The Second World War
Part II.
It was England's magical luck in 1939 that Churchill's early life
had nurtured in him not only a love and pride in his country and its
political and military history, but also of its language of which he
became, over the years, a master. His wonderful ability with it was
to prove more powerful than all the armaments used in the war. Indeed
even today - over 50 years later - the force and nobility of his
speeches thrills young people who have no experience of those years.
In spite of his fidelity in all things - both private and
political - his career to this point (1939) was assessed by his
contemporaries in Parliament and the Press as a sad failure . . . and
because he had been out of office for so long and made so many
enemies . . .was considered to be finished.
No-one denied that Churchill was intensely patriotic believer in
his country's greatness and its historic role in Europe, the Empire,
and the world, that he was an able historian, a lifelong student of
the art of war and a statesman who always expounded a historic and
global view of politics. But because he was so able he was disliked
mistrusted and excluded. He knew that this role was the common fate
of a country's prophet.
Not offered any political office during his long political exile
which he described as "as his wilderness
years" he earned his living by writing at Chartwell.
It was during this period that his long political and Great War
experiences alerted him to disturbing developments that were taking
place in Germany.
As the years past and his convictions of Germany's intention to
wage war again grew stronger and stronger, he became alarmed by the
apathy in England.
He privately obtained, and correctly interpreted, much secret
information not only from Germany and Russia, but also from the
British Civil Service and Armed Forces. This led him to the
unshakable conviction - especially after the Munich debacle - that
Hitler intended to start the war again.
ADOLF HITLER
The magnanimous Peace Settlement he had fought for (and failed to
win) in the German Peace Treaty after the Great War, had brought
about exactly what he feared at the time it would - great bitterness
in Germany leading to another war.
Vast scorn was poured upon him by his political opponents and the
press when he warned them of what was to happen. It was their scorn
which encouraged Hitler; but Churchill undaunted, continued to speak
and write about these matters and to try and awaken his countrymen to
the danger confronting them. Supported bravely all along by his
beloved, but alarmed and anxious wife Clementine, together they
ignored all the insults, pain and damage to their reputations. All
his efforts, however failed, nor could he awaken the French military
commanders and the politicians to their danger.
An attempt to help the Norwegians (the Narvik and Trondheim
expeditions), was doomed to failure dependent as it was on naval
support in very dangerous seas. A larger force could not be prepared
in time nor could Churchill risk leaving the UK inadequately defended
by the Royal Navy. This failure swiftly brought back memories of the
Dardanelles and Gallipoli, so fateful for Churchill's reputation in
World War I. This time, however, it was Chamberlain who was blamed,
and it was Churchill who endeavoured to defend him.
With inexhaustible energy, and total concentration, he devoted all
his skills and experience on the preparation for the war and the
salvation of Britain and the values he believed it stood for in the
world.
He said of himself, that unknown to him, "his entire life to that point, had been a
preparation for this supreme moment of danger in England's long
history".
Churchill had an iron will, immense energy, and total
concentration. He was also blessed - though 65 years of age - with
robust health.
On May 10th 1940 Germany invaded Holland and Belgium and then
France. It came as a terrible shock to everyone - especially the
French who had believed in their . Churchill was immensely distressed and flew back and forth
to France in what turned out to be vain attempts to help them. To
eveyone's shock and amazement France collapsed and was occupied by
the German Army.
In Parliament he described what was happening in Europe as :"the lights of Europe going out". The world
was alarmed and the British people suddenly realised that Churchill's
assessment of the situation had been right.
Prime Minister Chamberlain resigned and Churchill became the prime
Minister and formed a coalition Government.
Mr Churchill greatly loved King
George VI.
British Prime Ministers
The History of 10 Downing Street
London.
Churchill immediately formed a small war cabinet of only five
ministers.
It included two Labour politicians, Clement Attlee and Arthur
Greenwood. Churchill also held the posts of Leader of the House of
Commons (a key post in which he himself could plan the business
of the House of Commons) and Minister of Defence. In this way war
decisions were swift and the domestic government they controlled
remained representative of the views of all the political parties.
ROYAL AIR FORCE HURRICANES
MR CHURCHILL VISITS THE RAF.
Nothing missed his eagle eye and his fertile imagination was
forever devising ideas for beating the enemy and so bringing the the
war to a swift and victorious end.
Mustang (USAF), Spitfire (RAF) and Kittihawk (USAF).
But it was to take 6 long and very terrible years.
And so at last we come to Churchill's - and England's FINEST
HOUR.
Rather than describe the events of the early days of the Second
World War I think you will understand better if you listen to the
speeches Mr Winston Churchill made in the dark days just before and
during the war.
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN
. . . .
. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this
battle depends the survival of Christian civilisation. Upon it
depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our
institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy
must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to
break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him,
all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward
into broad, sunlit uplands But if we fail, then the whole world,
including the United States, including all that we have known and
cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more
sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted
science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties and so bear
ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a
thousand years, men will say,
This was their Finest Hour'
Listen also to the orchestral piece on your CD . . . the defiant
movement No 17. in THE CHURCHILL MUSIC entitled
The purpose of these pages is to tell the story of
Churchill's life - not to give a detailed account of the wars in
which he was involved, for that is a vast subject.
To obtain an idea of the cause and magnitude of the war, examine the
monthly calendar for each year - they include many photographs.
It is important to remember that heavy censorship of news took
place throughout them, and therefore knowledge of many of these
events was not available until long after they happened - or until
after the wars had ended.
CHURCHILL'S
SPEECHES The Full Texts from 1936 to
1946.
Short biography of President
Roosevelt
Short biography of General Eisenhower
Short biography of President
Truman
Short biography of Hitler
Short biography of Stalin
Short biography of Mussolini
Short biography of The Japanese War
Lords
List of all the Ranks in the British Armed
Forces
British Prime
Ministers
History of No 10
Downing Stree
The purpose of these pages is to tell the story of Churchill's
life - not to give a detailed account of the wars he was involved in,
for that is a vast subject.
To obtain an idea of the cause and magnitude of the war, examine the
monthly calendar for each year - they include many photographs.
It is important to remember that heavy censorship of news took
place throughout them, and therefore knowledge of many of these
events was not available until long after they happened - or until
after the wars had ended.
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1939.
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1940.
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January
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February
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March
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April
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1940.
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May
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June
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July
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August
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1940.
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September
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October
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November
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December
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1941.
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January
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February
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March
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April
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1941.
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May
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1941.
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September
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October
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November
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December
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1942.
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January
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February
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March
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April
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1942.
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May
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June
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July
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August
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1942.
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September
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October
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November
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December
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1943.
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January
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February
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March
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April
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1943.
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May
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June
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July
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August
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1943.
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September
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October
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November
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December
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1944.
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January
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February
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March
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April
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1944.
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May
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June
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July
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August
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1944.
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September
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October
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November
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December
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1945.
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January
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February
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March
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1945,
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May
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June
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July
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August
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