Impact of Winston Churchill's WWII Era Speeches

Milestone 1: Impact of Selected Winston Churchill WWII Era Speeches

by User:Cmtillotson

Milestone 1: Impact of Selected Winston Churchill WWII Era Speeches

Winston Churchill delivering a speech

Abstract

My Milestone focuses on the following question: How did Winston Churchill's famous World War Two speeches impact the course of the war? I have always had an interest in World War II period history, and this was a great opportunity for me to explore Winston Churchill's World War II impacts. Seeing just how large of an impact Churchill really had on global history by persuading the British to defend themselves against Germany is the largest takeaway I have from the project.

Introduction

The following project focuses on the impact of Winston Churchill's World War II speeches delivered to the House of Commons during 1940. This was an important time in world history, and this project offers the opportunity for a better appreciation of the world we live in today. Over the last 80 years Churchill's speeches have been analyzed many times. I choose to create an original video that provides background information necessary so that anyone can gain a better appreciation of these important historical events. I started with only a small knowledge base of this time period from a previous course at WPI "History of U.S. Foreign Relations". I began my research with first understanding Churchill and World War II. With this knowledge I selected speeches given at a time that I considered to be the most critical. I narrowed my focus to four main speeches, and dug deep into the background, content, and interpretation of each. With this information I created my video analysis of the impact Churchill's World War II speeches had.

Section 1: Background

Brief Introduction of Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill was born during 1874 in Oxfordshire, England. He attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst where he had an undistinguished academic career. He spent time stationed, sometimes reporting as a war correspondent, in places such as India, Sudan, South Africa, and Cuba. In 1900, by the time he was 25, he had gained a national presence as a skilled writer, journalist, and orator. This allowed him for a smooth transition into the world of British politics. He later went on to serve as the First Lord of the Admiralty during World War I. However, his time serving as the First Lord of the Admiralty was best remembered for the disaster of Gillipoli, Turkey where many soldiers died as a result of poor battle planning. This forced Churchill to leave his post, and he served for a time on the Western Front. After World War I he made his return to politics until 1929 when the conservative party lost the general election and Churchill would remain of a hiatus from government positions. However, this did not simply mean that Churchill was away from politics as he continued to be an outspoken political writer and lecturer in this time. Churchill was well known politically for his strong opposition to socialistic ideologies. When Churchill began to take notice of Adolf Hitler, during a time in Churchill's life known as the Wilderness years, he began to spread warnings that Hitler was a great threat to freedom in Britain. When Germany declared war on Britain on September 3rd, 1939 Churchill was reinstated once again as the First Lord of the Admiralty until the time he appointed as Prime Minister in 1940.

Conditions and Churchill's Role in World War II

As Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Winston Churchill was tasked with leading the Country through some of the darkest times leading up to and during the Battle of Britain. It is well known that Churchill was a skillful orator and his speeches had the ability to rally his Country around the common goal of defense against Germany. However, it is important to note that it was not just defense that Churchill was interested in. Historians agree that Churchill understood the treat that democracy as well as the "Western World" faced. Churchill recognized that the rise of "National Socialism" in Germany would mean that this system would spread to every country that came under Hitler's control. His replacement of Neville Chamberlain, on May 10th,1940, came at an important time in the UK's history. That very day, May 10th, Hitler began his Blizkreig in mainland Europe attempting to entirely conquer all countries in his path. Before Churchill it had been the policy of Chamberlain to appease Hitler and the German's in order to promote peace. Once Churchill took office he intermediately made it clear in his words that he had no intentions for appeasement, but rather to stand and fight for freedom against the Germans. Churchill's job of keeping England optimistic and ready to fight became harder as the Germans continued to gain ground as France fell in June 17th, 1940. However, Churchill made it his role as Prime Minister in World War II to motivate the British people to remain optimistic and ready to fight despite the successor the Nazi forces.

The Speeches

The following are speeches given by Winston Churchill to the House of Commons in 1940.

Blood, toil, tears, and sweat

This speech was delivered on May 13th and was Churchill's first address to parliament as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Due to the developing situation in France Churchill had to compose this speech on very short notice. For this reason the speech was brief and of an urgent tone. Churchill informed parliament that he had assembled his war cabinets and expected to make all other appointments as quickly as possible. He also informed parliament that he intended to appoint many others from the three major political factions to encourage unity in a time of great danger and importance. The reason for the title of the speech is because Churchill ensured parliament as well as the British people that he would work as hard as possible to ensure the safety of the United Kingdom and her allies. This was the time when Churchill revealed that it was his full intention to fight Germany and no longer hold a policy of appeasement. Upon the conclusion of this speech Churchill was seated and he was met with a standing ovation.

Important Quotes

"I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat." --Winston Churchill

"You ask, what is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark and lamentable catalogue of human crime." --Winston Churchill

Modern Historical Criticism

According to David Cannadine, a history professor at Princeton author of "Blood, toil, tears and sweat: The speeches of Winston Churchill.", identified that this speech used a lot of "rhetorical recycling". The reason Cannadine says this is because Churchill himself had used a similar phrase about blood, sweat, and tears in a previous work titled "The World Crisis". Regardless, Cannadine acknowledges that Churchill does well to get across his point, and begin to unite the divided British political factions.

We shall fight on the beaches

Sometimes known as "Wars are not won by evacuations", this speech was delivered on June 4th and was in direct response to both Nazi forces gaining ground in Europe towards the UK and France as well as "The Battle of Dunkirk". The Belgian front had been broken and forced the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force known as "Operation Dynamo". It was feared that the British would suffer heavy casualties, however, this was not the case. The Expeditionary Force had a successful retreat causing excitement and relief in England. Churchill wishes in this speech to quell this feeling of victory, warning that it is very likely that the situation of defending Britain alone will certainly be a worse situation. In this speech Churchill attempts to rally his people to the casue that the United Kingdom will fight Hitler's forces regardless of the outcomes in mainland Europe.

Important Quotes

"We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender." -- Winston Churchill

"I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone." -- Winston Churchill

Modern Historical Praise

This speech is remembered as one of Churchill's most important speeches, and also one of his best. It was labeled even in that time to be eloquent and deeply moving towards the house of commons and the British people.

Their finest hour

This speech was delivered on June 18th and Churchill addressed parliament acknowledging the fall of France, and once again affirming his resolve to continue the defense of the United Kingdom. He assumes that the Nazi's will soon attempt to invade the United Kingdom calling it the "Battle of Britain". The reason for the title of the speech is that Churchill says that he believes this time in history will be remembered as the UK's forces finest hour. His central message is to calm the nervous British people that the Country will not fall to the German forces as the mainland countries had.

Important Quotes

"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 still say, “This was their finest hour.”" --Winston Churchill

More Modern Historical Praise

Like Churchill's last speech this one also received praise in 1940, and continues to be praised today. Historians agree that despite it's greatness this speech is inferior to his "Wars are not won by evacuations" speech.

The few

The battle of Britain began on July 10th, and this speech was delivered on August 20th and was in direct response to Nazi forces gaining ground in Europe during the height of the Battle of Britain. He goes on to reassure his people once again and to praise the Royal Air Force for it's bravery in defending the United Kingdom. He makes it very clear that the fate of freedom in Britain rests on this current conflict.

Important Quotes

"Never was so much owed by so many to so few" -- Winston Churchill

Section 2: Deliverable

Impact of Churchill's Speeches on the War

An analysis of how Churchill's speeches affected outcomes and overall morale during World War II.

File:Churchill Directors Cut.mp4

Modern Impacts

Even today Winston Churchill and the events of World War II continue to shape our world. Within the coming months three feature films will be released centered in this time period. The first, titled "Churchill", will be released May, 25th 2017. This film will detail a later period in the war, specifically 1944, when Churchill is struggling with D-Day decisions. The second film, titled "Dunkirk" will be hitting theaters July 21st, 2017. Centered around operation Dynamo this film will no doubt be tightly centered around Churchill's speeches as operation Dynamo took place in my selected time period. The last film, "The Darkest Hour" will be released on November 22nd, 2017 is the most relevant to my project. The focus of the film will be the beginning of Churchill's administration when he was exploring his options for compromise or war with Hitler.

With so many films releasing this year it is hard to make a case that Churchill isn't still a driving force in the world today. The fascination of the public with Churchill is an unintended impact of his speeches that has stood the test of time.

Conclusion

The scope of this project dealt with the impact of Winston Churchill's World War II speeches in the year 1940. After conducting much research I have come to the conclusion that Churchill played a key role in the defeat of Germany and the preservation of mainland Europe through these speeches. Simply stated he inspired the British people to stand and fight until other events would intervene to achieve military success. This project does not cover Churchill's later WWII speeches which could be another historical avenue of great merit.