- Title Pages
- Preface
- List of Contributors
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 Churchill and the Pitfalls of Family Piety
- 2 Churchill and Germany
- 3 Churchill and France
- 4 Churchill and Social Reform
- 5 Churchill’s Economic Ideas, 1900–1930
- 6 Churchill and Lloyd George
- 7 Churchill and the Labour Movement
- 8 Churchill and the First World War
- 9 Churchill and Zionism
- 10 Churchill and the British Empire
- 11 Churchill and the Monarchy
- 12 Churchill and Appeasement
- 13 Churchill, Radio, and Cinema
- 14 Churchill in 1940: The Worst and Finest Hour
- 15 How Churchill Became Prime Minister
- 16 Churchill, Japan, and British Security in the Pacific 1904–1942
- 17 Wheel Within a Wheel: Churchill, Roosevelt, and the Special Relationship
- 18 Churchill and Stalin
- 19 Churchill’s Strategy
- 20 Churchill and the Defence Chiefs
- 21 Churchill and the Navy
- 22 Churchill and Eisenhower in the Second World War
- 23 Churchill and the Use of Special Intelligence
- 24 Churchill and Science
- 25 Churchill and Europe
- 26 Churchill and India
- 27 Churchill and Egypt 1946–1956
- 28 Churchill: The Government of 1951–1955
- 29 Churchill the Parliamentarian, Orator, and Statesman
- Index
Churchill in 1940: The Worst and Finest Hour
Churchill in 1940: The Worst and Finest Hour
- Chapter:
- (p.241) 14 Churchill in 1940: The Worst and Finest Hour
- Source:
- Churchill
- Author(s):
David Reynolds
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
In 1940, Britain faced the greatest crisis in its history since Napoleon's armies massed on the French coast in 1804–1805. Yet at the same moment Churchill at last attained his cherished ambition, becoming Prime Minister and leading his country at a time when his peculiar talents could be given full rein and just appreciation. Britain's worst hour was also Churchill's finest. This chapter argues that a sober examination of Churchill's performance as war leader in 1940 does not belittle his greatness. On the contrary, it makes him a more human and thereby a more impressive figure than the two-dimensional bulldog of national mythology. This chapter explores Churchill's role as war leader in three main areas: first, naval strategy during the Phoney War while he was at the Admiralty; the realignment of British foreign policy following the collapse of France; and defence policy and domestic leadership during the Battle of Britain.
Keywords: Winston Churchill, Britain, Phoney War, naval strategy, foreign policy, France, defence policy, Battle of Britain, domestic leadership, war leader
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- Title Pages
- Preface
- List of Contributors
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 Churchill and the Pitfalls of Family Piety
- 2 Churchill and Germany
- 3 Churchill and France
- 4 Churchill and Social Reform
- 5 Churchill’s Economic Ideas, 1900–1930
- 6 Churchill and Lloyd George
- 7 Churchill and the Labour Movement
- 8 Churchill and the First World War
- 9 Churchill and Zionism
- 10 Churchill and the British Empire
- 11 Churchill and the Monarchy
- 12 Churchill and Appeasement
- 13 Churchill, Radio, and Cinema
- 14 Churchill in 1940: The Worst and Finest Hour
- 15 How Churchill Became Prime Minister
- 16 Churchill, Japan, and British Security in the Pacific 1904–1942
- 17 Wheel Within a Wheel: Churchill, Roosevelt, and the Special Relationship
- 18 Churchill and Stalin
- 19 Churchill’s Strategy
- 20 Churchill and the Defence Chiefs
- 21 Churchill and the Navy
- 22 Churchill and Eisenhower in the Second World War
- 23 Churchill and the Use of Special Intelligence
- 24 Churchill and Science
- 25 Churchill and Europe
- 26 Churchill and India
- 27 Churchill and Egypt 1946–1956
- 28 Churchill: The Government of 1951–1955
- 29 Churchill the Parliamentarian, Orator, and Statesman
- Index
