Why did Churchill become PM Flashcards
Context
C appointed as First Lord of the Admiralty on 3rd September… Position he had held (Gallipoli).
Although war on land was quiet, there was action at sea:
- September 1939, HMS Courageous, an aircraft carrier, was torpedoed and sunk with the loss of more than 500 crew
- In October 1939, German U-Boat penetrated British naval base at Scapa Flow and sank battleship the Royal Oak…
Quiet war named the ‘Bore War’ until 9 April 1940 with German invasion of Denmark and Norway (Operation Weserbung).
Norway campaign
Coasts important to transport Swedish iron ore via Narvik to Germany and would reduce effectiveness of Allied blockade of Germany.
British troops forced to withdraw by early May
Humiliating Shirer (American journalist) ‘Germany has at last met the great British Empire in a straight fight and won hands down’.
Many blamed Churchill (closely involved throughout), but Chamberlain as well, and underinvestment in the 30s.
Polls: in April, 57% thought Chamberlain was doing a good job as PM. By May, 60% were against him.
Chips Channon: ‘our failure in Norway is largely Winston’s fault, and yet he would profit by it.’
Chamberlain tried to place blame on Churchill on 1st May, editor of Daily Mirror (Cecil King), recorded that ‘there is a movement on foot to foist the blame for the failure in Norway onto Churchill’.
Some signs that Churchill was struggling:
- 4th Leo Kennedy, a Times journalist wrote that Churchill is ‘really overdoing himself… but… ought somehow to be rested’.
- 6th May, accused Lord Halifax of ‘treason’, later apologised
Norway debates
Debate turned into a vote of confidence in Chamberlain government, although formally not the purpose.
Chamberlain spoke 1st about campaign. But Maisky described it as ‘simply rot’.
Not until Admiral Keyes dressed in his fully navy regalia with six rows of medal ribbons when the tenor of debate changed. His words had weight behind them because he was ‘no scheming politician’ (Duff Cooper)… Keynes called Norway ‘a shocking story of ineptitude’ but took pains to praise Churchill saying he was ‘longing to see proper use made of his great abilities’.
Leo Amery also delivered an electrifying speech, pointing to Chamberlain at the end saying ‘in the name of God go’.
DLG also attached Chamberlain, but also separated Churchill stating that he must not ‘be converted into an air-raid shelter to keep the splinters from hitting his colleagues’.
Churchill rounded up the debate having been tasked by Chamberlain to defend government. Maisky said it was ‘brilliant, but unconvincing’. Attlee said in a draft in his memoirs that it was a ‘very loyal effort to turn the tide’.
Whilst there was little chance of the govenrmnet being defeated, it was generally agreed that Chamberlain needed a majority of 100 or more to survive. But majority was only 81 (compared to 164 and 116 wins in summer of 1939).
Aftermath
Clear that Chamberlain had to go. Margesson told Jock Colville (Chamberlain’s private secretaty) ‘that Chamberlain would have to resign’. Although he had vacillations, Chamberlain himself told Churchill that ‘he felt that he could not go on’ as PM.
Halifax seemed most likely historian Blake argues ‘he was widely respected across the whole party political spectrum’. King wanted him stating that ‘H was the obvious man’. Labour was supportive stating that there was ‘no other choice’ but Halifax (said front bench Hugh Dalton). Press supported it Front page of Daily Mirror on 9 May said ‘Lord Halifax… is almost certain to become the new prime minister’. Chamberlain stated as recently as March 1940, that he would ‘rather have Halifax succeed me than Winston’.
HE Halifax was reluctant (met on morning of 9 May with Chamberlain), stating that he could not run the war in House of Lords. And that Churchill would be ‘running the war anyway’.
Lunch 9th May Chamberlain and Halifax and Churchill at No. 10 asked Attlee + Greenwood to persuade Labour’s National Executive Committee to join a coalition government. They agreed to put two questions to the National Executive:
1) Are you prepared to serve under Chamberlain?
2) Are you prepared to serve under someone else?
Churchill gave an account of meeting but highly inaccurate (got date wrong and forgot Margesson was present). Nevertheless, consensus reached that if Labour said they would not serve under Chamberlain, then Chamb would advise king to send for Churchill.
Although after Hitler’s invasion next day, Chamberalin seemed to change his mind about stepping down. But after Attlee called No.10 with results, stating unaminous decision to serve national government but not under Chamberlain, his resistance was ended.
HE, even at this late stage, Butler went to FO to persuade Halifax, but found he had ‘slipped out to go to the dentist’.
Churchill claimed to say to his wife ‘there is only one man who can turn me out and that is Hitler’. But he said to his bodyguard on 10 May 1940, that ‘I hope that it is not too late. I am very much afraid that it is.’
