Analyze why North Africa was a key location for the British to defend. (1 point)
• The Allies wanted to protect the cotton production in North Africa.
• The Allies needed to maintain shipping lanes through Egypt.
• The Axis powers wanted to gain control of oil fields in Iraq
• The Allies needed to protect the Cape of Good Hope from invasion.
The Allies needed to maintain shipping lanes through Egypt.
This is the most significant reason why North Africa was a key location for the British to defend. The Suez Canal, which passes through Egypt, was a vital shipping route for the Allies. It allowed them to transport troops, equipment, and supplies between Europe and their colonies in Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific. Controlling the Suez Canal was crucial for the British to maintain their global military and economic dominance. If the Axis powers had gained control of the canal, it would have severely hampered the Allies' ability to resupply and reinforce their forces in other theaters of war.
The Allies wanted to protect the cotton production in North Africa.
While cotton was an important commodity during World War II, it was not necessarily a key reason for the British to defend North Africa. The majority of global cotton production at the time was coming from the United States, not North Africa. Therefore, protecting North Africa's cotton production was not a major strategic priority for the British.
The Axis powers wanted to gain control of oil fields in Iraq.
While the Axis powers did have ambitions to gain control of oil fields in the Middle East, this was not a primary reason for the British to defend North Africa. The main focus of the British was to protect the Suez Canal and maintain shipping lanes, rather than prevent the Axis from acquiring additional oil resources.
The Allies needed to protect the Cape of Good Hope from invasion.
Protecting the Cape of Good Hope, located at the southern tip of Africa, was not a key reason for the British to defend North Africa. The Cape of Good Hope was more relevant to the British as a naval base and route to the Indian Ocean. It primarily served as a stopover point for ships traveling between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. While protecting the Cape of Good Hope was important, it was not directly linked to defending North Africa.