Wednesday, April 11, 2007
The Second World War: Their Finest Hour
Winston Churchill
1949
How the British people held the fort ALONE till those who hitherto had been half blind were half ready.
The Blitz refers to the unrelenting nightly air raids unleashed upon Britain every night between September and May 1941. The term derives from the German word Blitzkrieg, which literally translates as "lightening war." The strategy of lightening war was used successively against Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, and France. Hitler's policy of "one at a time" worked well through these four countries. He had no reason to believe that it wouldn't work a fifth time against Britain. In fact, Britain was, at times preceding the Blitz, woefully unprepared for invasion. The delay of the air attacks through the summer bought the British just enough to erect barely sufficient air defences. The defences consisted of both the Royal Air Force, ground based anti-aircraft guns, front line and reserve troops along the coast, and the million strong civilian armed home guard. Churchill insisted the he could only spare a certain amount of forces to aid Franc ea few months earlier. He was unrelenting in his commitment not to leave Britain undefended. This policy lost him much favour in France, and led to much of the resentment that spurred the actions of the French government set up in Vichy after France fell. But, had he given in, Britain would have fallen. Secure Britain, let France fall, and once strong again, return to liberate France. It was a desperate policy, horrible for France, but it was the only way, and it worked.
The Blitz dragged on. The name is in no way reflective of the actual event. There was no lighting shocking invasion. In fact, the Blitz was tedious, torturous, and routine. It became a way of life, a horrible decaying existence in which daily life went on, while nightly raids unceased. The Battle Of Britain - essentially Britain trying to withstand bombing - was won by two essential occurrences. The first was the ocean. Invading an island was an daunting complex logistical effort. The risk of losing hundreds of thousands of men in the crossing was high. Hitler couldn't invade until the RAF was shattered, which they never were. The invasion across the ocean was thus put off and Hitler abandoned his "one at a time" policy and began focusing on Russia. The second reason was the resilient perseverance of the British population. Nightly hundreds of volunteers would scout enemy planes and extinguish fires. But the real contribution was the fact that no one gave up. They endured the crowded shelters and went to work the next day. The lived through the loss of family, friends, and property and never lost courage. The kept the city and the war running and refused to have their spirit broken. And, it was just such a break in spirit that Hitler had hoped would come early. The prospect of demolishing London, or even England to ruins, was impossible. The only way to win was to make life so unendurable that the British gave in. They never gave in, they endured.
Churchill writes proudly of the British people. He inspired them with his determination, and is right to be proud. They responded powerfully. Again, as with the first volume, Churchill assumes the reader knows the story, and fills in the unseen events that took place daily in his office. His letters to presidents and generals are direct and firm, without ever straying from the utmost courtesy. It is interesting to see him write calmly and attempt to maintain composure when he is clearly frustrated.
The raids occupy the first part of the book, while the offensive action in the Mediterranean and North Africa occupy the second. It is fascinating for the reader to be shown how much the war went on despite the air raids. Often times Churchill would have to change offices or relocate to a shelter due to bombing, while not losing focus from an offensive action 1000 miles away. Though the country was under attack, the War Council knew that offensive action must not be stopped. Through the bombing and fires in London, Churchill coordinated some major action and victories in Africa. His renown comes partly from his unwavering steady focus on victory amidst chaos, and throughout late 1940, early 1941 he demonstrated why he is so deserving of this renown.
The book, again, was engrossing: deep, thick and vivid. The detail provided such a clear picture that even after the detail is forgotten, the impression left is still rich and full. He provides a one sided powerful understanding of such a major event, and methodically moves from day to day outlining the most incredible event with the same accurate, readable, and accessible prose.
Winston Churchill
1949
How the British people held the fort ALONE till those who hitherto had been half blind were half ready.
The Blitz refers to the unrelenting nightly air raids unleashed upon Britain every night between September and May 1941. The term derives from the German word Blitzkrieg, which literally translates as "lightening war." The strategy of lightening war was used successively against Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, and France. Hitler's policy of "one at a time" worked well through these four countries. He had no reason to believe that it wouldn't work a fifth time against Britain. In fact, Britain was, at times preceding the Blitz, woefully unprepared for invasion. The delay of the air attacks through the summer bought the British just enough to erect barely sufficient air defences. The defences consisted of both the Royal Air Force, ground based anti-aircraft guns, front line and reserve troops along the coast, and the million strong civilian armed home guard. Churchill insisted the he could only spare a certain amount of forces to aid Franc ea few months earlier. He was unrelenting in his commitment not to leave Britain undefended. This policy lost him much favour in France, and led to much of the resentment that spurred the actions of the French government set up in Vichy after France fell. But, had he given in, Britain would have fallen. Secure Britain, let France fall, and once strong again, return to liberate France. It was a desperate policy, horrible for France, but it was the only way, and it worked.
The Blitz dragged on. The name is in no way reflective of the actual event. There was no lighting shocking invasion. In fact, the Blitz was tedious, torturous, and routine. It became a way of life, a horrible decaying existence in which daily life went on, while nightly raids unceased. The Battle Of Britain - essentially Britain trying to withstand bombing - was won by two essential occurrences. The first was the ocean. Invading an island was an daunting complex logistical effort. The risk of losing hundreds of thousands of men in the crossing was high. Hitler couldn't invade until the RAF was shattered, which they never were. The invasion across the ocean was thus put off and Hitler abandoned his "one at a time" policy and began focusing on Russia. The second reason was the resilient perseverance of the British population. Nightly hundreds of volunteers would scout enemy planes and extinguish fires. But the real contribution was the fact that no one gave up. They endured the crowded shelters and went to work the next day. The lived through the loss of family, friends, and property and never lost courage. The kept the city and the war running and refused to have their spirit broken. And, it was just such a break in spirit that Hitler had hoped would come early. The prospect of demolishing London, or even England to ruins, was impossible. The only way to win was to make life so unendurable that the British gave in. They never gave in, they endured.
Churchill writes proudly of the British people. He inspired them with his determination, and is right to be proud. They responded powerfully. Again, as with the first volume, Churchill assumes the reader knows the story, and fills in the unseen events that took place daily in his office. His letters to presidents and generals are direct and firm, without ever straying from the utmost courtesy. It is interesting to see him write calmly and attempt to maintain composure when he is clearly frustrated.
The raids occupy the first part of the book, while the offensive action in the Mediterranean and North Africa occupy the second. It is fascinating for the reader to be shown how much the war went on despite the air raids. Often times Churchill would have to change offices or relocate to a shelter due to bombing, while not losing focus from an offensive action 1000 miles away. Though the country was under attack, the War Council knew that offensive action must not be stopped. Through the bombing and fires in London, Churchill coordinated some major action and victories in Africa. His renown comes partly from his unwavering steady focus on victory amidst chaos, and throughout late 1940, early 1941 he demonstrated why he is so deserving of this renown.
The book, again, was engrossing: deep, thick and vivid. The detail provided such a clear picture that even after the detail is forgotten, the impression left is still rich and full. He provides a one sided powerful understanding of such a major event, and methodically moves from day to day outlining the most incredible event with the same accurate, readable, and accessible prose.
# posted by mz @ 7:25 AM 
