churchill check list Flashcards
why was Churchill out of office for so long, 1929-39? x4
- distrusted by most parties, crossed the floor multiple times
- thought to have lack of judgement and stability
- “guerrilla fighter impatient of discipline”
- unpopular opinions regarding rearmamaent, india, appeasement
what were churchill’s views on india?
ghandi, independence movement, rowlatt acts, gov act india
-victorian view, jewel of the crown, british rule put an end to barbaric practices, scared of what happened in britian with religion
ghandi- salt march 1930
independence movement- peaceful, amritsar massacre from british
rowlatt acts- authority to arrest without warrent
gov act of india- 1935, more eligible to vote, not given same level of rights compared to other dominions, not free from british rule till 1947
what were Churchill’s views on the abdication crisis?
As the crisis reached its height, Churchill advised the King to resist the Baldwin government’s ultimatum to abandon his plans to marry the American divorcee Wallis Simpson or abdicate the British throne.
why?
- genuinely fond of edward
- also concerned whether his brother would make a fit figurehead
- proud of british monarchy
what were churchill’s views on rearmament
- new German regime was brutal
- scared of a repeat
- One of only members who agreed with ToV
- worried about airpower and hitler was building a new air force
- Grand alliance would be best, strong allies as he was worried USSR would join germany’s side
what were churchill’s views on appeasement?
was not a fan
- easily taken advantage of
- munich agreement failed and germany took whole of czechslovakia anyways, germany continued to expand
- appeasement made germany feel unbeatable, like they could do what they wanted.
opposing views to Churchill- India
- old fashioned view
- racism based
- other countries had dominion
opposing views to Churchill- abdication crisis
baldwin didnt agree that edward could remain on the throne if he wanted to marry wallis simpson
opposing views to Churchill- rearmament
- debate “this house would refuse to fight for king and country” won
- all affected by ww1, baldwin wouldnt be popular if they went into ww2
- 1919- 10 year rule added to reluctance
- increase unnecessary panic in public
- 1920 league of nations: all countries signed peace agreement, didnt seem as tho anyone was in a rush for war
Opposing views to Churchill- appeasement
-believed they had legitimate grievances after the treaty of Versailles especially.
why did churchill become PM in 1940
- chamberlain lacked expertise and experience
- only one left as lord Halifax declined
- public opinion about war had changed
- Germany moving quickly, GB needed to keep up
- votes exposed hostility towards chamberlain
- chamberlain unwell, new leader needed
- although not popular, he was seen as determined
what were the main arguments against going to war
x6
- hadnt made an alliance, not even spoken
- didnt have an expiditionary force ready
- Parts of empire to be taken advantage of and threatened
- alliance with stalin unlikely, churchill hostile towards communists
- france opposed
- league of nations= useless
what was churchill’s stance towards the war in 1940?
becoming PM, dunkirk, egypt and suez danger, lord halifax’s role
- victory at all costs
- german air superiority
- danger of italian entry in suez and egypt, cutting of routes for trade and empire
- gold reserves ran out
- French invasion
- fear of large scale bombing, poland bombed previously
lord halifax: foreign minister
what was special about Churchill’s leadership during the war?
- intense patriot
- romantic believer in countries greatness
- dedicated, most meetings attended
- lots of successes
- country loved him
what were churchill’s relations with his generals like?
brooke, wavell, auchinlek and montgomery
overall not great, liked to interfere
brooke-
what were his strategies during the war in the Mediterranean war?
- anglo american strategy
- weaken germans by attacking more vulnerable areas, opening up new fronts
- conquer african shores to establish naval and air bases for effective passage of military traffic
- protect empire and suez canal at all costs
how effective were his strategies during the mediterranean war?
- overall effective
- british win
- maintained rights to suez canal
- pushed away italians and germans from north africa
we were defeated in greece
- USA wanted an invasion of france but WC held out with the NA campaign
- Marshal (USA) argued was a distraction and limited importance, especially after rommel’s advance on egypt had been halted
was the bombing of germany justified?
pros:
- two can play at that game
- had been hurt in blitz
cons:
- many disagreed
- months from war ending
- morale didnt suffer in blitz so why would it here
- no morality behind killing civilians
- 40,000 deaths
- obviously not a military target
how important was churchill’s role in the war?
- found itself dominated by USA
- people aware that victory was possible cause of USSR
- after normandy britain took heavier losses
- junior partner in grand alliance
- “operation market garden” blew britains last attempt at being a senior partner
- sidelined in meetings and had to accept unplatable decisions at yalta
- lost poland
- ‘victims of yalta’
- warnings of russian dominated post war europe ignored
- sent troops against communist rising to greece
- british troops already stretched
how important were the reconstructive policies of churchill’s government
beveridge report
problems towards end of war with communist campaign in greece, preserving empire etc, there was big focus on change back home
- home less commitees
- national assistance: ‘means test’ abolished, help given to needy
- diptheria immunisation
- factory acts 1940: improve welfare
BR- 1942 influential report which aimed to deal with poverty, ill health and unemployment after the war
WELFARE STATE
WC concerned about costs, saying BR was further than he would go
why did Churchill lose office in 1945?
- considerable interest in post-war change
- didnt believe cons would deliver
- labour more likely (BR)
- cons blamed for appeasement and hungry decade of 1930s
- Churchill seen apart from cons, but didnt help campaign by making associations between labour and nazi gestapo
- achievements of USSR pointed the way to greater control and social reform, labour promised to give
- wanted greater opportunity for normal people as they had all worked together in war
what was churchill’s view on birtains role in the world and its empire?
- britains role to defend its values against dark forces of nazism and dictatorship
- maintain empire which used violent repression and didnt allow most of non white subjects the right to vote
- to defend this “the big three” which played considerable role in world by 1941
- maintained links with empire but also dominions and colonies support
- alliance with USSR and USA
- despite atlantic charter britian not forced to commit to ending empire
WC managed to hold on to britains world role
-this position deteriorated as the war went on
how did churchill get on with other war time leaders?
Roosevelt: churchill needed him more than he needed churchill
- relationship started badly
- us support not intervention
- US had concerns over NA and wanted troops into france instead
- disliked empire, morally wrong to rule over subjects
- refused to meet privately
- clearly favoured stalin
- 0 commitment for post for financial assistance
De gaull:
-hitler occupied northern france, vichy france (under nazi regime)
-churchill shocked at surrender
-free france managed to flee but WC worried about falling into german hands
-GB navy bombed ships, 1297 killed
-french saw as betrayal
-found DG difficult to deal with
-de gaull was a self appointed leader, little expierience
-
Stalin:
- WC hate communism
- “if hitler invaded hell, i would atleast make favourable reference to the devil”
- stalin criticised britains failures to invade europe at first meeting
- churchill no longer key figure in meetings
- WC concerned about russian advances dominating europe
- “spheres of influence”
- WC needed him more
what contribution did churchill make to the wartime international conferences?
-attended the most: 16
R: 12
S: 7
the effort if travelling in dangerous times shows the energy of him and the determination to bring GB to the forefront of decision making
-first priority to establish personal contact with R and pressure into joining war
-personal bond created, atlantic charter
what were his plans for a post war europe
- seen weak pre war foreign policy and hoped anglo-american friendship would be basis of peace and stablility
- didn’t see britain abandoning empire
- supported replacement of league of nations
- greater interest in medeterranean and balkans
what was his attitude to post war Europe and the empire
- europe was central to the defence of the empire and hated anyone who thought they could opt out of european affairs
- britain and empire in unique position, part of 3 major anti communist groups: common wealth, anglo american group and the empire group
- the greater the unity the more strength it would give the empire and strenghthen british security
problems: many didnt want GB to dominate, concerns about getting sucked into US hostility of russia, european unity confined to wester europe (iron curtain)
what was the significance of the iron curtain speech?
1946, missouri
set image in place that there was a real and permanent division between west and ease, helping to create international tension
seen as very hostile by stalin and increased tension between the two
