(adamcotton @ Dec 14 2005, 06:11 AM) [post=43130]Ultimately, however, history will judge him on his record in the dark days of WW2, and this country was singularly fortunate to have such a man when his type was most needed. Churchill was against appeasement; he was against making peace with Germany when France fell. The tide of political opinion was against him, but he remained definantly resolute. His detractors cite these facts to level accusations of warmongery at him, but to me he epitomises the spirit of the British Bulldog in adversity. We owe him an awful, awful lot.. [/b] Almost spot on Adam. The only thing I add is the fact that Churchill was a world hero of free nations not simply a British hero. Had Churchill have buckled at the knees as all logic would tell you he should have, then the whole world might very well had fallen to Hitler's will. The odds of the US and remaining uncompromised allies to overcome the eventual conquest of Germany of all Europe (and then what?) would be in doubt both from needing the British island to launch its offensives and the incredible military resistance Britian put up until the resolution of the conflict. Few really realize the importance of leadership in trying times. It affects every aspect of their lives. Quite frankly, Britain in 1939-41 did not have a lot to be optimisitic about. This makes his contribution even more profound. I have resolved to my own satisfaction that if critics do their worst to Churchill because of his harmless vices, they perpetually wallow in futility and narrow-mindedness. And who cares what such people think in the first place? I can't imagine a man on earth that Hitler would have hated more than he. I think Sir Winston took great pleasure in that.
For the last 4 years I have been putting forward my opinion on various websites of the contribution made to WW2 by Churchill, Montgomery and Patton. I lived through WW2 and the reason I am alive today and living in the free world is in no small part due to them. It is good to see positive previous posts on this subject. Colin.
Churchill ranks amongst the finest leaders of the last century. An astute man with a passion for his country he foresaw the evil that was rising in Central Europe when everyone else still clung to the sinking ship that was appeasement. His leadership was exemplary in the dark days of 1940 and 1941 when Britain was genuinely under threat from Nazi Germany. He also knew what Stalin was capable of and was far more astute than Roosevelt in his dealings with the Soviet Dictator. Unfortunately we may not see his like again.
He was also voted the Greatest Britain in a BBC Poll, quite rightly too in my opinion. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/t...dio/2509465.stm
A man gifted with oratory skills, writing skills, and guts. The right man for the job imho. And I can unfortunately only agree with Gott here: we may not see his like again.* Cheers
William Manchester opens his superb biography of Churchill with a preamble that ends with his funeral, noting that when they carried Churchill's gun-carriage through London, and all London stood bareheaded in the cold to watch, they were bidding farewell to all that they had been and never would be again.
Churchill is the only foreign dignitary that has an active US Warship named after him. USS Winston S. Churchill DDG-81 is an Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer which are not only the most destructive destroyers ever laid down but are more lethal than the biggest battleship ever built in both range (360 miles) and destructiveness. Out of honor for Churchill, the US Navy has decreed that she has a Royal Navy member assigned to her at all times.
Very true Jim, he also got honoury US citizenship, he also initiated the so called 'Special relationship' that still exists today. He was one of kind a truly great leader despite his problems and eccentricities.
(jimbotosome @ Jan 25 2006, 05:50 PM) [post=44860]Churchill is the only foreign dignitary that has an active US Warship named after him. USS Winston S. Churchill DDG-81 is an Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer which are not only the most destructive destroyers ever laid down but are more lethal than the biggest battleship ever built in both range (360 miles) and destructiveness. Out of honor for Churchill, the US Navy has decreed that she has a Royal Navy member assigned to her at all times. [/b] Only at the moment. You left out the Harold E. Holt, named for an Australian Prime Minister who was eaten by a shark (while swimming), Comte de Grasse, named for the French admiral who won the battle of the Virginia Capes, the Lafayette, Simon Bolivar, Kamehamea, and Jose de San Martin, all SSBNs, now gone. There was also a USS Canberra, to honor the ship and city, when that Australian cruiser bought it in the teeth at Savo Island.
Agree about what has been said about cometh the hour cometh the man, but I think the view of some that Halifax would have capitulated to the Germans would be just more than a nasty taste in the mouth. Churchill repeatedly tried to inform Parliament of the German build up -but was repeatedly shouted down. It took a Foreign Office official to get the goods. Otherwise Churchill would have been shut out - period. Then what? Churchill read the situation and took the bull by the horns. He had a rapport with Roosevelt. America was getting regular news reports of the fight Britain was putting up. What kind of a country would we have if Halifax had taken over. He was the man for the hour, he was the man to get the job done. He wasn't there to win popularity contests. The man had a fervent love for his country and was passionate in showing it. Perhaps not the man for peacetime government, but a man like that motivated like he was isn't going to sit down in the corner when hostilities finish. It was mentioned that Hitler didn't want to invade Britain but wanted to leave the sea to us as long as we left him to Europe. If this is the case, it was only because he had met his match in Churchill. I don't think he would have said the same if Halifax was running the show. Saying that what would have happened if Japan had not attacked Pearl Harbor and brought the Americans into the war. America would have been in neutral. How long could Roosevelt have explained sending munitions to us. Think of the knock on effect no Brits in Burma. Japan had been in Manchuria since 1937 administering it's own brand of occupation. It would have taken over India, China and the sub- continent - no Brits in the way. I can respect what Sapper says it is easy watching the match from film. A different kettle of fish when you're actually on the pitch living it. I don't believe you get the depth of feeling of those times unless you talk to those who were there. I personally wouldn't like to think of an alternative to Churchill , a puppet government under Hitler. Do you think he would have treated us differently to the Poles and those in Eastern Europe. Ask the Jews, Russians, Norway,Denmark and the Poles. When Churchill spoke of the free world, he wasn't being melodramatic. Respectfully, can anybody think of who would have took up the reins with the veracity of Churchill if he wasn't there. Personally I don't think WSC has been praised enough and agree with the comments of other contributors on this thread
