Why did Churchill become Prime Minister in 1940? Flashcards

1
Q

What job was Churchill given by Chamberlain in Sep 1939?

A

First Lord of the Admiralty

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What disaster happened when Churchill had previously held this position?

A

Gallipoli - 1915

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What did some refer to the period between Sep 1939 and Apr/May 1940?

A

‘Sitzkrieg”; ‘Bore War’; ‘Phoney War’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What happened in Apr 1940?

A

Operation Weserubung - G. invasion of Denmark and Norway

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What were Br. troops forced to do in Norway by early May 1940?

A

Withdraw

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What were polls showing in Apr and May 1940?

A

Apr - 57% thought Chamberlain was doing a good job as PM

May - 60% against him

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What did Churchill accuse Halifax of, and when and what did he later do?

A

6 May - ‘Treason’; He later apologised and blamed his rudeness on the ‘present atmosphere of frustration’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Since Sep 1939, how much had Churchill’s consumption of wine cost him?

A

£30/month

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

When was the Norway debate held?

A

7-8 May 1940

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Who spoke in the Norway debate?

A

Chamberlain, Admiral Sir Roger Keyes, Leo Amery, David Lloyd George, Churchill

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What was Leo Amery’s famous line?

A

“In the name of God, go”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What did David Lloyd George ask Chamberlain to do?

A

“Sacrifice the seals of office”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What did the gov.’s majority fall to?

A

81

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Who was David Margesson?

A

Chief Whip

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Who was most likely candidate to replace Chamberlain?

A

Lord Halifax

  • King wanted him, noting in his diary ‘H was the obvious man’
  • Front page of Daily Mirror on 9 May read: ‘Lord Halifax…is almost certain to become the new Prime Minister.’
  • Chamberlain had written a letter to his sister in March 1940 that he would ‘rather have Halifax succeed me than Winston’.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Why might the King have preferred Halifax to Churchill? (Prov.)

A

Churchill’s role in abdication crisis; Gallipoli

17
Q

Who visited the Foreign Office to persuade Halifax to become PM?

A

Rab Butler

18
Q

What two questions did Attlee and Greenwood put to the Labour Party’s National Executive and what was the answer?

A
  1. Are you prepared to serve under Chamberlain?
  2. Are you prepared to serve under someone else?

Ans: Labour wld serve in a coalition gov. but not under him

19
Q

Prov. of Churchill’s passage in The Gathering Storm p.522, 523, 524)

A

Churchill got date and time wrong of meeting, and forgot Margesson was there altogether

20
Q

When did Churchill become Prime Minister?

A

10 May 1940