Unit 2 - Churchill as wartime Prime Minister Flashcards
What period does this unit cover?
1940-1945
How effective was Churchill’s leadership of Britain during WW2?
Leadership style, relationship with generals, mediterranean strategy, bombing of Germany.
How did Churchill’s leadership style affect his role as wartime Prime minister?
- 300,000 evacuated from Dunkirk, portrayed as a success despite loss of equipment (severe defeat)
- Maintained momentum of war, directed war effort.
- Favoured daring ideas and actions, frustrated by delays or weaknesses. Commanded complete dedication.
- Vivid and dynamic leader. Ruthless e.g. destruction of French fleet at Oran in 1940 & civilian bombing of Germany.
How did Churchill’s relationship with his generals affect his role as wartime Prime minister?
- Impatient of over-cautious men.
- Brooke,opponent of some ill-planned schemes favoured by PM, stormy relationship.
- Success of Battle of Britain owed much to strategy of Dowding, removed due to uncommunicative nature.
- Auchinleck (removed) preparations helped to defeat Rommel in War in North Africa, turning point in the war.
- Sometimes lack of consideration, over-expection and bullying. Encouraged innovative military thinking and daring ideas.
How did Churchill’s mediterranean strategy affect his role as wartime Prime minister?
- Suez canal important link to India and oil supplies in the Middle East.
- Thought delay in invading France would benefit Allies, Germany would be weakened by US and British bombing raids as well as from losses of troops in the USSR.
- Objections as Germany could only be defeated by invading the homeland, this meant invading Northern France.
- Up to 1942 German defences along French coastline were not very developed.
- Fighting in Med took away valuable resources.
How did Churchill’s bombing campaign affect his role as wartime Prime minister?
- German destruction of British cities ‘justified revenge’.
- If bombing could reduce German military capacity - saving British forces.
- Hit moral of German people, show weakness of Nazi regime.
- 400,000-600,000 Germans killed. Greatest effect when bombing concentrated on transport and communication.
- Churchill private concern over unnecessary civilian attacks.
Why did Churchill and the Conservatives lost the 1945 election?
Churchill’s election campaign, reputation of the Conservatives in the 1930s, Labour election campaigns, the Beveridge Report.
Why did Churchill and the Conservatives lost the 1945 election due to Beveridge Report?
Wartime reports offered much better prospects for the working classes, Beveridge Report 1942 - thought Labour would be the most likely to implement it.
Why did Churchill and the Conservatives lost the 1945 election due to Conservative reputation and Labour campaign?
Conservatives blamed for ‘hungry decade’ of 1930s and appeasement. Labour offered progressive manifesto. Vote for Labour as a vote for more social change and a less class-ridden Britain.
Why did Churchill and the Conservatives lost the 1945 election due to Conservative campaign?
Churchill seemed stuck in past, too focused on war, associations between Labour leaders and Nazi Gestapo.
