The House may be assured that the utmost ingenuity is being displayed and imagination is being evoked from large numbers of competent officers, well-trained in tactics and thoroughly up to date, to measure and counterwork novel possibilities.
Therefore, in casting up this dread balance sheet and contemplating our dangers with a disillusioned eye, I see great reason for intense vigilance and exertion, but none whatever for panic or despair.During the first four years of the last war the Allies experienced nothing but disaster and disappointment. Odd as it may seem, some attention has been given to this by the Admiralty, whose prime duty and responsibility is to destroy any large sea-borne expedition before it reaches, or at the moment when it reaches, these shores. The Canadians had actually landed in France, but have now been safely withdrawn, much disappointed, but in perfect order, with all their artillery and equipment. I spoke the other day of the colossal military disaster which occurred when the French High Command failed to withdraw the northern Armies from Belgium at the moment when they knew that the French front was decisively broken at Sedan and on the Meuse. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. As the Stars & Stripes reported “the Tommies roared their approval of Churchill, the sounds echoing sharply through the ruins…with scrapheaps of Axis planes nearby.” We use cookies to ensure that we are able to give you the best experience on our website. This was their finest hour was a speech delivered by Winston Churchill to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom on 18 June 1940, just over a month after he took over as Prime Minister at the head of an all-party coalition government.
the French Army, both by fighters and bombers; but in spite of every kind of pressure we never would allow the entire metropolitan fighter strength of the Air Force to be consumed.
All concerns about acoustics were gone in an instant. Let each man search his conscience and search his speeches. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Churchill’s speech was necessary to share with the British people the very real dilemma facing them. Already the US had promised Britain the fullest aid with munitions; after the US November elections, Churchill had no doubt, the whole English-speaking world would be in line togetherthe on-line electronic Hansard has at this point 'the British Commonwealth and Empire'. Others are still fighting with the French, and fighting with considerable success in their local encounters against the enemy. There is general curiosity in the British Fleet to find out whether the Italians are up to the level they were at in the last war or whether they have fallen off at allChurchill had already made a short wireless broadcast on the afternoon of 17 May Touching in passing upon (and making light of) the entry of Italy into the war on the side of GermanyTwo versions exist of this portion of the speech, the version given in the on-line Hansard being considerably shorter; see the discussion pageIn a Secret Session of the House two days later, Churchill gave his view that the USA would not support Britain if they thought it was down and out. had proceeded abroad.
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Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. We have fully informed and consulted all the self-governing Dominions, these great communities far beyond the oceans who have been built up on our laws and on our civilization, and who are absolutely free to choose their course, but are absolutely devoted to the ancient Motherland, and who feel themselves inspired by the same emotions which lead me to stake our all upon duty and honour. It has worsened by the fact that the Germans have conquered a large part of the coast line of Western Europe, and many small countries have been overrun by them. [Listen to a Churchill extract] Winston Churchill "This was their finest hour" June 18, 1940 I spoke the other day of the colossal military disaster which occurred when the French High Command failed to withdraw the northern Armies from Belgium at the moment when they knew that the French front was decisively broken at Sedan and on the Meuse.