Liveblogging World War II: September 4, 1940
The British Chiefs of Staff:
The severe effects of another winter of blockade on the internal economy and morale of Germany and her conquered territories, the cumulative effect of [our] air attacks, and possibly disastrous failure of attacks on this country, may take a heavy toll of the German will to continue the struggle. Nevertheless, we cannot rely on an internal breakdown from these causes in 1941, though we should do all we can to hasten it by intensifying such offensive and harassing action as can be taken with the forces at our disposal.
We cannot count on Germany's precarious oil position doing more than seriously restricting her strategical flexibility by the end of 1941. This would not prevent Germany from maintaining her greatly superior numerical strength in land and sea forces and, although we may hope to bring about the defeat of Italy if circumstances are favourable to us, we see no prospect of undertaking land opertions on a major scale against the German army next year...
