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Winston Churchill’s moving speeches inspired a nation and played a key role in Britain’s morale during the dark early days of World War II.
It was a time when the country was almost on its knees, with men dying and morale sinking.
But Churchill’s defiant and powerful words allowed ordinary Britons, soldiers, sailors and airmen to feel hope.
He replaced Neville Chamberlain as Prime Minister on May 10, 1940.
Days earlier, the ‘fake war’, the period of relative calm after the declaration of war on September 3, 1939, had ended with the German invasion of France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Churchill’s first speech as Prime Minister of the House of Commons, three days later, would go down in history as one of the most famous.
Winston Churchill delivers a moving speech during the dark days of WWII
He said: ‘I would say to the House, as I said to those who have joined this government:’ I have nothing to offer but blood, work, tears and sweat. ‘
We have before us a test of the most painful. We have many, many months of struggle and suffering before us.
‘You ask, what is our policy? I can say: it is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our strength and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark and regrettable catalog of human crimes. That is our policy.
‘You ask, what is our goal? I can answer in a word: it is victory, victory at all costs, victory despite all the terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; because without victory there is no survival.
‘Let that be done; no survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for, no survival for the momentum and momentum of the ages, that humanity will advance towards its goal.
But I take on my task with enthusiasm and hope. I am sure that our cause will not be allowed to fail among men. At this moment, I feel entitled to demand the help of all, and I say: ‘Come, let us move forward together with our united forces.’ ‘
Excerpt from his first broadcast as Prime Minister to the country on May 19, 1940.
“I speak to you for the first time as Prime Minister in a solemn hour for the life of our country, our Empire, our allies and, above all, the cause of freedom. . .
It would be silly. . . to disguise the gravity of the hour. It would be even more foolish to lose heart and courage or assume that well-trained and well-equipped armies of three or four million men can be defeated in the space of a few weeks, or even months …
“ Side by side, unaided save by their kinsmen and relatives in the great dominions and by the vast empires that lie under their shield, side by side, the British and French peoples have advanced to rescue not only Europe but also humanity of the most filthy and filthiest. Soul-destroying tyranny that has always darkened and stained the pages of history.
Behind them, behind us, behind the armies and fleets of Great Britain and France, gather a group of shattered states and battered races: the Czechs, the Poles, the Norwegians, the Danes, the Dutch, the Belgians, on all of whom the long night of barbarism will descend, unbroken even by a star of hope, unless we conquer, as we must conquer; how we will conquer.
Today is Trinity Sunday. Centuries ago, words were written to be a call and a spur to faithful servants of truth and justice: ‘Arm yourself and be brave men, and be prepared for conflict; because it is better for us to die in battle than to contemplate the outrage of our nation and our altar. As the Will of God is in Heaven, so be it. ‘
Excerpt from his speech to the Commons on June 4, 1940, following the evacuation of 338,000 Allied troops from Dunkirk.
I myself have full confidence that if everyone does their duty, if nothing is neglected and if the best arrangements are made, as they are made, we will show that we are capable once again of defending our home island, of getting ahead. the storm of war, and survive the threat of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone.
In any case, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the determination of Her Majesty’s Government, each of them. That is the will of Parliament and the nation. The British Empire and the French Republic, united in their cause and in their need, will defend their native soil to the death, helping each other as good comrades with all their might.
“Despite the fact that large swaths of Europe and many ancient and famous states have or may fall into the clutches of the Gestapo and the entire hateful apparatus of the Nazi government, we will not falter or fail.
‘We will continue to the end, we will fight in France, we will fight in the seas and oceans, we will fight with growing confidence and increasing strength in the air, we will defend our island, whatever the cost, we will fight on the beaches, we will fight on the landing grounds, we will fight in the fields and in the streets, we will fight in the hills; We will never surrender, and even if, what I don’t believe for a moment, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would continue the fight, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its might and might, comes to the rescue and liberation of the old. ‘
Excerpt from his speech to the Commons of June 18, 1940.
‘What general Weygand [the French Allied commander] called the battle of France is over. I hope the Battle of Britain is about to begin.
The survival of Christian civilization depends on this battle. On it depends our own British life and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. Very soon all the fury and power of the enemy must be turned against us.
Hitler knows that he will have to defeat us on this island or he will lose the war. If we can face it, the whole of Europe can be free and the life of the world can move towards the sunlit highlands.
But if we fail, then the entire world, including the United States, including everything we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Ages that will be made more sinister, and perhaps longer, by the lights of the perverts. . Sciences
So let’s get ready to do our duty, and if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last a thousand years, men will keep saying, “This was their best time.” ‘
