![]() ![]() ![]() Then, on March 5, 1946, at Westminster College in Fulton, Churchill’s famous words “From Stettin in the Baltic, to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent,” ushered in the Cold War and framed the geo-political landscape for the next 50 years. Kennan, sent the famous “Long Telegram” warning of the Soviet Union’s perpetual hostility towards the West. On February 22, the American Ambassador to Moscow, George F. On February 9, Premier Joseph Stalin gave a speech in which he declared that war between the East and West was inevitable. In the wake of the Allied victory, the Soviet Union had begun shaping Eastern Europe in their image, bringing the governments of many nations into line with Moscow. Image courtesy of America’s National Churchill Museum.Ĭhurchill, who had won the war in Europe, only to lose in the British general election in July 1945, eagerly accepted the invitation to appear on the same platform with the President of the United States.Ĭhurchill knew that while the world looked forward to putting the horrors of war behind, events at the beginning of 1946 portended an even darker future ahead. Here he writes to Clementine with quiet satisfaction at his achievements: “It is our victory, won … largely through the Invincible tank”.Winston Churchill stands with US President Harry S Truman at Westminster College where Churchill gave his now famous speech. He had finally achieved some measure of the glory he had longed for. The modern machines of war – and Churchill – took their share of the battle honours. In August 1918, when the German offensive had burnt itself out, the Allies launched a surprise counter-offensive at Amiens, with a mass of Churchill’s "battleships" – or tanks – spearheading the attack. He appointed Churchill Minister of Munitions, putting him in charge of forging the weapons of war. In July 1917, German attacks on food supplies were threatening Britain’s ability to win the war and, with the positive findings of the Dardanelles Commission largely exonerating Churchill of responsibility for the disaster, Lloyd George took the risk of reintroducing him into Government. Although this didn’t happen immediately, the damage to Asquith’s Government had been done and Churchill was unceremoniously sacked.Ĭhurchill’s desire to play a more important role in the war was eventually fulfilled when David Lloyd George toppled Asquith to become Prime Minister. The deterioration in their relationship became evident when, on the Admiral’s resignation in May 1915 following the failure, he demanded that Churchill be ousted too. Churchill fought back a few days after receiving this, quoting Napoleon: “We are defeated at sea because our admirals have learned – where I know not – that war can be made without running risks”. This prophecy by Fisher that the Dardanelles would be their “grave” was proved correct. The elderly First Sea Lord Admiral Fisher, who had been a close friend of Churchill, frequently disagreed with Churchill on strategic issues. Prime Minister Asquith, Lord Kitchener, “Jackie” Fisher, as well as many at the War Council and War Office, all contributed to the plan and its failure. In Churchill's defence, complex decision making was behind the failure at Gallipoli. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |