One for all and all for one. That simple principle underlies all alliances. But what happens when the all dwindles and the one ends up alone? That’s the position Britain found itself in the late spring of 1940. Poland, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France had all fallen under the Nazi jackboots. Britain was the only thing standing between Adolf Hitler and control of Europe. With Britain tottering on the abyss, its prime minister, Winston Churchill, gave one of the great rallying cries in world history, the "finest hour" speech of June 18, 1940.
As Churchill wrote the speech—he did not rely on others to craft his words—the situation was dire. Indeed, over the previous six weeks Churchill had given two major speeches preparing Britons for what was to come, first telling them he had “nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat” and then urging them to “never surrender.” Now the Germans had raised the swastika over Paris. It was just a matter of time—four days in fact—before the French government would formally surrender. Britain was left alone to face Hitler’s Germany.
More on:
When Churchill began speaking on the floor of the House of Commons, his fellow parliamentarians knew that June 18th marked a significant date in British history—the 125th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, when British troops under the Duke of Wellington defeated Napoleon. Churchill’s task was to rally their descendants to stop another authoritarian from dominating the European continent, this time against even longer odds.
The Water's Edge
James M. Lindsayanalyzes the politics shaping U.S. foreign policy and the sustainability of American power.2-4 times weekly.
Daily News Brief
A summary of global news developments with CFR analysis delivered to your inbox each morning.Most weekdays.
The World This Week
A weekly digest of the latestfrom CFR on the biggest foreign policy stories of the week, featuring briefs, opinions, and explainers. Every Friday.
Think Global Health
A curation of original analyses, data visualizations, and commentaries, examining the debates and efforts to improve health worldwide.Weekly.
By entering your email and clicking subscribe, you're agreeing to receive announcements from CFR about our products and services, as well as invitations to CFR events. You are also agreeing to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Churchill spoke for thirty-six minutes. His final paragraph summarized what Britain and the world faced:
The Battle of France is over: the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilisation. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be freed and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. 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 duty 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.
That night at 9:00 p.m., Churchill repeated his speech almost word for word, this time on BBC radio. An estimated 60 percent of the British people listened to the broadcast. Churchill’s delivery left a lot to be desired. He spoke the entire time with a cigar in his mouth, leaving some of his listeners to conclude he was drunk.
However imperfect Churchill’s delivery may have been, the emotional power of his words is unquestioned. Three weeks later, on July 10, 1940, the German Luftwaffe began bombing Britain. What Churchill had named the Battle of Britain had begun. The tribulations of that summer would show Britons at their finest hour, in no small part because Churchill gave one of his finest speeches at his country’s moment of greatest need.
More on:
As someone deeply immersed in the history of World War II and the leadership of Winston Churchill, it's evident that the article touches upon crucial historical events and the powerful oratory skills of Churchill during a pivotal moment in British history. My knowledge extends to the broader context of World War II, the geopolitical landscape, and the significance of Churchill's speeches during that time.
Firstly, the article revolves around the principle of alliances and the dire situation Britain faced in 1940 when several European nations had fallen under Nazi control. This left Britain as the lone defender against Adolf Hitler's ambitions. The reference to Churchill's speeches, including the "blood, toil, tears, and sweat" address and the "never surrender" plea, underscores the gravity of the situation.
The article then focuses on Churchill's "finest hour" speech delivered on June 18, 1940, a date significant in British history as the 125th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. Churchill's task was to rally the British people, drawing parallels between the current threat posed by Hitler and the historical victory over Napoleon. The mention of the Battle of France ending and the Battle of Britain beginning highlights the turning point and the imminent threat to Christian civilization.
Churchill's powerful words in the final paragraph emphasize the critical nature of the battle for Britain's survival and its broader implications for Christian civilization, British life, and the world. The imagery of standing up to Hitler and the possibility of a free Europe is juxtaposed with the grim alternative of a new Dark Age.
The article closes with a description of Churchill repeating the speech on BBC radio, despite criticisms of his delivery, which included speaking with a cigar in his mouth. Regardless of these imperfections, the emotional impact of Churchill's words is acknowledged. The subsequent German bombing of Britain, termed the Battle of Britain, is presented as the unfolding of the challenges Churchill had forewarned.
In essence, this historical account captures a critical moment in World War II, showcasing Churchill's leadership and the resilience of the British people during a time when the fate of nations hung in the balance.
