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{{Mediawiki__NOTOC__[[File:kindleoasis}}Sir_Winston_S_Churchill.jpg|thumbnail|left|170px|Winston Churchill - 1940]] Winston Churchill led a remarkable an extraordinary life, but perhaps the most remarkable element in his life was how he became prime minister in 1940. Just a few years earlier he was widely seen as politically isolated and was widely ridiculed for his views. Yet in 1940, he was appointed his nation’s Prime Minister at its darkest hours and became the leader of the fight against Nazi Germany. <ref> Hastings, Max. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0007263678/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0007263678&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=c5315e5d93a61b09289d8c7fda91f3e3 Finest Years: Churchill as Warlord, 1940–45]''. (London: Harper Press, 2009), p. 112.</ref> The reasons for this remarkable, astounding change of political fortune, was because of due to Churchill’s unstinting opposition to Nazi Germany and the realization by Parliament that his abilities as a war leader, ultimately allowed him to become Prime Minister of the United Kingdomleadership was what Britain needed in its most desperate hour.

====Background==[[File: Wc0107-04780r.jpg|thumbnail|200px|Winston Churchill- 1940]]==Winston Churchill was born into one of Britain’s leading political and aristocratic families. His father Randolph Churchill was one of the leading political figures of his time. <ref>Hastings, p. 13</ref> Churchill, from his youth, was a charismatic figure. He earned fame while still in his twenties, as a war journalist and for his exploits during the Boer War. Churchill joined the Conservative Party and eventually elected an M.P. During the First World War, he served as First Lord of the Admiralty (1911-15), in effect, he was in command of the British navy. Churchill was later forced to resign after the failure of the Gallipoli landings, in 1915. Churchill later served as an officer in the British army on the western front. After the war, he joined the British Liberal Party and was to serve as the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he was widely seen as making critical mistakes, that led to an economic downturn in Britain.<ref> Charmley, John (1993). ''Churchill, The End of Glory: A Political Biography''. London: Hodder & Stoughton p. 117 </ref> By the 1930’s he was in the political wilderness. However, he was a well-known figure in Britain and was genuinely popular. Churchill became famous for his journalism and his historical works. In 1935, he re-joined the ConservativeS, and sat as an M.P. in the House of Commons. <ref>Charmley, p. 117</ref> His fame rested on his magnificent use of the spoken and the written language.

==Appeasement==[[File: Sir_Winston_S_Churchill.jpg|thumbnail|Winston Churchill- 1940]]Europe in the1930's, saw After the rise of dictators in Europewar, as democracies collapsed, in he joined the aftermath of the Great Depression. Hitler seized power in Germany British Liberal Party and he immediately began was to establish a dictatorship in Germany. He dismantled serve as the provisions Chancellor of the Versailles Treaty and contrary to its termsExchequer, when he expanded the army and rapidly began was widely seen as making critical mistakes, that led to rebuilt the Germany arms industriesan economic downturn in Britain.<ref> JamesCharmley, Robert RhodesJohn (1993). ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/015117881X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=015117881X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=6bd136abde721a9dde6ae144ac1ce3dc Churchill, The End of Glory: ''A Study in Failure, 1900–1939Political Biography]''(Harper Press, . London, 1970), : Hodder & Stoughton p. 134 117 </ref> Soon the German’s were acting in an aggressive manner, for example, they re-occupied By the Rhineland. Churchill warned against this and 1930’s he stated in fiery speeches that Hitler was a danger to peace in Europethe political wilderness. However, he was widely dismissed at this time. <ref> James, p. 211</ref> The political elite a well-known figure in Britain at this time favoured a policy of appeasement, many believed that Germany had been too harshly treated under the Treaty of Versailles. The British governments of Baldwin and later Chamberlin, favoured, with the French the policy of appeasement. That was to allow German to reassert itself on the continent and to pursue its own interestsgenuinely popular. This policy of appeasement would mean that the Germans would not go to war. By the mid-1930s, Nazi Germany, Churchill became famous for his journalism and Fascist Italy were becoming increasingly belligerenthis historical works. The Italians invaded Ethiopia and the Nazis occupied Austria.<ref> Hastings, p. 117 </ref> Still the British and French governments did nothing. Churchill condemned the aggression of Italy and Germany and he deploredIn 1935, what he saw as the weakness and cowardice of re-joined the British and French governmentsConservativeS, in many speeches in the House of Commons and in newspaper articles.<ref>''The Times of London'', 13 June 1936</ref> He argued that their policy of appeasement was wrong and would only lead to a war and he called on them to stand up to Hitler before it was too latesat as an M.In 1938, Germany demanded the return of the Sudetenland, a German-speaking area in Czechoslovakia to GermanyP. This almost led to a war. However, the British Prime Minister allowed the Germans to occupy the Sudetenland in exchange for German reassurances that they would seek no more territory in Europe, in the so-called Munich Agreement House of 1938Commons. <ref>HastingsCharmley, p. 134117</ref> Within months, Hitler had broken the agreement and by 1939, it was widely expected that Europe would once again be plunged into war. Churchill, had predicted much His fame rested on his magnificent use of this and the British public recognized that their government’s had been wrong. <ref> Hastings, p. 119</ref> If Churchill had been heeded, then Hitler may have been stopped. Churchill was by now the most popular politician in Britain spoken and many began to call for him to lead the country and many who had once derided him and his ideas now saw him a brilliant politicianwritten language.

==Outbreak of War==Appeasement====In September 1939[[File:Winston_Churchill_1874_-_1965_ZZZ5426F_(1).jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|Winston Churchill in military uniform in 1895]]Europe in the 1930's, saw the German war machine invaded Poland and rise of dictators in Europe was once more at war, as democracies collapsed, in the aftermath of the Great Depression. The British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlin declared war on Nazi Germany. The British adopted a cautious policy. The send the British Expeditionary Force to France and they and 's democratic government's power eroded during the French adopted a defensive posture depression and waited for a German attackeventually collapsed. This was Germany began to dismantle the period provisions of the Phoney War, where Versailles Treaty and rapidly expand its army. The government invested heavily into the allies waited for Hitler’s next movecountry's arms industry and it was rapidly rebuilt.<ref> HastingsJames, pRobert Rhodes. ''[https://www.amazon. 117 <com/gp/product/B000BO1KMC/ref> Chamberlin knew that =as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000BO1KMC&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=220db8c453a51701fea9c803c9dfef97 Churchill: A Study in Failure, was wildly popular1900–1939]''(Harper Press, London, and he invited him to join the war cabinet and the First Lord of the Admiralty1970), on the day that Britain declared war on Germanyp. Churchill began to prepare the British navy for war against 134 </ref> Germany. Many believed that Chamberlin invited Churchill to join the war cabinet to ensure that he did not cause problems for the government in the House of Commons. It proved to be a popular move 's actions became increasing aggressive and the public welcomed Churchill’s return to the cabinet, they saw him a leader, someone who could beat the Germans. Poland was defeated within weeks by Germany and after the Molotovre-Rippentrop pact, Hitler could turn his attention to occupied the western alliesRhineland. Churchill wanted to adopt an aggressive approach and wanted the British and French to attack Germany warned against German aggression and he proposed stated in several fiery speeches that the Allies occupy NorwayGermany posed an existential threat to peace in Europe. However, to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Germanshe was widely dismissed at this time.<ref> HastingsJames, p. 211</ref> In Still many in the Spring of 1940, the German navy and army attacked Norway, even though it was a neutral nation. The country was of great strategic importance and it was political elite in Britain at this time favoured appeassing Germany because they believed that Germany had been too harshly treated under the main source Treaty of Germany's iron oreVersailles. <ref>Hastings, p. 117 </ref>

=Battle The British governments of Baldwin and later Chamberlin and the French favoured the policy of Norway= The Allies dispatched forces appeasement. They were willing to Norway allow Germany to help reassert itself on the Norwegian army continent and to beat back the German invaders, but it pursue its own interests. This policy of appeasement was too lateintended to prevent Germany from goingto war. The Germans had landed paratroopers in By the country mid-1930s, Germany and rapidly reinforced these forces with several divisions of German infantry and they had easily defeated the Norwegian armyFascist Italy were becoming increasingly belligerent. The French Italians invaded Ethiopia and the British arrived too late and in too few numbersGernmany occupied Austria.<ref> Hastings, p.The Norwegian army regrouped in 117 </ref> Still the north of the country, here they were joined by British and French forcesgovernments did nothing. There were several fierce battles and Churchill condemned the Allies out up a fierce resistance. The Allies and the Norwegian were forced to evacuate their units from the Norwegian port of Narvik, taking with them the king aggression of Norway Italy and his government. The ‘loss’ of Norway caused consternation in Britain Germany and many feared that it could be used he deplored what he saw as a base to attack the British mainland. Once again Churchill had been proven right weakness and if he had been heeded cowardice of the allies could have held Norway. The public outcry over Norway meant that people had lost faith in the Conservative government British and resulted in calls for the resignation of Neville ChamberlinFrench governments.<ref> Hastings''The Times of London'', 21313 June 1936</ref> Many Conservatives believed He argued that their policy of appeasement was wrong and would only lead to a war. He called on them to stand up to Germany before it was time for a change, for the good of the countrytoo late.

==Churchill’s appointment as In 1938, Germany demanded the return of the Sudetenland, a German-speaking area in Czechoslovakia to Germany. This almost led to a war. However, Chamberlin, the current British Prime Minister May 1940==On May 10th, allowed the Germans invaded western to occupy the Sudetenland in exchange for German reassurances that they would seek no more territory in Europein the so-called Munich Agreement of 1938.<ref> ''The Times of London''Hastings, 11 May 1940 p. 134</ref> They launched coordinated attacks on Within months, Hitler had broken the Netherlandsagreement and by 1939, Belgium, and France. London it was in a panic and many believed widely expected that a German victory was inevitableEurope would once again be plunged into war. The Churchill had predicted this and the British people demanded public recognized that a National Government, be put in place, comprising the Conservative, Labour and the Liberal Partytheir government’s policies had been ill advised. It was believed that such were the dangers that only a National Government<ref>Hastings, as in World War I could save the countryp. It was widely 119</ref> Many believed that Lord Halifax would become prime ministerif Churchill had been heeded, but he was unwillingGermany may have been stopped. He had been too much associated with Churchill became the appeasement policy of Europe and he had been even rumored most popular politician in Britain. Many began to call for him to have favored seeking peace with lead the Germanscountry. The public was overwhelmingly in favor Churchill, they saw These people even included those who had previously derided him as someone who could lead their country to victory, however, many of the political elite believed that Churchill was too much of a maverick and was unpredictablecrank. Perhaps crucially, in the appointment of Churchill was the reaction of the British armed forces. He was genuinely popular with the rank and file and the officers viewed as remarkably prescient and was widely seen as someone who would fight the Germanspotentially understood Germany's ultimate goals better than anyone else in Parliament.

====Outbreak of War====[[File: Wc0107-04780r.jpg|thumbnail|300px|left|Winston Churchill- 1940]]In September 1939, the German war machine invaded Poland. Then Prime Minister Neville Chamberlin declared war on Germany. The British adopted a cautious policy. The sent the British Expeditionary Force to France. Both the Allied British and French adopted a defensive posture and waited for a German attack. This was called the Phoney War because were the allies were waiting for Germany’s next move.<ref>Hastings, p. 117 </ref> Chamberlin knew that Churchill, was wildly popular, and he invited him to join the war cabinet as the First Lord of the Admiralty, on the day that Britain declared war on Germany. Churchill began to prepare the British navy for war against Germany.  Many believed that Chamberlin invited Churchill to join the war cabinet to ensure that he did not cause problems for the government in the House of Commons. It proved to be a popular move and the public welcomed Churchill’s return to the cabinet. Poland was defeated within weeks by Germany and after the Molotov-Rippentrop pact, Hitler turned his attention west towards France. Churchill argued strongly in favor of an aggressive strategy. He wanted the British and French to attack Germany and he proposed that the Allies occupy Norway, to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Germans.<ref>Hastings, 211</ref> In the Spring of 1940, the German navy and army attacked Norway, even though it was a neutral nation. Like Churchill, Germany realized that Norway had great strategic importance. When Germany invaded Norway, it was the main source of their iron ore and they need to keep Norway's iron ore flowing to Germany. <ref>Hastings, p. 117 </ref> ====Battle of Norway==== The Allies dispatched forces to Norway to help the Norwegian army to beat back the German invaders, but it was too late. The Germans landed paratroopers in the country and rapidly reinforced these forces with several divisions of German infantry. Germany quickly and easily defeated the Norwegian army. The French and the British arrived too late and in too few numbers.The Norwegian army regrouped in the north of the country, here they were joined by British and French forces. There were several fierce battles and the Allies out up a fierce resistance. The Allies and the Norwegian were forced to evacuate their units from the Norwegian port of Narvik, taking with them the king of Norway and his government. The ‘loss’ of Norway caused consternation in Britain and many feared that it could be used as a base to attack the British mainland. Once again Churchill had been proven right and if he had been heeded the allies could have held Norway. The public outcry over Norway meant that people had lost faith in the Conservative government and resulted in calls for the resignation of Neville Chamberlin.<ref> Hastings, 213</ref> Many Conservatives believed that it was time for a change, for the good of the country. ====Churchill’s appointment as Prime Minister May 1940====On May 10th, the Germans invaded western Europe.<ref>''The Times of London'', 11 May 1940 </ref> They launched coordinated attacks on the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. London was in a panic and many believed that a German victory was inevitable. The British people demanded that a National Government, be put in place, comprising the Conservative, Labour and the Liberal Party. It was believed that such were the dangers that only a National Government, as in World War I could save the country. It was widely believed that Lord Halifax would become prime minister, but he was unwilling. He had been too much associated with the appeasement policy of Europe. It was rumored that Halifax had been to seeking peace with Germany. The public was overwhelmingly favored Churchill and they saw him as someone who could lead their country to victory. However, many of the British political elite believed that Churchill was a maverick and too unpredictable. Perhaps crucially, Churchill was favored by the British armed forces. He was genuinely popular with the rank and file. Additionally, British officers and saw Churchill as someone who could successfully fight Germany. ====National Hero====The Conservative government, under popular pressure, asked the other parties to form a National Government. However, when the Labour Party and Liberal Party voted to join the National Government, they stated that the preferred Churchill as leader.<ref>''The Times of London'', 12 May 1940</ref> This was mainly based on his long-term opposition to the NazisGermany. Churchill, because of his many years warning about the Nazisdangers fascism, was the only senior political figure with the moral authority and popularity to lead the nation. After allUltimately, the parties agreed to for form a National Government, the King then called for Churchill and ‘invited’ him to become Prime Minister. It was a popular choice in the country, the public wanted a war leader someone who would unite and inspire the country to victory. Churchill was to prove to be the leader that Britain and the free world needed. He knew that Britain prevented Europe and much of the world succumbing to Nazi Germany.

"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."<ref> Winston Churchill. ''Historic Speeches'', June 18, 1940.</ref> He promised the British victory and he would prove true to his promise. Immediately, he He faced various crises as numerous within weeks of his appointment, . France and much of Western Europe was conquered by Germany. Churchill was to ignore ignored all pleas to enter into peace negotiations with the Germans, believing Germany. He believed that one could not it would be impossible to reach an agreement with the Germans who were Germany because the government was bent on world domination. He was proved to prove be a brilliant war-leader and he inspired helped led his country to victory in the Battle of Britain, that saved . The Battle of Britain from permanently stalled a Nazi German invasion and occupation. The appointment of Winston Churchill in May 1940 probably saved Britain and ultimately laid the foundation for the Allied victory over the Nazis.

====Conclusion====The appointment of Winston Churchill, as Prime Minister was a remarkable turn of events. He had long been in the political wildernessfor some time. However, his tireless opposition to the appeasement of Hitler and , his great oratory skills, and writingsensured that he remained a political force during this time. Eventually, made him hugely popular his firmly held beliefs and courage increased his popularity in Britain, despite, and even overcame the British Establishment distrusting 's distrust of him. Ultimately, it This led his country to call on him at its darkest hour. <div class="portal" style="width:85%;"> ====Related DailyHistory.org Articles====*[[What were the goals of the Axis powers and the Soviet Union during World War Two?]]*[[How Did the German Military Develop Blitzkrieg?]]*[[What was his history the impact of long-term opposition to the Nazis Irish Famine on Ireland and his never-say-die attitude that led to him becoming the leader world?]]*[[How did Mussolini become Prime Minister of Italy?]]*[[How did Adolf Hitler become the Fuhrer of Britain, Germany?]]*[[Why was France defeated in its life-or-death struggle with Hitler.1940?]]</div>{{mediawiki:WWII}}