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[[File: Wc0107-04780rSir_Winston_S_Churchill.jpg|thumbnail|200pxleft|170px|Winston Churchill- 1940]]Winston Churchill led 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 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 astounding change Churchill’s political fortunes changed because of political fortune was due to Churchill’s his unstinting opposition to Nazi Germany and the realization by Parliament that he his leadership was the leader what Britain needed in its most desperate hour.
====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. In 1915, Churchill was forced to resign after the failed invasion of Gallipoli.jpg|thumbnail|200px|Winston Churchill later served as an officer in military uniform 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 1930s, 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>
==Battle ==Outbreak of NorwayWar==== The Allies dispatched forces to Norway to help the Norwegian army to beat back the German invaders[[File: Wc0107-04780r.jpg|thumbnail|300px|left|Winston Churchill- 1940]]In September 1939, but it was too late. The Germans landed paratroopers in the country and rapidly reinforced these forces with several divisions of German infantrywar machine invaded Poland. Then Prime Minister Neville Chamberlin declared war on Germany quickly and easily defeated the Norwegian army. The French and the British arrived too late and in too few numbersadopted a cautious policy.The Norwegian army regrouped in sent the north of British Expeditionary Force to France. Both the country, here they were joined by Allied British and French forces. There were several fierce battles adopted a defensive posture and the Allies out up waited for a fierce resistanceGerman attack. The Allies and the Norwegian were forced This action was derisively referred 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 Phoney War because were 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 were waiting for the resignation of Neville ChamberlinGermany’s next move.<ref> Hastings, 213p. 117 </ref> Many Conservatives believed Chamberlin knew that it Churchill, was time for a changewildly popular, for and he invited him to join the war cabinet as the good First Lord of the countryAdmiralty, 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, where they were joined by British and French forces. There were several fierce battles, and the Allies put up 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. Lord Halifax was an early favorite to become prime minister, but he was unwilling. His candiacy also was tainted by his support of Chamberlain's the appeasement policy. It was rumored that Halifax had been to seeking peace with Germany. The public overwhelmingly supported Churchill, and they saw him as someone who could lead their country. However, many of the British political elite believed that Churchill was a maverick and too unpredictable. Perhaps crucially, Churchill was also 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 support was mainly based on his unflinching long-term opposition to the NazisHitler's Germany. Churchill, because of his many years warning 's warnings about the NazisGermany and fascism were proved correct, and he 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====The appointment of Winston Churchill, as Prime Minister was a remarkable turn of events. He had been in the political wilderness for some time. However, his tireless steadfast opposition to the appeasement of Hitler, his great oratory skills , and writings preserved his presence ensured that he remained a political force during this time. Eventually, his firmly held increased beliefs and courage increased his popularity in Britain overcome and even overcame the British Establishment's distrust of him. His moral authority and clear understanding of Hitler's motives encouraged his country to call on him at its darkest hour.
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====References====<references/> Updated December 31, 2018. [[Category:Wikis]][[Category:British History]] [[Category:Military History]][[Category:World War Two History]][[Category:European History]] [[Category:20th Century History]]{{mediawiki:WWIIContributors}}