A leading Second World War historian has delivered his verdict on what the West must do next in its struggle with Putin and Russian aggression.
It comes as Europe finds itself in a perilous position after the willingness for the US to continue supporting Ukraine in their war with Russia was seriously damaged by a public spat between Trump and Zelensky.
The US leader accused Zelensky of ‘gambling with World War Three’ and told the embattled Ukrainian to ‘cut a deal or we’re out’.
European leaders, who worry Putin will set his sights on their eastern borders next, are rallying around Ukraine with the UK and France championing a ‘coalition of the willing’, ie a multinational peacekeeping force similar to a ‘European defence force’.
Prime Minister Starmer has already announced a defence spending increase funded by a cut to foreign aid, but there is intense pressure to go even further.
Historian James Holland, who has written and broadcasted extensively on World War Two and its origins, backs the coalition but also stresses the need for a huge shift in Britain’s mindset to contain Russian aggression.
The award-winning historian said: “It’s very good news that here in the UK the government appears to have woken up to the urgency and also that a ‘Coalition of the Willing’ is rapidly evolving.
“Certainly, the situation is currently extremely serious. The global order has shifted; Ukraine is imperilled and so too is Europe.
“It could not be more important that Europe creates a viable conventional deterrent in extremely quick order.
“This is how Ukraine avoids being overrun, and how Moldova and Lithuania and the Baltic States ensure they don’t follow suit with all the terrible consequences that would ensure.”
Holland then went into specifics drawing on his expert Secomd World War knowledge, outlining how money is all well and good, but it is soldiers and war material that deters aggression, not wealth.
“But the money - and more is needed - is not going to turn matters around unless it is accompanied by the kind of urgent can-do attitude displayed during the Second World War,” argued Holland.
“The Ministry of Defence here in the UK, for example, needs to pivot in an entirely different direction.
“Red tape needs to be cut, laborious procurement processes need cancelling, and they need to abandon the peacetime mentality of buying highest spec designed to last a generation.
“Hi spec counts for considerably less when weapons are being destroyed in days or weeks on the modern battlefield or are so high-end there cannot possibly be enough of them to make anything more than a small tactical difference.”
Holland highlighted the recent case of Britain’s Army Air Corps trying to buy 25 new helicopters.
British based firm Leonardo could have completed the order in under three years, but the MoD ruled that competition was needed, inviting Airbus and Northrop Grumman into the process.
After contracted negotiations, both pulled out, but Leonardo’s bid had already been scuppered, leaving the Army Air Corps without helicopters.
As well as not buying the highest spec equipment, Holland called for procurement to be greatly streamlined, arguing ‘numbers count’.
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One of the takeaways of the Ukraine conflict has been that despite drones and modern warfare technology, elements of Europe’s two world wars persist, namely the need for a large number of boots on the ground manning the front line, much of which is trenches in Ukraine.
“In other words, the increase in defence budget is the start. Now give the companies the direction and tools to do the job of urgent and rapid rearmament,” finished Holland.
Another point Holland raised was the fact that defence spending can lead to serious economic benefits and should not be treated as purely a drain on the Treasury.
He gave the example of the UK government buying £25million worth of helicopters built in Britain, to which other countries would likely also place orders for.
“What began as an order for 25, soon becomes an order for 150. That’s worth £1.5 billion. The government takes 25% corporation tax, which means taking £375 million is £125 million above its original investment,” said Holland.
He highlighted the fact the Treasury would also collect Employers’ National Insurance Contributions on the workers employed by the contract and that the jobs would likely be focused in former industrial areas where deprivation is rife like South Wales, Teeside and the Clyde.
“By creating a sense of urgency, of focus, and of worth, Britain’s unemployed and out of employment could get back on their feet again. A highly realistic consequence is that Britain grows economically and becomes safer with the chance of World War 3 receding as a result.”
It comes after many sections of the media likened Trump to British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain who cut a deal with Adolf Hitler after he’d invaded the Czech Republic in 1938.
In the deal, Chamberlain allowed Hitler to keep the land he had annexed in return for a guarantee he would not make any more land grabs, something the British PM famously described as ‘peace for our time’.
But within a year Germany had invaded Poland and World War Two began in earnest, cementing the failure of appeasement and Chamberlain’s enduring legacy of failure.
Find Out More...
It comes as Europe finds itself in a perilous position after the willingness for the US to continue supporting Ukraine in their war with Russia was seriously damaged by a public spat between Trump and Zelensky.
The US leader accused Zelensky of ‘gambling with World War Three’ and told the embattled Ukrainian to ‘cut a deal or we’re out’.
European leaders, who worry Putin will set his sights on their eastern borders next, are rallying around Ukraine with the UK and France championing a ‘coalition of the willing’, ie a multinational peacekeeping force similar to a ‘European defence force’.
Prime Minister Starmer has already announced a defence spending increase funded by a cut to foreign aid, but there is intense pressure to go even further.
Historian James Holland, who has written and broadcasted extensively on World War Two and its origins, backs the coalition but also stresses the need for a huge shift in Britain’s mindset to contain Russian aggression.
The award-winning historian said: “It’s very good news that here in the UK the government appears to have woken up to the urgency and also that a ‘Coalition of the Willing’ is rapidly evolving.
“Certainly, the situation is currently extremely serious. The global order has shifted; Ukraine is imperilled and so too is Europe.
“It could not be more important that Europe creates a viable conventional deterrent in extremely quick order.
“This is how Ukraine avoids being overrun, and how Moldova and Lithuania and the Baltic States ensure they don’t follow suit with all the terrible consequences that would ensure.”
Holland then went into specifics drawing on his expert Secomd World War knowledge, outlining how money is all well and good, but it is soldiers and war material that deters aggression, not wealth.
“But the money - and more is needed - is not going to turn matters around unless it is accompanied by the kind of urgent can-do attitude displayed during the Second World War,” argued Holland.
“The Ministry of Defence here in the UK, for example, needs to pivot in an entirely different direction.
“Red tape needs to be cut, laborious procurement processes need cancelling, and they need to abandon the peacetime mentality of buying highest spec designed to last a generation.
“Hi spec counts for considerably less when weapons are being destroyed in days or weeks on the modern battlefield or are so high-end there cannot possibly be enough of them to make anything more than a small tactical difference.”
Holland highlighted the recent case of Britain’s Army Air Corps trying to buy 25 new helicopters.
British based firm Leonardo could have completed the order in under three years, but the MoD ruled that competition was needed, inviting Airbus and Northrop Grumman into the process.
After contracted negotiations, both pulled out, but Leonardo’s bid had already been scuppered, leaving the Army Air Corps without helicopters.
As well as not buying the highest spec equipment, Holland called for procurement to be greatly streamlined, arguing ‘numbers count’.
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One of the takeaways of the Ukraine conflict has been that despite drones and modern warfare technology, elements of Europe’s two world wars persist, namely the need for a large number of boots on the ground manning the front line, much of which is trenches in Ukraine.
“In other words, the increase in defence budget is the start. Now give the companies the direction and tools to do the job of urgent and rapid rearmament,” finished Holland.
Another point Holland raised was the fact that defence spending can lead to serious economic benefits and should not be treated as purely a drain on the Treasury.
He gave the example of the UK government buying £25million worth of helicopters built in Britain, to which other countries would likely also place orders for.
“What began as an order for 25, soon becomes an order for 150. That’s worth £1.5 billion. The government takes 25% corporation tax, which means taking £375 million is £125 million above its original investment,” said Holland.
He highlighted the fact the Treasury would also collect Employers’ National Insurance Contributions on the workers employed by the contract and that the jobs would likely be focused in former industrial areas where deprivation is rife like South Wales, Teeside and the Clyde.
“By creating a sense of urgency, of focus, and of worth, Britain’s unemployed and out of employment could get back on their feet again. A highly realistic consequence is that Britain grows economically and becomes safer with the chance of World War 3 receding as a result.”
It comes after many sections of the media likened Trump to British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain who cut a deal with Adolf Hitler after he’d invaded the Czech Republic in 1938.
In the deal, Chamberlain allowed Hitler to keep the land he had annexed in return for a guarantee he would not make any more land grabs, something the British PM famously described as ‘peace for our time’.
But within a year Germany had invaded Poland and World War Two began in earnest, cementing the failure of appeasement and Chamberlain’s enduring legacy of failure.
Find Out More...