they yielded to the American demands.

[@-AirKat-]

“The Americans managed to find another Roosevelt from their apparently endless supply” lol

[@gumdeo]

The USA has no aristocracy but they do have leading families...

[@dee7665]

​@gumdeo there is a central power in America no family runs America

[@MrStalkerhunter]

Roman Empire became a church, British Empire became a bank -Jimmy Carr(Comedian)

[@akhripasta2670]

*British Empire made its colonies bankrupt Edit mentioned below are almost all British side accounts after erasing the natives

[@JoeeyTheeKangaroo]

​@@akhripasta2670Is Canada, New Zealand, Australia, America & Hong Kong bankrupt?

[@Fakeslimshady]

@@JoeeyTheeKangaroo Lol his entire world is India

[@alexblue6991]

England has a migrant prime minister who the people never voted for Scotland has a migrant first minster who the people never voted for Scotland first minster gave a racist hate speech against the white population of Scotland after he was made first minster of Scotland

[@Pmooli]

@@akhripasta2670 Africa made Britain broke. The infrastructure and wars cost the empire all the money they made in India and China. Colonialization of Africa increased the population and economic wellbeing of Africans. Very different outcome from the Americas and Australia.

[@alfredoperozo5789]

I love the humour on this channel - the funny quips from statesmen, the jabs at Eden's hysteria, the appearance of Kermit the Frog, and the part about Britain being a sovereign nation

[@bruitbane2781]

My history teacher described the Cold War as beginning as a three-power world that, with time, shifted to a two-power world. Events such as these gives a good insight into the new world order with America becoming the definitive Western power.

[@tylerclayton6081]

Makes sense. The US economy and population is way larger than Britains

[@AW-zk5qb]

eh by 1945, the US represented 50% of the world's economy and for a time was also the only nation with nukes. Britain was the #3 power in the world, but was not close to the same level as the US

[@geordiejones5618]

​@@secretname4190France and Britain still maintained their prewar stature until the embarrassment of the Suez Crisis that they manufactured. When they publically backed down to US pressure, that was possibly the most peaceful hegemonic crowning in world history. Napoleon himself couldn't have changed a thing.

[@argosime]

I've always viewed this take as some sort of British cope. By 1945 the USSR and USA were far and away the future superpowers. Britain's still large empire was a mirage - much of it was already in the beginning stages of being jettisoned, and what wasn't was unaffordable and many knew this.

[@argosime]

Or, they backed down because the hegemonic crown had ALREADY passed to the US and USSR. @@geordiejones5618

[@EduardQualls]

An important point is that *"The Marshall Plan" was, in fact, "The Truman Plan."* The point-man and the name were changed simply because Truman believed that the post-war Congress would never pass something that large with his name on it. It was Truman's idea, spearheaded to completion by George Marshall.

[@EVILJOHNSAVAGE]

Nonsense. Britain has always been in control of everything. You need to research the Cecil Rhoades Round Tables, Chatham House and the British American Pilgrim's Society. You won't get ANY Truth out of the Establishment Narrative, and the British Elite are the Biggest Liars in the Entire World. The Lies that come out of Oxford and Cambridge are far bigger than even the Tavistock Institute of Global Propaganda

[@darthparallax5207]

"But if I'm the one to do it, they'll run their quill pens through it! I'm obnoxious and disliked, did you know that? But I say you should write it, Marshall! Yes, you!"

[@BaronEvola123]

As if Truman had a plan. The man was a puppet. A habadasher by trade and completely under control of the banks. Roosevelt as well. Post WW2 Europe was all about who got to lend money to whom.

[@staffsgt.sullivan3833]

Churchill’s aims in WWII were to: 1. Ensure the survival of a powerful British Empire 2. (Stated goal) protect Polish Independence 3. Stop a totalitarian state from dominating the European continent and relegating Britain to a second rate power These all ended in complete failure

[@dasaavawarsuploads1143]

And now British are minority in London. I hate Churchill.

[@Kruppt808]

Well said 👏

[@RMProjects785]

Yeah WWII was a bit of a phyrric victory for the UK, same as WWI

[@kingkiron2934]

The Suez Crisis really exemplifies how after World War 2 European colonialism declined and was no longer possible, at least not on such a large scale or continental landmasses. New expansion and conquests definitely stopped. Suez Crisis marked the end of era, A post European era 1500-1956 and the new American era. However I should note that after the Suez Crisis many Arabs and other nations saw Soviet and American rivalry for global domination as either the final chapter of European imperialism or the successors of it.

[@basedangloinstitute]

This is untrue, although not European, China is using the same methods now to take ports and tactical positions in foreign lands.

[@khorps4756]

'European era' is kind of misleading. History has always had a procession of various empires that dominated at different times. Spain and Portugal dominated the world in the 16th and 17th century when England was a minor power. The 19th and early 20th centuries was one of British and French dominance. America is just the latest to assume leadership on the global stage.

[@tylerclayton6081]

The Arabs are imperialists themselves. Just because their conquests happened earlier doesn’t make them any less imperialistic. North Africa, the Levant and most of the Middle East used to belong to the Roman Empire and the Sassanid empire. All those people living there were christians and zoroastrians who were forcefully converted and permanently colonized

[@tylerclayton6081]

@@khorps4756 The Big difference is that America is not a traditional empire so it’s not likely to collapse or decline significantly in power, wealth or influence. The US economy still makes up 25.3% of the total global economy and it’s hovered around that 25% mark since the early 1900’s. And unlike most developed countries such as the UK, Germany or Japan, the US economy is still growing very well instead of becoming stagnant or slowing in growth. And instead of overseas colonies, the US has military bases and mutual defense treaties with about half the countries in the world. Not even the British Empire ever got close to having such a global presence with their military. There are dozens if not hundreds of American military bases on every continent

[@EndOfSmallSanctuary97]

@@tylerclayton6081 Exactly. With time, people tend to overlook/tacitly accept when colonialism has been so thoroughly successful, such as, to use some big examples, the Anglo colonialism across North America, the Han colonialism across China and East Asia, and the Slavic colonialism across Siberia. The US, China and Russia are just as big colonialists as the old European powers - arguably far more so, and far more successful, since their colonialism expansion and conquests succeeded and endured to such an extent that it's viewed as completely normal and how things always have been and will be. Not coincidentally, these examples all occured with lands that were contiguous with the colonial powers, so it appears more "natural" than the obviously unnatural expansion of old powers like Britain, France, Spain and Portugal overseas.

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

Such a fantastic job with this series! Thank you! As an American, I say the British and French made a huge and arrogant mistake not attempting to inform the USA of their plans in Egypt before hand. However, as much as I debate with myself the pros and cons of reluctantly or covertly supporting them after the fact, the real geopolitical strategic disaster was not supporting Britain building alliances and possible new political entities in the Middle East before that point. Utterly disastrous shortsightedness empowered negative factions and gave the Soviets multiple destructive openings.

[@thepedrothethethe6151]

Would that have stoped the tide of arab nationalists?

[@JPA65]

@@thepedrothethethe6151Not completely but the British had their fingers in the pulse of the Arab world far more than the Americans

[@thedewberry_6399]

A brilliantly put together series, I thoroughly enjoyed watching all of it, thank you!

[@Caroleonus]

I’ve loved this series so much, as a lover of history and student of international relations it’s been fascinating to see it presented like this and learn things along the way. Especially how the historical analysis has translated so well to modern politics. I was wondering where you’d leave this series off (and see you’ve decided to do so here) but I could see this quite easily going through in similar style towards Vietnam (and British non-support after Suez) thru the Falklands and right up to Afghanistan and Iraq. Well done for having such a clear and well crafted style.

[@derrickstorm6976]

This whole episode sounds like the Churchill quote, "The Americans will always do the right thing, after they've tried everything else"

[@TheIceman567]

Then should have told the USA of your plans

[@Apollo890]

​@@TheIceman567 You didn't tell us when you high tailed it out of Afghanistan

[@TheIceman567]

@@Apollo890 actually we did why you high tailed it out too.

[@Apollo890]

@@TheIceman567 No you didn't you announced you were going on the day you started to evacate. So we were in quite a difficult situation for a number of days. British troops had to conduct rescue missions into Kabul to save people who could not get out. And an American general told them to stop. As for why we left: it was your campaign we were only there to support you.

[@TheIceman567]

@@Apollo890 Wrong, the USA has a treaty in place which the UK agreed to for the withdraw from Afghanistan. Yeah you had combat mission there for you left as well under NATO.

[@TheBaleadaMan]

The quality of this series over the months has skyrocketed and the gags and jokes has also greatly improved. I hope this channel only grows further because you deserve it!

[@ClarityA1]

Just a fantastic series, very well researched and very well animated. Your content as a whole is great and I hope you continue to see growth going forward!

[@Eshanas]

That Kermit scared me in my sickly and disconcerted state. Good job as always! This whole era is of interest

[@josww2]

Excellent, as always! I always look forward to your videos!

[@Kruppt808]

The end of Britain was WW1 followed by WW2. They tried to keep their role as a world power after ww2, but the Usa and Soviets taught them they weren't in the game anymore.

[@philbrooks5979]

Engaging in endless conflicts through dubious commitments was their undoing.

[@Kruppt808]

@@philbrooks5979 Endless Conflict during the 1600-1900's worked just fine. It was when Europe collectively destroyed generations of its people(Blood and Treasure) for very very little "gain" 1914-1918 and then again in 1939-1945. They exhausted themselves so much trying to beat each other up they ended up being permanently passed by USA and lesser so by the Soviets, by Japan briefly and now by China. It was those 2 destructive wars more than any other reason, Some have called it Multiple Civilizations Suicide. They have never and will never recover from those events. Even Germany which was close to being a world power is now just a regional power.

[@vector246]

@@Kruppt808 we shot ourselves in the foot then rolled over to american power, the exeception to this was france and the pourtuguise, but the we not powerful enough on their own, britain could have maintained some colonies, but america said otherwise

[@PakBallandSami]

“A dull, decent people, cherishing and fortifying their dullness behind a quarter of a million bayonets.” ― George Orwell,

[@davylongshanks525]

Yet another top notch, excellent account - really well written and presented 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@danever159]

ey more of this series! didnt expect it.

[@clauvex7829]

YES! I've been waiting for this moment!

[@matejurkovic7967]

Great video. Keep 'em coming.

[@tonysoprano..-]

When you opened with a quote from The Habsburg Monarchy I couldn't believe it, I'm reading it right now and saw that only a few days ago! Thanks for all the work you do!

[@andrewblair370]

absolutely fantastic series! can’t wait to see what you put out next.

[@sebastienhardinger4149]

Awesome video and awesome series, learned a ton

[@micahistory]

Very depressing video but really well made. I have never seen anyone go into this much detail on the topic before. Thanks a lot for your work!

[@pretzelstick320]

As an American it’s not that depressing

[@micahistory]

obviously lol@@pretzelstick320

[@stavroshadjiyiannis6283]

There was no way Britain could maintain her empire, power and influence after WW2. She simply did not have the resources or size to rival the US or the USSR.

[@avus-kw2f213]

Britain could’ve had a informal empire like the American 1

[@Etaoinshrdlu69]

They should have formed the EU earlier.

[@Rain-Man]

Awesome work man!

[@unusualhistorian1336]

Great video, keep it up!

[@josephgrip]

This series is awesome, great job

[@anthonyruby2668]

In the original OO7 novels, the BEST stories weren't James Bond spying on Soviet Russia. It was when Bond was spying on the U.S.!

[@gumdeo]

The real enemy.

[@TheRealTurkFebruary]

@@gumdeolol We’ve been cleaning up your messes for over 100 years. Stop fucking up the world, you wankers!

[@randomperson6988]

So sad to see this series over. I hope you branch out in to more cold war geopolitics in the future!

[@theduckcompany]

17:28 the location of the national Roosevelt mines are one of the most closely guarded secrets the US has.

[@ConnorDKimball]

I’m American and don’t know what this is. What do I Google to learn more?

[@i_know_youre_right_but]

@@ConnorDKimballstart by googling ‘sarcasm’

[@AldiEnthusiast]

Incredibly informative video Old Britannia ❤

[@Seltxah]

Love your videos! I'm american, I never saw things from Britain's perspective. Keep up the good work! ❤

[@Notto-tn9dy]

You spoil us, good friend!

[@thepotatoe332]

It is really interesting hearing a more british perspective of this history, I was in the UK last summer visiting a bunch of museums including Belfast, Duxford, and IWM london, and what struck me on belfast and in Britain in general is how familiar and yet different it was at the same time. Keep up the good work.

[@paranoidandroid7718]

Great video, well presented, and the map was simple, clear and concise. (But Gibraltar isn't in red). Thanks.

[@ayonio5723]

Great series!

[@WhydoIsuddenlyhaveahandle]

Yay!! New video!! Your stuff rocks

[@MrLee-gj2jz]

An amazing series!! thank you for the meticulous compilation. This should open up the eyes (and brains) of some folks who keep talking up Western Civilization as some sort of monolith. This was truly the actual Great Game.

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

I am at the position that American Civilization means not merely a new society, but a truly knew civilization. One that hasn’t recognized itself for what it is yet, and therefore held back.

[@MrLee-gj2jz]

@@robertortiz-wilson1588 Yes, I agree. Arnold Toynbee listed 23 civilizations in his 12 volume work, of which only 4 remain (Western, Islamic, Hindu, and Far East). More granularly, as per Toynbee, the Minoan Civilization bifurcated into Hellenic and Syriac. Hellenic trifurcated into Western, Russian Orthodox, and Byzantine Orthodox. Syriac bifurcated into Iranian and Arabic, which later re-unified as Islamic. In the East, Chinese and Japanese-Korean civilizations bifurcated out of the older Shang, and the Hindu civilisation remains unbifurcated from the Indus. It is safe to say that since 1945, Western civilization has also split across the Atlantic. That split was set in motion by the events between 1776-83. The West-Atlantic Western (American) civilization has its own interests divergent from the East Atlantic Western (European) civilization.

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

@MrLee-gj2jz Sounds like an interesting read, thank you for that! Not merely manifesting different interests, but continuing developments of different high moral values and ways of viewing reality.

[@fantasyfleet]

Bed time watching for me today, can’t wait

[@dindu551]

Brilliant presentation

[@jakerupp3840]

Finally, a really long old Britannia video❤

[@magnus75damkier]

Make an episode on Rhodesia! Love your work.

[@enzoizzo1679]

I love the little jokes thrown in - great job -A Patron

[@richardince2129]

You produce amazing documentaries

[@PhillyPhanVinny]

Very good series!

[@alansmithee8831]

As always, very interesting an insightful. I loved the reference to AJP Taylor, remembering how he did videos "How Wars Begin" and this was how an empire ended. A work colleague I sat next to for years said he was bullied into a game of chess by AJP, whilst waiting on a visit to university. This video made clear that the commercial interest of the US is the basis of any future "special relationship". It was also evident that post WW2 the British ideas of empire were based on keeping their own economy going, not on being a world power, since they had recognised the cost was too high, but they concentrated on maintaining an interest for financial reasons. It also showed the UK response to the US reaction to Suez was driven by financial pessimism. Little wonder the next "Imperial" conflict saw the Argentinian regime assume the same outcome. By that time you could suggest Britain had reassessed its role and had to show it still had some teeth, despite no longer enjoying pack leader status. Perhaps that should be the next chapter, since many of those British islands referred to are still there? I remember seeing the US having to reassess what it wanted the relationship to be at that time, as there were certainly mixed messages, depending which US politician was commenting.

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

Good comment.

[@rat_king-]

Love the end, of the series.. Its fitting regarding, as it truely is the moment that truely marked the end of Imperial ages.

[@YiannissB.]

-"If i stand really still, no one will notice me" The Island of Crete

[@ciaranReal]

I noticed that while watching aswell 😂

[@thattimestampguy]

0:59 July 1947 1:30 August 20th, 1947 2:05 The Pitiful Fragility of The British Economy 2:36 Roosevelt-Stalin Collaboration fell out and became The Cold War 3:21 Europe was in ruins after WWII 3:38 Iron Curtain, Soviet Hostility. 4:10 British Friendship is Necessary! For American Defense 🛡️🇬🇧 ❤️🇺🇸🛡️ 5:27 Ernest Bevin, overseer of the formation of NATO 🇬🇧 🤓 7:02 The British Empire survived the loss of India! 💎🇮🇳 8:03 Anthony Eden 🇬🇧 8:52 The Middle East 🇬🇧 10:07 UN Security Council Report 🇺🇳 📃 10:42 Palestine 🇵🇸 11:12 The Zionist Movement 1947 🇮🇱 12:00 Harry S. Truman 🇺🇸 13:00 Terrorist Attacks 13:55 Palestine became more uncontrollable. 14:06 King David’s Hotel Bombing 💣 October 22nd, 1946 16:11 Abdullah, King of Jordan 🇯🇴 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

[@carnetplank6259]

You cant skip that kermit roosevelt joke 😂

[@WhyGodby]

​@@carnetplank625919:45 😂

[@ryannathaniel9296]

​@@carnetplank625917:30 😂

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

Well done!

[@viperzcorp]

Interesting video. Nice. 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@bcvetkov8534]

Fantastic video as always. Congratulations on finishing the series. A couple of suggestions for future videos. I would've loved to see what happened to Britain's Pacific possessions like HK and Malaya but alas I'm sure you're sick of talking about this topic after all this time. (please also do a partition of India video.)

[@sahhaf1234]

Excellently told... I think the core idea is this: after india is gone, uk planned to use the oil of the middle east as a means to balance its trade deficit (@9:50)... Hence, in a sense, they planned for the replacement of india by the middle east.

[@nocookies2014]

An incredibly fascinating series, I was wondering if in some sense the Prussian/German and Austrian relationship could be described in a similar manner - two culturally very close nations where one slowly overtakes the other and the former hegemon ultimately settles to play second fiddle in the alliance

[@jayasuryangoral-maanyan3901]

Would it be possible to get a video that goes in-depth on the british, french, soviet, and US involvement in the 1948 israel-arab war? edit: and the suez crisis in relation to the previous conflict?

[@alanschwartz7073]

Thank for not switching from content to a camera desk selfie then back and forth, back and forth like most chanels which distracts from watching content

[@warmasterhorus]

I've put the odd critical comment under your videos but this is a high quality channel and I'm always pleased to see a new video come up. Bravo.

[@OldBritannia]

Haha, my videos are naturally laden with my own interpretations, so it would frankly be absurd if you weren’t critical of my views at times. Thank you for the kind words.

[@kalixkatt]

My favorite history series on youtube is now complete!

[@WaitForItGaming]

Your videos are great, what software do you use to make your maps?

[@Progamermove_2003]

Britain, in it's heydays, allowed foreign (mostly European and American) products to come to Britain in the name of free market while systematically weakening Indian manufacturers in the name of protecting and advancing imperial interests. An empire that places foreigners over their own subjects (and that too on a relatively superficial basis of skin colour) is bound to collapse.

[@robertcottam8824]

There is much in what you say, unfortunately. My grandfather was an ardent imperialist who - to the bafflement of his colleagues - proposed that the capital of The Empire/Commonwealth should be shifted to Delhi. If that had been done in the mid-30s, then the world may have been spared from Pax Americana which seems to me to have not been all that effective. Best wishes

[@Progamermove_2003]

@@robertcottam8824 The fact that this idea sound baffling *before* any kind of strategic considerations are even taken into account makes it clear why the British Empire was doomed to collapse. They failed to create a true sense of united identity among their various subjects. I will certainly like to hear the rationale of your grandfather behind this idea though. Best wishes from India.

[@robertcottam8824]

@@Progamermove_2003 Thank you for your courteous response. My grandfather had served in India and his brother was in the Indian Army (Lahore Division) that fought for a time - extraordinary bravely - on the western front. I must further digress here for the sake of tribute. Great-uncle M and his men were gassed - many died horribly - but they didn’t run. M didn’t have that option because his leg was blown off 🤣. But his men did have a choice but they didn’t leave him behind. M never forgot that and neither did my grandad on his brother’s behalf. They both took the trouble to learn Hindi and so were more ‘in touch’ with their comrades and the customs of (northern) India and what is now Pakistan. I think they both formed the impression that one day, if the Empire endured, then the dominant economic power within it MUST be India. Therefore it made sense for the seat of political power to move there. Plus, being one day militarily stronger (if not at already at the time), it made sense to have one’s capital city further from quarrelsome Europeans… Most importantly though, was their utter ‘colour-blindness’ which was quite remarkable for old men in their late sixties, in sixties Britain. They’d got to ‘know India’ - to a small extent at least, when they were young - and liked what they knew. They’ve both been dead for close on fifty years now and I was only an impressionable child when I was privileged to know them. But I’d be CERTAIN that the pair of ‘em, if offered the choice between living in London and living in Delhi* would have chosen the latter. Grandfather, in particular, was always loud in his praise for all things appertaining to India and Pakistan. Incidentally, the volume of grandad’s comments were understandable: He had lost most of his hearing, due to shell-concussion in WW1. He had the tendency to assume that everyone else was deaf too! 😩 M was a bit quieter because the gassing at Loos had left him a bit short of lung power and very wheezy. He was a superb violinist and preferred to communicate that way. Sitting close to him and listening closely to what he had to say was always a joy, despite the long pauses. Wow. This is a long comment so I’d better pause for breath. I have the tendency to trumpet about those two wonderful men because I’m proud to be related to them. They were ‘imperialists’ to the core but of the nicest variety, I think. Best wishes. *or Lahore, Calcutta, ‘Pindi indeed anywhere on the Trunk Road…

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

@@robertcottam8824 thank you for sharing!

[@Progamermove_2003]

@@robertcottam8824 What a great story. If I ever ended up as a writer, I would certainly like to meet you and other descendants of such persons and might write an account about them. Was your grandfather also in the army, or did he served in some other role in India? Do you know what was the exact rationale behind his idea of turning Delhi into the capital of the British Empire/Commonwealth (other than his emotional attachment to India). *Why* they thought that India would eventually become the most important part of the Empire militarily/economically? What do you exactly meant by 'color blindedness'? Did they literally had a medical problem or were you trying to indicate something else?

[@Pindrop22]

That was excellent!

[@generalvikus2138]

When did Roosevelt say that Britain was a greater threat to America than the USSR, who quoted him, and what exactly did he say? Was this in one of the previous videos?

[@generalvikus2138]

And when did Admiral Burke offer to or suggest attacking the British fleet? It sounds like a joke.

[@ciaranReal]

1930s. Search up the red war if you don't belive me

[@louisarildkarv2787]

what a masterpiece

[@marskalkblixten]

"Clearly a boob guy" man im dead 💀

[@ilFrancotti]

Thank you so much! Learning about this crucial moment of British history, the post-war decline at the hands of the US is what shaped the world we live in today.. even more than the struggle with the Soviet Union (as this mostly affected Asia and Eastern Europe, the so called "Pivotal Area"). This global "competition" could have been labelled as a "Parallel Cold War", given the traumatic effects of its outcome on the country in question. Comparable only to those of the USSR's disintegration or those of the Spanish-American war back in 1898. However, I disagree with the shared opinion of British policy makers that the Middle East was or could have been the "Lynch pin" of a third British Empire. That, if they had remained a part of it long enough, would have been the 13 Colonies.. They alone would have been able to sustain the expenditure of a worldwide British fleet to keep the necessary oceanic routes between the various colonies scattered across the globe guarded and, of course, in British hands in the long run. As those went away, the clock started ticking for London (eventually other European Powers would have been able catch up with the level of industrialization pioneered by Great Britain). Alas, very brave to mention and talk about the Irgun terrorist group. Israeli channels tend to ban or censor any mention of it.

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

I strongly disagree with one part of the characterization. The Soviet and Americans fought on nearly every corner of the globe. That includes Central Europe, Africa, the Americas, under the oceans, and by various covert actions and operations everywhere else in-between.

[@ilFrancotti]

@@robertortiz-wilson1588 Thank you for your opinion. However I have to stand by my words. Their confrontation indeed extended to almost every continent (with the exclusion of Oceania) and even to earth's satellite, the moon.. but in the end I am of the opinion that the locations where it produced significant geopolitical shifts were only around the area known as "Pivotal". These locations were the only ones which were affected in a way that, without their personal interventions, history would have hardly gone in that direction. If you believe otherwise though, please mention me one such case, outside those areas, and I will gladly examine it.

[@freshnewcungadero]

This video, (and frankly recent US - UK relations overall) is incredibly depressing, but nevertheless quite truthful.

[@AW-zk5qb]

why?

[@alanhutchins5916]

US say ‘we have your backs..’ but no Suez advised the world where US loyalties lie ..

[@TheIceman567]

@@alanhutchins5916because it could have lead to nuclear war

[@Joho6459]

Does anyone know the source for the Frank wisner quote mentioned in this video ? ( 4:46 )

[@bulletflight]

Playing Greeks to the Romans is a pretty pithy statement, and one I like, although not being too accurate.

[@wiseandstrong3386]

No it is quite accurate as a comparison depending how you look at it.

[@rodmaknouni]

Great video but regarding the Abadan Crisis. Mossadegh's nationalization was not solely out of principal but because Britain was not meeting even the unfavorable terms Iran agreed upon in 1933. Along with attempts to hide evidence of the true extent of profits (this was mentioned in the video), many legally binding assurances such as increased pay for workers made by Britain were not realized. Haj Ali Razmara only began to negotiate due to most Iranians not wanting their nation to be plundered, he was an absolute tool that only cared for his own power and wealth. Sadly, after the Western-backed coup, Razmara-like statesmen such as Fazlollah Zahedi would return and corruption would reign again...with the revolution not changing a thing.

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

You would have to explain the other policies and circumstances of Haj Ali Razmara before I view him as “corrupt” as the demagogic Mossadegh.

[@rodmaknouni]

@@robertortiz-wilson1588 You’re right that Mossadegh became authoritatian, givin the state of the nation during the 3 years, I doubt that he believed he had any other choice…not to alleviate fault. As for Razmara, he was a military officer who effectively was a Shahist yes-man. He helped to uphold the corrupt status quo. Mossadegh attempted to reform the nation, the government, and alter Iran’s relations with the world for the betterment of the Iranian people. The aforementioned Zahedi, who would be the CIA/MI6’s puppet to lead the coup, would thusly be appointed prime minister by the Shah. Zahedi, like Razmara, personally benefited from upholding the corrupt status quo which is exactly why the Shah supported both. They were both military men, some of the greatest beneficiaries of the Shah’s corruption were the high-ranking individuals in his army.

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

@@rodmaknouni thank you, very much appreciated. I understand the criticisms of the Prime Minister were coupled with feelings of long overdue resentments, the Shah’s father had been seen as not only corrupt but a political sellout, etc. That said, Ali Razmara seemed to rise to the occasion and things would’ve been satisfactorily improved, only for figures like Mossadegh to come along and make demands that were in reality outrageous but which were effective in terms of riling people up even more and gaining electoral support. Such a political environment leading to an assassination, etc. In terms of the last Shaw, despite his periodic authoritarianism and cronyism using the military and others to keep his position, and arguably the country stable during that stretch of The Cold War, he did not sell out the country economically and politically in my view. He arguably led it to true independence, and with allies, not what gets claimed after the fact. I would contrast this with Mossadegh who was increasingly attempting to go around the parliament and the constitution and doing so, becoming more anti-democratic in his own right, while reaching out to the communists who had connections and support with the Soviet Union when his popularity with the Clerics and other voting blocks began to turn against him. He knew Iran didn’t have the trained knowledge, expertise, and trading connections to run the oil industry they did not build, but was openly okay with bankrupting the country and turning to the communists if it just resulted in sticking it to the British. I still agree with your criticisms though.

[@mdinos]

Never seen such detail over the British exit from Palestine before! Incredibly interesting.

[@djackmanson]

There's a British TV series called "End of Empire" here on YT which has a whole episode devoted to the British exit from Palestine. Well worth looking up, and the whole series has some surprisingly frank admissions from the last wave of imperialists

[@MiguelPerez-zx2wg]

This is just like how Pompey the Great ended the once great Seleucid Empire, which was in a deep decline after the battle of Battle of Magnesia

[@RiccardoCamozzi]

I'm not even British, and this video hurt me 😣

[@dunamoose3446]

Same, and I'm an American

[@jacobjgleggy1854]

I am from Australia and have British Irish background and this video hurts me bad

[@TheRealTurkFebruary]

Oh, grow up.

[@RiccardoCamozzi]

​@@TheRealTurkFebruarygeez, good thing you are never passionate about anything

[@Dog_Bro27]

As an Indian I wasn’t able to feel anything but smugness

[@LatinHeat6191]

This was absolutely amazing! Thank you so much for telling the story of my nation, the US, and its relationship with the British. In modern day America we get taught how we were once super anti- British and then like magic we are brothers that have never left each others side. Thank you for telling story and looking forward to your next series. Much love from your cousins across the pond. 😄

[@jakepowers4028]

Why do so many historical quotes go so hard?

[@gg-ps1vz]

they had such a way with words

[@thomas6617]

Because only the good quotes get retold

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

@@thomas6617”CornPop was a bad dude”

[@deesus1085]

So basically, the british wanted to use the usa to hold on to their empire, but then were emotional at the thought of the uk actually doing the usa’s bidding at their expense. Then the persians wanted all the oil and infrastructure after the uk invested and developed it, while threatening if it collapsed the communists would swoop in so they’d better also help them maintain it. 😂

[@Gamenetreviews]

Do a history of the Peerage and House of Lords.

[@BDFaran]

Can you please add your references and a reading list?

[@zachh.9855]

Great video, fyi Crete is missing from your map. 😅

[@thejustifier5566]

The last vestiges of British empire was culture. Britain just as many or even more rock and roll bands than the US in the mid 20th century. The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and more.

[@thes6550]

Also to be noted the continued use of English as a lingua franca within many nations today and styles of government that resemble Britain's.

[@JPA65]

Common law, Magna Carta, sciences, medicine, sports…. Literally the modern world and the basis for most of the worldwide democracies including the US

[@pincermovement72]

The recurring theme throughout this story is one of America using every means possible to weaken Britain and Britain doing everything possible to appease America. Before and since this began Britain has been like a poodle , following Americas lead at our expense and reputation. Only once in this entire time did we work in our own interests and say no . This was when we refused to fight in Vietnam, I wished we had acted like the French throughout.

[@ibobeko4309]

And after the Brexit, UK lost more soft power, when there were in the EU they could influence the EU but even the tiny bit of power they had, they lost.

[@TheIceman567]

You didn’t fight in Vietnam because you were fighting in Aden.

[@duo7809]

Undermining the British position in the Middle East was one of the worst geopolitical decisions made by the United States, and an entirely cynical one at that.

[@clawcross]

Very stupid

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

I agree.

[@AmirSatt]

meh, Britain would have still lost everywhere, either in a fight as France or in a more... English way (lol)

[@duo7809]

@@AmirSatt Of course Britain couldn't keep control forever, my point is that the United States undermined British control in the Middle East without providing a viable alternative.

[@AmirSatt]

it couldn't have been otherwise@@duo7809

[@TheUniversalNetworks]

I put off watching this video because of the misery of the subject. Nevertheless an excellent video as always.

[@willbentley8856]

Same, it's so depressing. Just constant mistakes.

[@christopherhartkemeier2743]

Didn't know Kermit was an intelligence officer.

[@KarlRove-vk7gg]

What a perfect historical comparison my good sir.

[@neoimperia6024]

Babe wake up, OldBritannia uploaded another video.

[@lunathedungeonmaster4720]

17:30 hahahahahahahaha I saw that Anyway, great video!

[@Ganglo-Saxon]

Love your video's from Ireland 🇮🇪 👏

[@JM-cg2mj]

Hats off to! But what’s next ? Don’t leave us in suspense!!

[@CoachIreland]

A friend of mine in Wales🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 actually said it best that, in regards to military might and overall mentality, it could be said that the U.S.🇺🇸 is the son closest to the father🇬🇧. Canada🇨🇦 is the well-behaved first born but Uncle Sam is the rebellious son more like the father in his prime (which the father hates to admit😂).

[@Redpilled_Retribution]

You should really look into the cold war and modern day financial system Britain managed to create centered around offshore tax havens and the city of London

[@AFGuidesHD]

Anglo historians when Chamberlain, under advice from military advisers and the French government, seeks to prevent a possible war from breaking out at an unfavourable moment: APPEASEMENT. Anglo historians when Eden retreats from Egypt after America directly threatens war:

[@tot0m]

The French government was a puppet of Britain in 1938. Britain (and the United States) supported Germany against France and Belgium after World War I, so France had no more choice in 1938 to follow Britain and keep the peace, or to bleed like hell to satisfy some British and American capitalists. But after all, in history France fighted many time for strangers interests.

[@derrickstorm6976]

Appeasement was actually a plan to buy time for Britain and France to up-arm themselves, not to prevent a war. So your little meme is wholly wrong

[@AFGuidesHD]

@@derrickstorm6976 My dude. How is preventing war from breaking out at an unfavourable moment not the same thing as buying time? That's literally what I indirectly refer to.

[@Tom_Cruise_Missile]

Anti-Americans when americans exist and do something

[@weeewoooooooo]

​@AFGuidesHD this is hardly accurate. The idea for war only sprang from mussolinis demands and America ditched its responsibility to its wilsonian project first which spooked the French causing Stalin to assure his Slavic influence. There wasn't a moment until France declined direct action over Czechslovakia that a European war was contemplated by the British government. The idea of appeasement is totally with hindsight of German plans, Britain didn't have any obligations to eastern Europe and so any idea of diplomatic or specifically military adjustment hast to be made in concert with France and its obligations. In short a European War was never on the table for the British government until the fruition of the pact of steel. Any basis of the British government negotiating with Germany for time only occurred until after Hitler had achieved his superiority over french arms at which point war was already the aim of the British government and no securities were exchanged and any accord was ignored by both sides.

[@wyuenho]

In a year where we were not blessed with a new Philomena Cunk special, I’m content with this male version of a Cunk bringing us some subtle dig at American hubris in a 40min video

[@imperskiikulak446]

That's the whole point of the policy of the United States and Britain, "We need to leave overseas territories for Britain in order to be able to destabilize the situation in a particular region," and some still rub about some kind of democracy.

[@alejandrobustos693]

I belive the emergence of the American Empire wasn't that bad for it's new subjects (Europe minus Warsaw pact).Today this countries are allowed certain independence of action and economic development (unless it affects American business) while at the same time relieved the economic and social burden of keeping colonies abroad.

[@michaelthayer5351]

Perhaps the only way the British Empire could have endured is if Salisbury, Adelaide, and Cape Town among others had seats in the British Parliament. Akin to what was suggested in America's Olive Branch Petition at the outset of the American Revolution. That the Settler Colonies and areas of heavy British Settlement have equal representation in Imperial matters would have given Britain the manpower and resources to continue to stand as a sovereign power instead of being reduced to a Third-Rate near Vassal of the United States.

[@AustinSauce3]

They’re still top 5 most powerful counties right now

[@michaelthayer5351]

@@AustinSauce3 Really? The US, Russia, and China are obviously the top 3. Japan, India and France are in the rung below them. Japan has a larger navy, industry and population than the UK by far and India is almost certainly more powerful than Britain now, though cannot match the big three or even Japan in power projection. France possesses a better land army, as has always been the case, and increasingly France's Navy and Air Force are looking to be more capable as decades of inept UK governments have hollowed out British defenses and capabilities. Is Britain in the top 10 most powerful nations? Definitely, but it is also quickly diminishing itself to the point "Airstrip One" would be too great a compliment.

[@AustinSauce3]

@@michaelthayer5351 nah your discounting the common wealth, and also the British navy is still second best in the world.

[@michaelthayer5351]

@@AustinSauce3 Oh forgive me for disregarding the ceremonial trappings of independent nations with their own interests. Second Best? By what Rationale? So the Royal Navy is still better than the PLA Navy that worries even American planners and the Japanese JMSDF that has 36 destroyers to Britain's six? Not to mention the French fleet that boasts nearly 100 modern vessels to Britain's 70. Please explain to me how The Royal Navy is still second Best when there are Navies that have a quantitative advantage while either being comparable or greater qualitatively.

[@Princeofbelka]

@@michaelthayer5351 missile technology, Radar, Fleet air arm and the QE class make it more capable than France and LMAO India. Japan lacks a real carrier and the chinese are about 40 years behind in Radar/missile tech.

[@demonke7829]

As an Irish person it horrifies me how The Yankees betrayed European Missions of Civlisation and stable and Humane withdrawal in favour of rushed greedy method of betrayel that many I Washington sadly favoured

[@starventure]

"The Yankees", owed Europe nothing. Europe dragged the USA into two world wars and caused untold harm, so no, Europe has zero right to complain.

[@thepedrothethethe6151]

Aren't you irish?

[@gorgilovesbasketball8251]

Crazy for an Irish person to say this because one of the key things holding back Americans from supporting Britain in the early 20th century was the fact Ireland wasn’t given independence