Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Bantam (1962), Paperback, 652 pages
Description
Covers the problems confronted by Churchill as he becomes Prime Minister, the Battle of France, the story of Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain, and the rebuilding of England's Army.
User reviews
LibraryThing member majackson
A fine continuation of Churchill’s view of the Second World War. This book contains a close-up look at the difficulties faced by the average Brit…but does not discount the soldiers—both British and French, Australian, Canadian, Indian, and African. If you’ve read the first book, this is
Let me first provide an example of Churchill’s understated discussion of the French troop deployment against the initial German onslaught:
“One cannot be strong everywhere….[but] The spreading of forty-three divisions, of half the mobile French army, from Longwy to the Maginot Line forts….was an improvident disposition….A weight of opinion supports the criticism that the French reserves were inadequate, and, such as they were, badly distributed.”
He then goes on to discuss the weaknesses that the English should have pointed out, along with the anticipated, fairly strong, arguments in rebuttal by the French; and finally decides that the English should have made their case anyway. In other words, Churchill regrets that no one tried to point out that the French generals, left over from the First World War, were still trying to fight this war in the same way as before—without regard for the new developments in weaponry.
Without pulling punches, Churchill continues to describe the weaknesses of the French strategy and, after they entered the war, the Italian tactics (the which are too embarrassing to mention here). He notes that there seemed to be 2 types of French leaders responding to the German Blitzkrieg: the ones that decided that they’ve already lost the war and that everyone should just “give up”; and those that believed the British should give them more troops to continue the tactics that have lost the French so much ground already—in the belief that more of the same will finally win in the end.
And then there were the younger French generals…led by de Gaulle. One gets the impression that de Gaulle was a little bit too eager to use the British for all he could get and felt frustrated that the English put a higher priority on defending Great Britain than giving de Gaulle the extra support he needed to forge ahead.
Now here is something that quite surprised me:
In June of 1940 the British Cabinet and several French Ministers, including Generals, submitted to the French council of ministers a Declaration of Union wherein “The two Governments declare that France and Great Britain shall no longer be two nations, but one Franco-British Union.” The idea being that the British could absorb the ships and armies of the defeated French regime and continue the fight against the Nazis under the resultingly more favorable conditions of military unity.
“The overwhelming feeling of the [French] Council was to reject the whole plan.” You’ll have to read the various reasons for rejection…the sheer stupidity and short-sidedness of the ministers is also too strained, and painful, for me to rehearse.
Meanwhile, the English flirted with some other, pretty strange, weapons, including dropping parachutes with suspended aerial mines to intercept German bombers, and 3 inch rocket torpedoes against enemy aircraft. And it is impressive that Churchill had the time/energy/forethought to contemplate: how to save the broken London windows in order to melt them down and reforge them into replacement windows; efforts to speed up the refilling of the bomb holes in the airfield runways; devising various camouflage for the soldiers; using civilians, rather than soldiers for much of the “grunt” work behind the scenes—to free up the soldiers for actual fighting.
This book ends with the defeat of the Italians and the capture of the Italian “empire” in Africa. And America has still not declared war on the Axis.
The degree to which Churchill was committed to overseeing the British war efforts is astounding and very impressive—he not only ran the country, as the Prime Minister, be he also ran the war, as the Minister of War. And he did both so well.
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more in the same style. What’s different is some disclosures that surprised me for their not being mentioned in any of the other histories I’ve read.Let me first provide an example of Churchill’s understated discussion of the French troop deployment against the initial German onslaught:
“One cannot be strong everywhere….[but] The spreading of forty-three divisions, of half the mobile French army, from Longwy to the Maginot Line forts….was an improvident disposition….A weight of opinion supports the criticism that the French reserves were inadequate, and, such as they were, badly distributed.”
He then goes on to discuss the weaknesses that the English should have pointed out, along with the anticipated, fairly strong, arguments in rebuttal by the French; and finally decides that the English should have made their case anyway. In other words, Churchill regrets that no one tried to point out that the French generals, left over from the First World War, were still trying to fight this war in the same way as before—without regard for the new developments in weaponry.
Without pulling punches, Churchill continues to describe the weaknesses of the French strategy and, after they entered the war, the Italian tactics (the which are too embarrassing to mention here). He notes that there seemed to be 2 types of French leaders responding to the German Blitzkrieg: the ones that decided that they’ve already lost the war and that everyone should just “give up”; and those that believed the British should give them more troops to continue the tactics that have lost the French so much ground already—in the belief that more of the same will finally win in the end.
And then there were the younger French generals…led by de Gaulle. One gets the impression that de Gaulle was a little bit too eager to use the British for all he could get and felt frustrated that the English put a higher priority on defending Great Britain than giving de Gaulle the extra support he needed to forge ahead.
Now here is something that quite surprised me:
In June of 1940 the British Cabinet and several French Ministers, including Generals, submitted to the French council of ministers a Declaration of Union wherein “The two Governments declare that France and Great Britain shall no longer be two nations, but one Franco-British Union.” The idea being that the British could absorb the ships and armies of the defeated French regime and continue the fight against the Nazis under the resultingly more favorable conditions of military unity.
“The overwhelming feeling of the [French] Council was to reject the whole plan.” You’ll have to read the various reasons for rejection…the sheer stupidity and short-sidedness of the ministers is also too strained, and painful, for me to rehearse.
Meanwhile, the English flirted with some other, pretty strange, weapons, including dropping parachutes with suspended aerial mines to intercept German bombers, and 3 inch rocket torpedoes against enemy aircraft. And it is impressive that Churchill had the time/energy/forethought to contemplate: how to save the broken London windows in order to melt them down and reforge them into replacement windows; efforts to speed up the refilling of the bomb holes in the airfield runways; devising various camouflage for the soldiers; using civilians, rather than soldiers for much of the “grunt” work behind the scenes—to free up the soldiers for actual fighting.
This book ends with the defeat of the Italians and the capture of the Italian “empire” in Africa. And America has still not declared war on the Axis.
The degree to which Churchill was committed to overseeing the British war efforts is astounding and very impressive—he not only ran the country, as the Prime Minister, be he also ran the war, as the Minister of War. And he did both so well.
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LibraryThing member xenchu
This is the story of Great Britain's desperate stand against, all alone, the Nazi power. Fortunately, according to Winston Churchill, they picked their very best man to be their leader -- himself. Actually, by the historical result, they did pick the best man. This is how he dealt with the
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exigencies of war, his relationships with the united States, with Vichy France, with innumerable problems,situations and difficulties. Show Less
LibraryThing member Smiley
Second volume of Churchill's WWII memiors deals with the fall of France and Britian's 15 months of lonely battle against Hitler. Once again very readable and excellent use of primary source material. Was everyone really so united?
LibraryThing member MrsLee
This volume takes us from roughly May of 1940, through December of 1940. Churchill records the ups and downs, the victories and defeats, the known and the unknown fears of that time. It is the inside scoop, so to speak. A way to look inside the workings of his brain. I found it fascinating reading.
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Some of the numerous memos to various staff members can grow tedious, but his narrative is living and vibrant. I felt myself there in the midst of it all. His humor is so dry you might miss it, but don't, it is really fine. I'm sure there is a book of his public speeches out there, and I intend to have it someday. They are rousing and inspiring and far-sighted. I find the speech he gave at Neville Chamberlain's funeral full of wisdom and grace. "The only guide to a man is his conscience; the only shield to his memory is the rectitude and sincerity of his actions." That is just a tidbit of the speech. Show Less
LibraryThing member shdawson
One of the greatest books I have ever read. A detailed and accurate recording of the Battle of Britain.
This is arguably a necessary read for every student of Freedom and Democracy.
Wonderful, absolutely wonderful.
This is arguably a necessary read for every student of Freedom and Democracy.
Wonderful, absolutely wonderful.
LibraryThing member Gold_Gato
This is the volume of the Second World War collection, in which Mr. Churchill really grabs the reader's attention. While the first volume had to present the background and all of the events leading up to WWII, this book focuses on the hard-pressed Brits and their resilience in the face of seeming
The Prime Minister's sardonic comments are sprinkled throughout, so you can laugh even when you want to cry. He is blisteringly honest in his evaluation of the constant losing and how the British population is close to just giving up altogether. Then comes the Battle of Britain and the beginning of the turnaround against the Germans. He keeps the reader glued with the detail, so that you feel you were there when it happened.
This is a big book, but once you get hooked, forget about putting it down. The human tragedy is mixed with human hope and that wonderful British upper-lip-ness. As London is being destroyed neighborhood by neighborhood by Hitler's flying bombs, a Home Guardsman is heard saying, "It's a grand life, if we don't weaken."
Book Season = Autumn
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victory for the enemy.The Prime Minister's sardonic comments are sprinkled throughout, so you can laugh even when you want to cry. He is blisteringly honest in his evaluation of the constant losing and how the British population is close to just giving up altogether. Then comes the Battle of Britain and the beginning of the turnaround against the Germans. He keeps the reader glued with the detail, so that you feel you were there when it happened.
This is a big book, but once you get hooked, forget about putting it down. The human tragedy is mixed with human hope and that wonderful British upper-lip-ness. As London is being destroyed neighborhood by neighborhood by Hitler's flying bombs, a Home Guardsman is heard saying, "It's a grand life, if we don't weaken."
Book Season = Autumn
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LibraryThing member DinadansFriend
As well as his career as a politician WSC made a good deal of Money as a journalist. This was his fifth war covered. We are taken through the darkest days in this volume, and the Battle of Britain.
I read this at least three times.
I read this at least three times.
LibraryThing member encephalical
Stirring stuff. The chapters on Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain especially so. The absolute master at politely and diplomatically telling people to get their motherfucking act in gear. I was surprised to learn the internal discussion of offering to merge with France into one nation. Another
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surprise was the telegram to FDR mentioning potentially letting Northern Ireland merge with Eire. Show Less
LibraryThing member charlie68
A narrator that does a great imitation of the great man. The history is well represented, from the faĺl of France to the blitzing of London and Great Britain, gives the listener a ring-side seat.
Subjects
Awards
Notable Books List (1949)
Language
Original publication date
1949-06-27
1949
ISBN
none