What was Churchill's stance towards the war in 1940?

Question 1

Churchill becomes PM; G. launches all-out offensive on Western Europe

Answer 1

10 May 1940

Question 2

Holland surrenders…

Answer 2

15 May 1940

Question 3

Discussions begin, led by Lord Halifax, about whether or not to open peace talks w Hitler

Answer 3

26 May 1940

Question 4

when Evacuation of Dunkirk (over 300,000 men brought to Br.)

Answer 4

27 May - 4 Jun 1940

Question 5

• Dunkirk evacuation ends
• Churchill delivers ‘we shall fight on the beaches’ speech

Answer 5

4 Jun 1940

Question 6

France surrenders

Answer 6

22 Jun 1940

Question 7

Battle of Britain fought between RAF and Luftwaffe

Answer 7

jul - oct 1940

Question 8

When did the Blitz start?

Answer 8

Sep 1940

Question 9

When did the Blitz end?

Answer 9

11 May 1941

Question 10

How can Churchill’s positions when he became PM be summarised?

Answer 10

• Never surrender (including refusal to ever talk peace terms w Hitler)
• French must fight and Br. will give what support it can
• Start to work on President Roosevelt to convince him to join war on Allied side

Question 11

Dunkirk stats:

Answer 11

• 338,000 troops evacuated
• 68,000 Brit soldiers killed/captured
• 75,000 tonnes of ammunition left behind

Question 12

14 Jun 1940

Answer 12

Germans enter Paris

Question 13

What did Churchill do during the Blitz?

Answer 13

Personally visited places that had been bombed - travelled to 60 towns in total.
Became v. angry - said he would pay back Germans w ‘compound interest’ - 58,000 Britons dead from aerial bombing vs 500,000 Germans

Question 14

How many times was the possibility of peace negotiations with Hitler discussed from 26 May 1940 (when discussions began)?

Answer 14

8 times in the next 4 days

Question 15

How many times did Churchill write to Roosevelt during the war?

Answer 15

2000

Question 16

3 Sep 1940

Answer 16

‘destroyers for bases’ deal w US.
- US gave BR 50 destroyers in return for long leases on land in various Br territories

Question 17

What did Churchill do to Halifax towards the end of 1940?

Answer 17

Sent him away to Washington as ambassador. Halifax threatened to resign but eventually went

Question 18

Example of public view towards war

Answer 18

Fulham bi-election: (1933)
Public voted in an independent on the mandate of appeasement
—> showed “public opinion”
Even though unrepresentative

Question 19

How did Baldwin present churchill + why

Answer 19

Presented his views on india as extreme - due to disagreements on rearmourment

Question 20

What are Labours-view of re-armourment the result of

Answer 20

Re-arm to prop up economy

Question 21

Who did Churchill get incorrect information about rearmourment

Answer 21

Gained it from ralph wigram