Churchill's relationships with his Generals Flashcards
What was Churchill’s military reputation?
Not very distinguished.
- Seen action in Sudan as a young soldier (North west frontier of India)
- Cuba as an observer
- South Africa as a war correspondent
Little experience in command or planning strategy. No naval experience.
What did Churchill do as First Lord of Admiralty?
WW1 –> he would give orders to the military and offered opinionated strategic views.
What the First Lord of the Admiralty?
A political post
–> Churchill used it to give orders to Navy
Examples of Churchill’s failed strategies in WW1?
The Dardanelles Campaign (1915)
The Gallipoli Campaign (1915-1916) –> failure to move beyond beaches
What occurred after the failure of the Gallipoli campaign?
Churchill was forced to resign.
Went to the western front as a colonel. He left his regiment to pursue political intrigues in London and quickly went back to the government.
What did Churchill do as First Lord of the Admiralty in 1939-40?
Supported unsuccessful military campaign in Norway.
What dominated Churchill’s views of his generals?
- Heavy losses of WW1
- Heavy losses in France which he attributed to politicians letting generals like Haig pursue costly plans without any supervision.
- Frustrated by caution of leading military commanders during 1930s appeasement. They were worried about having to fight on 3 fronts and feeling unprepared.
When did Lord Gort ignore Churchills orders the first time?
When German forces broke through French lines at Sedan. Their fast moving attack was too much for the French. Lord Gort (British commander) ignored Churchills orders to preserve the troupes. This is why they were able to continue with the war.
What did Churchill unreasonably order in Calais?
That it was defended till the last second. Pointless in military terms and lost valuable men.
Who opposed Churchill when he ordered that troupes return to France, despite the fact that it was almost taken?
Chief of the Imperial General Staff.
Sir John Dill.
Churchill fired his from office quickly after.
Who was Sir Alan Brooke?
Field Marshal
What did Alan Brooke reportedly find annoying?
When Churchill would be “thinking aloud”
What was Brooke’s opinion on fighting Italy in North Africa?
Agreed as they did not wish to fight in Northern Europe.
The need to maintain the British Empire was not opposed by the Generals
Who was the commander of the British Army in Africa?
Sir Archibald Wavell
When did Churchill take the army forces from Sir Archibald Wavell?
When Italy invaded Greece in 1940 and the cabinet agreed to follow and create a new Balkan front.
How did the fights in Greece fail?
- Without proper planning and resources
- British forces evacuated to Crete. Defeated there by another German attack and forced out again.
Who led the German forces in Africa?
Erwin Rommel
Who was Wavell’s successor?
Sir Claude Auchinleck
July 1941 - August 1942
What did Sir Claude Auchinleck do when he initially became General?
Delayed attacks on France as he felt that he wasn’t prepared.
What happened to Sir Claude Auchinleck?
He was sacked despite his effective defence against Germany. He was not daring enough.
Who was Claude Auchinleck’s replacement?
Bernard Montgomery
What was Churchill’s opinion of Montgomery?
Self-confident
“I Montgomery we have a highly competent daring and energetic soldier…”
What did his self-confidence enable Montgomery to do?
He insisted on very thorough preparations. Needed to accumulate more than twice the number of men than Rommel had before attacking El Alamein in October 1942
When was El Alamein attacked?
October 1942
How could El Alamein be favourable to Auchinleck?
He made the preparations, but Montgomery got all the credit as he led the army.
What did Montgomery do after El Alamein?
He was slow. This meant that The Germans were able to retreat to Tunisia.
Who did Churchill believe had outsized influence during war?
Haig, Kitchener
SOE
Special Operations Executive
Mulberry Harbours
Giant floating portable harbours.
- Churchill supported
- Played a role in Normandy 1944 landings
Comment made by Sir Hastings Ismay in 1941 on Churchill’s age?
“he does not appreciate the changes that have taken place in modern armies.”
Alan Brooke comment on Churchill’s enthusiasm for wild ideas?
“[Churchill] behaved like a spoilt child that wants a toy in a shop irrespective of the fact that its parents [the COGS] tell it that it is no good.”
Who did Churchill demand defended Calais?
Claude Nicolson
Who did Churchill nickname ‘Dilly-dally’?
Sir John Dill
- Chief of Imperial General Staff
Best (historian) opinions on Sir Alan Brooke’s diary?
“instantly recorded for private consumption”.
What did Alan Brooke write in 1944?
“I find it hard to remain civil.”
What did Alan Brooke write in the foreword of a book published on Churchill?
“He is quite the most wonderful man I have ever met.”
How many Italian prisoners of war did Wavell capture in Egypt?
40,000
What did Wavell receive blame for?
1940 - War Cabinet ordered 55,000 of Wavell’s troupes into Greece to defend from Italy.
When was Wavell sacked?
21st June 1941.
Chips Channon MP - Comment on Wavell’s demotion in his diary?
“a sacrifice to Winston’s personal dislike”
Churchill’s comments on sacking Auchinleck?
- “soldierly dignity”
Churchill knew of Montgomery’s ego: private comment?
“I defeat unbeatable; in victory unbearable.”
When did church bells ring for the first time since 1939?
When Montgomery defeated Rommel in El Alamein in November 1942
When was battle of El Alamein?
October - November 1942
Churchill’s comment of El Alamein?
“Before Alamein, we never had a victory - after Alamein, we never had a defeat.”
