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[[File: Sir_Winston_S_Churchill.jpg|thumbnail|left|200px170px|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====
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. In 1915, Churchill was forced to resign after the failed invasion of Gallipoli. 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). ''[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 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 eloquence as both a speaker and writer.
====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>
====Outbreak of War====[[File: Wc0107-04780r.jpg|thumbnail|300px|left|Winston Churchill- 1940]]In 1938September 1939, Germany demanded the return of the Sudetenland, a German-speaking area in Czechoslovakia to war machine invaded Poland. Then Prime Minister Neville Chamberlin declared war on Germany. This almost led to The British adopted a warcautious policy. However, Chamberlin, The sent the current British Prime Minister, allowed the Germans Expeditionary Force to occupy France. Both the Sudetenland in exchange Allied British and French adopted a defensive posture and waited for a German reassurances that they would seek no more territory in Europe in attack. This action was derisively referred to as the Phoney War because were the so-called Munich Agreement of 1938allies were waiting for Germany’s next move. <ref>Hastings, p. 134117 </ref> Within monthsChamberlin knew that Churchill, Hitler had broken was wildly popular, and he invited him to join the war cabinet as the First Lord of the agreement and by 1939Admiralty, it was widely expected on the day that Europe would once again be plunged into Britain declared waron Germany. Churchill, had predicted much of this and began to prepare the British public recognized that their government’s had been wrongnavy for war against Germany. <ref> Hastings, p. 119<dh-ad/ref> Many believed that if Chamberlin invited Churchill had been heededto 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 may have been stoppedturned his attention west towards France. Churchill became the most popular politician argued strongly in Britainfavor of an aggressive strategy. Many began He wanted the British and French to call for him attack Germany, and he proposed that the Allies occupy Norway, to lead prevent it from falling into the hands of the countryGermans. These people <ref>Hastings, 211</ref> In the Spring of 1940, the German navy and army attacked Norway, even included those who had previously derided him as though it was a crankneutral nation. Like Churchill , Germany realized that Norway had great strategic importance. When Germany invaded Norway, it was viewed as remarkably prescient the main source of their iron ore, and who potentially understood Germanythey need to keep Norway's ultimate goals better than anyone else in Parliamentiron ore flowing to Germany. <ref>Hastings, p.117 </ref>
==Outbreak ==Battle of WarNorway====[[File: Wc0107-04780rThe Allies dispatched forces to Norway to help the Norwegian army to beat back the German invaders, but it was too late.jpg|thumbnail|300px|left|Winston Churchill- 1940]]In September 1939, The Germans landed paratroopers in the country and rapidly reinforced these forces with several divisions of German war machine invaded Polandinfantry. The Prime Minister Neville Chamberlin declared war on Nazi Germanyquickly and easily defeated the Norwegian army. The British adopted a cautious policy. The send French and the British Expeditionary Force to Francearrived too late and in too few numbers. The Allied British and French adopted a defensive posture and waited for a German attack. This was Norwegian army regrouped in the period north of the Phoney Warcountry, where the allies waited for Hitler’s next movethey were joined by British and French forces.<ref>HastingsThere were several fierce battles, pand the Allies put up fierce resistance. 117 </ref> Chamberlin knew that Churchill, was wildly popular, The Allies and he invited him the Norwegian were forced to join evacuate their units from the Norwegian port of Narvik, taking with them the war cabinet king of Norway and the First Lord his government. The ‘loss’ of the AdmiraltyNorway caused consternation in Britain, on the day and many feared that Britain declared war on Germany. Churchill began it could be used as a base to prepare attack the British navy for war against Germanymainland. Many believed that Chamberlin invited Once again Churchill to join the war cabinet to ensure that had been proven right and if he did not cause problems for had been heeded the government in the House of Commonsallies could have held Norway. It proved to be a popular move and the The public welcomed Churchill’s return to outcry over Norway meant that people had lost faith in the cabinet. Poland was defeated within weeks by Germany Conservative government and after the Molotov-Rippentrop pact, Hitler turned his attention west towards France. Churchill argued strongly resulted 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 calls for the hands resignation of the GermansNeville Chamberlin.<ref>Hastings, 211213</ref> In the Spring of 1940, the German navy and army attacked Norway, even though Many Conservatives believed that it was time for a neutral nation. Like Churchillchange, Germany realized that Norway had great strategic importance. When Germany invaded Norway it was for the main source good of their iron ore and they need to keep Norway's iron ore following to Germanythe country. <ref>Hastings, p. 117 </ref>
==Battle of Norway==Churchill’s appointment as Prime Minister May 1940==== The Allies dispatched forces to Norway to help On May 10th, 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 numbersinvaded western Europe.<ref>''The Norwegian army regrouped in the north Times of London'', 11 May 1940 </ref> They launched coordinated attacks on the countryNetherlands, Belgium, here they were joined by British and French forcesFrance. There were several fierce battles and the Allies out up London was in a fierce resistance. The Allies and the Norwegian were forced to evacuate their units from the Norwegian port of Narvikpanic, taking with them the king of Norway and his government. The ‘loss’ of Norway caused consternation in Britain and many feared believed 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 NorwayGerman victory was inevitable. The public outcry over Norway meant British people demanded that people had lost faith a National Government, be put in place, comprising the Conservative government , Labour and resulted in calls for the resignation of Neville ChamberlinLiberal Party.<ref> Hastings, 213</ref> Many Conservatives It was believed that it was time for such were the dangers that only a changeNational Government, for as in World War I could save the good 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 countryappeasement policy. It was rumored that Halifax had been to seeking peace with 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.
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====References====
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Updated December 31, 2018.
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