Churchill's role in the war- significant?

Question 1

How effective was Churchill at motivating the public?

Answer 1

Incredible speaker that could inspire the nation on many occasions which is why he won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953. His most famous speech was in June 1940 when Britain stood alone after the fall of France ‘‘we will never surrender speech’’.

Question 2

How effective was Churchill at working with his Generals?

Answer 2

Not at all which is why many were fired or demoted except Monty.

Question 3

How effective were Churchill’s strategic decisions?

Answer 3

Some were poor e.g operation Market Garden and some were successful e.g Delaying the second front

Question 4

How successful was Churchill at managing the cabinet?

Answer 4

Overall, pretty successful because he had to mediate a coalition between different parties.

Question 5

How successful was Churchill’s relationship with the other wartime leaders?

Answer 5

• After the failure of operation Market Garden, Churchill became the junior partner to Roosevelt and Stalin
• This was seen more significantly at Yalta 1945 when Stalin took control of eastern Poland.

Question 6

How moral were Churchill’s decisions?

Answer 6

Dresden (25,000 civilians dead)

Question 7

How clear were Churchill’s wartime decisions?

Answer 7

Defend Poland at all costs but by Yalta in 1945 some of Poland was under the USSR control.

Question 8

What was the post war outcome of Britain and did Churchill deal with it?

Answer 8

Terrible - highlighted and summarised best by the Beveridge report of 1942 which stated Britain needed serious reform

Question 9

Did Churchill win the war?

Answer 9

Churchill was a wartime leader that was successful but with many colonies wounded and wanting independence