Posted on May 13, 2018
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On this day in 1940, as Winston Churchill takes the helm as Great Britain’s new prime minister, he assures Parliament that his new policy will consist of nothing less than “to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime.”
Emphasizing that Britain’s aim was simply “victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of terror, victory however long and hard the road may be.” That very evening, Churchill was informed that Britain would need 60 fighter squadrons to defend British soil against German attack. It had 39.
Within a couple of weeks, the conservative, anti-Socialist Churchill, in an effort to make his rally cry of victory a reality, proceeded to place all “persons, their services, and their property at the disposal of the Crown,” thereby granting the government the most all-encompassing emergency powers in modern British history.
Emphasizing that Britain’s aim was simply “victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of terror, victory however long and hard the road may be.” That very evening, Churchill was informed that Britain would need 60 fighter squadrons to defend British soil against German attack. It had 39.
Within a couple of weeks, the conservative, anti-Socialist Churchill, in an effort to make his rally cry of victory a reality, proceeded to place all “persons, their services, and their property at the disposal of the Crown,” thereby granting the government the most all-encompassing emergency powers in modern British history.
Churchill announces: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.” - May 13, 1940...
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WWII World War Two
WWII World War Two
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Winston Churchill "Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat"
May 13, 1940 First Speech as Prime Minister to the House of Commons _______ The speech: On Friday evening last I received His Majesty's commission to form a ...
Thank you TSgt Joe C. for reminding us that on May 13, 1940 Winston Churchill Great Britain’s new prime minister in the wake of benighted Neville Chamberlain's misguided policy of appeasing the Nazis.
My parents were teenagers in London at this time.
Image: 1940-05-13 Winston Churchill becomes prime minister
Background on Churchill becoming Prime Minister
"Neville Chamberlain resigns
On 7 May 1940, the House of Commons began a debate about the disastrous British campaign against the Germans in Norway. This turned into a vote of confidence in Neville Chamberlain, the Prime Minister. Chamberlain won the vote but it was clear he had lost the confidence of his colleagues in the Conservative Party.
Chamberlain then tried to form a national coalition government by joining his party, the Conservatives, with Labour and the Liberals. Clement Attlee, the Labour leader, refused to join any such government led by Chamberlain. This was in reaction to Chamberlain’s pre-war policy of appeasing Nazi Germany. Chamberlain had no option but to resign.
There were now two Tory candidates for prime minister: Lord Halifax, the Foreign Secretary, and Winston Churchill, the First Lord of the Admiralty. The exact details of the discussions between Chamberlain, Churchill and Halifax about who would become prime minister remain unclear.
The outcome, however, was clear. Halifax, who was Chamberlain’s preferred choice and the 'Establishment' candidate, turned down the offer to become prime minister. Halifax probably believed he could restrain Churchill more effectively by serving under him rather than as his leader. If it all went wrong, he could step in from a position of strength.
Churchill's years 'in the wilderness'
The field was now clear for Churchill, but he was by no means the obvious choice. He had had a highly successful political career in the early 20th Century but spent the 1930s 'in the wilderness', as he described it.
He was regarded by many politicians as unreliable and impetuous for, amongst other things: his stubborn opposition to Indian self-government; his swtiching between parties; his involvement in the 1936 Abdication crisis; and, above all, his unrelenting opposition to the appeasement of Nazi Germany.
Despite this, the outbreak of war with Germany in 1939 proved Churchill right. He was made prime minister on the same day that Germany invaded Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg ending the 'Phoney War'.
The reaction to Churchill's appointment
Although Churchill's appointment as prime minister was not initially welcomed by many of his political colleagues, he did enjoy widespread public support. He was greeted by cheering crowds outside Downing Street and his appointment was celebrated by David Low in his ‘All behind you, Winston’ cartoon, published in the Evening Standard newspaper on 14 May 1940.
Once he had taken office, Churchill wrote that he felt he was ‘walking with destiny'. Three days later he told the House of Commons that he had ‘nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat’, and set the mood of the nation by declaring the British aim was, ‘Victory. Victory at all costs. Victory in spite of all terror. Victory, however long and hard the road may be, for without victory there is no survival'.
"May 13, 1940
First Speech as Prime Minister to the House of Commons
_______
The speech:
On Friday evening last I received His Majesty's commission to form a new Administration. It as the evident wish and will of Parliament and the nation that this should be conceived on the broadest possible basis and that it should include all parties, both those who supported the late Government and also the parties of the Opposition. I have completed the most important part of this task. A War Cabinet has been formed of five Members, representing, with the Opposition Liberals, the unity of the nation. The three party Leaders have agreed to serve, either in the War Cabinet or in high executive office. The three Fighting Services have been filled. It was necessary that this should be done in one single day, on account of the extreme urgency and rigour of events. A number of other positions, key positions, were filled yesterday, and I am submitting a further list to His Majesty to-night. I hope to complete the appointment of the principal Ministers during to-morrow. the appointment of the other Ministers usually takes a little longer, but I trust that, when Parliament meets again, this part of my task will be completed, and that the administration will be complete in all respects.
I considered it in the public interest to suggest that the House should be summoned to meet today. Mr. Speaker agreed, and took the necessary steps, in accordance with the powers conferred upon him by the Resolution of the House. At the end of the proceedings today, the Adjournment of the House will be proposed until Tuesday, 21st May, with, of course, provision for earlier meeting, if need be. The business to be considered during that week will be notified to Members at the earliest opportunity. I now invite the House, by the Motion which stands in my name, to record its approval of the steps taken and to declare its confidence in the new Government.
To form an Administration of this scale and complexity is a serious undertaking in itself, but it must be remembered that we are in the preliminary stage of one of the greatest battles in history, that we are in action at many other points in Norway and in Holland, that we have to be prepared in the Mediterranean, that the air battle is continuous and that many preparations, such as have been indicated by my hon. Friend below the Gangway, have to be made here at home. In this crisis I hope I may be pardoned if I do not address the House at any length today. I hope that any of my friends and colleagues, or former colleagues, who are affected by the political reconstruction, will make allowance, all allowance, for any lack of ceremony with which it has been necessary to act. I would say to the House, as I said to those who have joined this government: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat."
We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival. Let that be realised; no survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for, no survival for the urge and impulse of the ages, that mankind will move forward towards its goal. But I take up my task with buoyancy and hope. I feel sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men. At this time I feel entitled to claim the aid of all, and I say, "come then, let us go forward together with our united strength."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TlkN-dcDCk
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey SSG John Ross SGT Mark Halmrast Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Gregory Lawritson CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SrA Christopher Wright Cpl Gabriel F. Cpl Scott McCarroll
My parents were teenagers in London at this time.
Image: 1940-05-13 Winston Churchill becomes prime minister
Background on Churchill becoming Prime Minister
"Neville Chamberlain resigns
On 7 May 1940, the House of Commons began a debate about the disastrous British campaign against the Germans in Norway. This turned into a vote of confidence in Neville Chamberlain, the Prime Minister. Chamberlain won the vote but it was clear he had lost the confidence of his colleagues in the Conservative Party.
Chamberlain then tried to form a national coalition government by joining his party, the Conservatives, with Labour and the Liberals. Clement Attlee, the Labour leader, refused to join any such government led by Chamberlain. This was in reaction to Chamberlain’s pre-war policy of appeasing Nazi Germany. Chamberlain had no option but to resign.
There were now two Tory candidates for prime minister: Lord Halifax, the Foreign Secretary, and Winston Churchill, the First Lord of the Admiralty. The exact details of the discussions between Chamberlain, Churchill and Halifax about who would become prime minister remain unclear.
The outcome, however, was clear. Halifax, who was Chamberlain’s preferred choice and the 'Establishment' candidate, turned down the offer to become prime minister. Halifax probably believed he could restrain Churchill more effectively by serving under him rather than as his leader. If it all went wrong, he could step in from a position of strength.
Churchill's years 'in the wilderness'
The field was now clear for Churchill, but he was by no means the obvious choice. He had had a highly successful political career in the early 20th Century but spent the 1930s 'in the wilderness', as he described it.
He was regarded by many politicians as unreliable and impetuous for, amongst other things: his stubborn opposition to Indian self-government; his swtiching between parties; his involvement in the 1936 Abdication crisis; and, above all, his unrelenting opposition to the appeasement of Nazi Germany.
Despite this, the outbreak of war with Germany in 1939 proved Churchill right. He was made prime minister on the same day that Germany invaded Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg ending the 'Phoney War'.
The reaction to Churchill's appointment
Although Churchill's appointment as prime minister was not initially welcomed by many of his political colleagues, he did enjoy widespread public support. He was greeted by cheering crowds outside Downing Street and his appointment was celebrated by David Low in his ‘All behind you, Winston’ cartoon, published in the Evening Standard newspaper on 14 May 1940.
Once he had taken office, Churchill wrote that he felt he was ‘walking with destiny'. Three days later he told the House of Commons that he had ‘nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat’, and set the mood of the nation by declaring the British aim was, ‘Victory. Victory at all costs. Victory in spite of all terror. Victory, however long and hard the road may be, for without victory there is no survival'.
"May 13, 1940
First Speech as Prime Minister to the House of Commons
_______
The speech:
On Friday evening last I received His Majesty's commission to form a new Administration. It as the evident wish and will of Parliament and the nation that this should be conceived on the broadest possible basis and that it should include all parties, both those who supported the late Government and also the parties of the Opposition. I have completed the most important part of this task. A War Cabinet has been formed of five Members, representing, with the Opposition Liberals, the unity of the nation. The three party Leaders have agreed to serve, either in the War Cabinet or in high executive office. The three Fighting Services have been filled. It was necessary that this should be done in one single day, on account of the extreme urgency and rigour of events. A number of other positions, key positions, were filled yesterday, and I am submitting a further list to His Majesty to-night. I hope to complete the appointment of the principal Ministers during to-morrow. the appointment of the other Ministers usually takes a little longer, but I trust that, when Parliament meets again, this part of my task will be completed, and that the administration will be complete in all respects.
I considered it in the public interest to suggest that the House should be summoned to meet today. Mr. Speaker agreed, and took the necessary steps, in accordance with the powers conferred upon him by the Resolution of the House. At the end of the proceedings today, the Adjournment of the House will be proposed until Tuesday, 21st May, with, of course, provision for earlier meeting, if need be. The business to be considered during that week will be notified to Members at the earliest opportunity. I now invite the House, by the Motion which stands in my name, to record its approval of the steps taken and to declare its confidence in the new Government.
To form an Administration of this scale and complexity is a serious undertaking in itself, but it must be remembered that we are in the preliminary stage of one of the greatest battles in history, that we are in action at many other points in Norway and in Holland, that we have to be prepared in the Mediterranean, that the air battle is continuous and that many preparations, such as have been indicated by my hon. Friend below the Gangway, have to be made here at home. In this crisis I hope I may be pardoned if I do not address the House at any length today. I hope that any of my friends and colleagues, or former colleagues, who are affected by the political reconstruction, will make allowance, all allowance, for any lack of ceremony with which it has been necessary to act. I would say to the House, as I said to those who have joined this government: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat."
We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival. Let that be realised; no survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for, no survival for the urge and impulse of the ages, that mankind will move forward towards its goal. But I take up my task with buoyancy and hope. I feel sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men. At this time I feel entitled to claim the aid of all, and I say, "come then, let us go forward together with our united strength."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TlkN-dcDCk
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey SSG John Ross SGT Mark Halmrast Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Gregory Lawritson CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SrA Christopher Wright Cpl Gabriel F. Cpl Scott McCarroll
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
Churchill story is a great example that the logical or preferred choice may not always be the best.
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LTC Stephen F.
Winston Churchill led an interesting and challenging life including serving in the Boer War. He was rising in parliament when the appeasement crowd forced him out Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen. Cigar chomping bull-dog Winston Churchill was the man that Britain needed in its hour of peril.
Hitler had an affinity for the British which lasted through Dunkirk but ended during the Battle of Britain
Hitler had an affinity for the British which lasted through Dunkirk but ended during the Battle of Britain
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
Agree, right man for the time. Somehow can't picture Chamberlain guiding Britain through WWII.
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SGT Brian Nile SGT Robert George SFC Shirley Whitfield MSG Mark Million Christine C Cullinan COL Lee Flemming SFC George Smith SrA Christopher Wright LTC (Join to see) PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SSgt Harvey "Skip" Porter SCPO Morris Ramsey SFC William Farrell SGT (Join to see) Alan K. SPC Mike Lake SFC Anthony Beck LTC Greg Henning SSgt (Join to see)
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