Winston Churchill (30 Nov. 1874 - 7 Apr. 1955)
On 3rd September 1939, Britain declared war on Germany. Churchill was appointed First Lord of the Admiralty, and was made a member of the War Cabinet. In this role he advocated attacking and occupying Narvik, Norway and Kiruna, Sweden, before they fell to the Germans. These locations were rich in iron. However, Chamberlain's government disagreed initially.
Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain resigned on 10th May 1940, and Churchill was asked to replace him by the king, George VI. Churchill created the role of Minister of Defence, which he himself occupied, and appointed his friend Lord Beaverbrook to aircraft production. However, his ministerial appointments were only minor in his helping of the war. His speeches were so formidable that even now they are remembered: "we shall fight on the beaches" and "This was their finest hour" two quotes before the Battle of Britain that boosted morale.
His relationship with the U.S. President, Roosevelt, ensured that the British supply lines never ran dry - notably with the Lend-Lease agreements. Churchill met Roosevelt several times during the war, signing the Atlantic Charter, among other policies. He did all this while with fragile health. His relationship with the United States and Roosevelt was a gulf away from his relationship with Stalin and the Soviet Union. Whilst the Russians referred to Churchill as the "British Bulldog", Churchill was staunchly anti-Communist (though this is not odd, considering he led the Conservative Party). However, Churchill still sent British supplies to the Soviet Union when they were needed.
The D-Day Landings of 1944 was the biggest push by Allied forces in Europe. Churchill himself wanted to cross the Channel with the troops and land, and was only deterred by the king. In 1945, Churchill was criticised for the Allied bombing of Dresden, which left over 130,000 people dead. Today it is a controversial subject for historians to poach, with some believing it was a war crime, whilst others argue that it was needed in the war effort.
For a year after D-Day, Allied forces fought until the Germans surrendered on 7th May 1945. The next day, V.E. Day, saw Churchill celebrating at Whitehall. He told the crowd "This is your victory," to which they responded, "No, it is yours." Churchill's achievements in the war may not have come from being a military genius, but his refusal ro surrender and his attitude helped lead the British with morale to victory.
For more information on Winston Churchill:
Lee, J.M. The Churchill Coalition, 1940 - 1945. (London: Batsford Academic and Educational), 1980.
Taylor, A.J.P. English History, 1914 - 1945. (Oxford: Oxford University Press), 1992.
Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain resigned on 10th May 1940, and Churchill was asked to replace him by the king, George VI. Churchill created the role of Minister of Defence, which he himself occupied, and appointed his friend Lord Beaverbrook to aircraft production. However, his ministerial appointments were only minor in his helping of the war. His speeches were so formidable that even now they are remembered: "we shall fight on the beaches" and "This was their finest hour" two quotes before the Battle of Britain that boosted morale.
His relationship with the U.S. President, Roosevelt, ensured that the British supply lines never ran dry - notably with the Lend-Lease agreements. Churchill met Roosevelt several times during the war, signing the Atlantic Charter, among other policies. He did all this while with fragile health. His relationship with the United States and Roosevelt was a gulf away from his relationship with Stalin and the Soviet Union. Whilst the Russians referred to Churchill as the "British Bulldog", Churchill was staunchly anti-Communist (though this is not odd, considering he led the Conservative Party). However, Churchill still sent British supplies to the Soviet Union when they were needed.
The D-Day Landings of 1944 was the biggest push by Allied forces in Europe. Churchill himself wanted to cross the Channel with the troops and land, and was only deterred by the king. In 1945, Churchill was criticised for the Allied bombing of Dresden, which left over 130,000 people dead. Today it is a controversial subject for historians to poach, with some believing it was a war crime, whilst others argue that it was needed in the war effort.
For a year after D-Day, Allied forces fought until the Germans surrendered on 7th May 1945. The next day, V.E. Day, saw Churchill celebrating at Whitehall. He told the crowd "This is your victory," to which they responded, "No, it is yours." Churchill's achievements in the war may not have come from being a military genius, but his refusal ro surrender and his attitude helped lead the British with morale to victory.
For more information on Winston Churchill:
Lee, J.M. The Churchill Coalition, 1940 - 1945. (London: Batsford Academic and Educational), 1980.
Taylor, A.J.P. English History, 1914 - 1945. (Oxford: Oxford University Press), 1992.