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====Background====[[File:Winston_Churchill_1874_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-_1965_ZZZ5426F_(115), in effect, he was in command of the British navy.jpg|thumbnail|200px|Winston Churchill was later forced to resign after the failure of the Gallipoli landings, in military uniform 1915. Churchill later served as an officer in 1895]]the British army on the western front.
====Appeasement====[[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 rise of dictators in Europe, as democracies collapsed, in the aftermath of the Great Depression. Germany's democratic government's power eroded during the depression and eventually collapsed. Germany began to dismantle the provisions of the Versailles Treaty and rapidly expand its army. The government invested heavily into the country's arms industry and it was rapidly rebuilt.<ref> James, Robert Rhodes. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BO1KMC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000BO1KMC&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=220db8c453a51701fea9c803c9dfef97 Churchill: A Study in Failure, 1900–1939]''(Harper Press, London, 1970), p. 134 </ref> Germany's actions became increasing aggressive and they re-occupied the Rhineland. Churchill warned against German aggression and he stated in several fiery speeches that Germany posed an existential threat to peace in Europe. However, he was widely dismissed at this time.<ref>James, p. 211</ref> Still many in the political elite in Britain at this time favoured appeassing Germany because they believed that Germany had been too harshly treated under the Treaty of Versailles.
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, 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 of 1938. <ref>Hastings, p. 134</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 of this and the British public recognized that their government’s policies had been wrongill advised. <ref> Hastings, p. 119</ref> Many believed that if Churchill had been heeded, Hitler Germany may have been stopped. Churchill became the most popular politician in Britain. Many began to call for him to lead the country. These people even included those who had previously derided him as a crank. Churchill was viewed as remarkably prescient and who potentially 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 and Europe was once more at war. The British Then Prime Minister Neville Chamberlin declared war on Nazi Germany. The British adopted a cautious policy. The send sent the British Expeditionary Force to France . Both the Allied British and they and the French adopted a defensive posture and waited for a German attack. This was the period of called the Phoney War, where because were the allies waited were waiting for Hitler’s 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 and 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, they saw him a leader, someone who could beat the Germans. Poland was defeated within weeks by Germany and after the Molotov-Rippentrop pact, Hitler could turn his attention to the western allies. Churchill wanted to adopt an aggressive approach and 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. The country was of great strategic importance and it was the main source of Germany's iron ore. <ref>Hastings, p. 117 </ref>
==Churchill’s appointment as Prime Minister May 1940==Battle of Norway====On May 10thThe Allies dispatched forces to Norway to help the Norwegian army to beat back the German invaders, the Germans invaded western Europebut it was too late.<ref> ''The Times of London'', 11 May 1940 </ref> They launched coordinated attacks on Germans landed paratroopers in the Netherlands, Belgium, country and Francerapidly reinforced these forces with several divisions of German infantry. London was in a panic Germany quickly and many believed that a German victory was inevitableeasily defeated the Norwegian army. The French and the British people demanded that a National Government, be put arrived too late and in too few numbers.The Norwegian army regrouped in place, comprising the Conservativenorth of the country, Labour here they were joined by British and French forces. There were several fierce battles and the Liberal PartyAllies out up a fierce resistance. It was believed that such The Allies and the Norwegian were forced to evacuate their units from the dangers that only a National GovernmentNorwegian port of Narvik, as taking with them the king of Norway and his government. The ‘loss’ of Norway caused consternation in World War I Britain and many feared that it could save be used as a base to attack the countryBritish mainland. It was widely believed that Lord Halifax would become prime minister, but he was unwilling. He Once again Churchill had been too much associated with the appeasement policy of Europe proven right and if he had been even rumored to heeded the allies could have favored seeking peace with the Germansheld Norway. The public was overwhelmingly outcry over Norway meant that people had lost faith in the Conservative government and resulted in favor Churchillcalls for the resignation of Neville Chamberlin.<ref> Hastings, they saw him as someone who could lead their country to victory, however, many of the political elite 213</ref> Many Conservatives believed that Churchill it was too much of time for a maverick and was unpredictable. Perhaps cruciallychange, in for the appointment good of Churchill was the reaction of the British armed forces. He was genuinely popular with the rank and file and the officers and was widely seen as someone who would fight the Germanscountry.
====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.
==Conclusion==Related DailyHistory.org Articles====The appointment of Winston Churchill, as Prime Minister was a remarkable turn *[[What were the goals of events. He had long been in the political wilderness. However, his tireless opposition to Axis powers and the appeasement of Hitler and his great oratory and writings, made him hugely popular in Britain, despite, Soviet Union during World War Two?]]*[[How Did the British Establishment distrusting him. Ultimately, it 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}}
==References==
[[Category:British History]] [[Category:Military History]][[Category:World War Two History]][[Category:European History]] [[Category:20th Century History]]
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