Search results
“Their Finest Hour” is a speech originally given by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill on June 18, 1940, in the House of Commons to members of Parliament and his ministerial cabinet. Churchill delivered the speech following the disastrous campaign of the Battle of France and the hasty evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF ...
- Their Finest Hour Essay Analysis
Their Finest Hour. Nonfiction | Essay / Speech | Adult |...
- Their Finest Hour Essay Analysis
Their Finest Hour. Nonfiction | Essay / Speech | Adult | Published in 1949. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. Download PDF.
This study guide will help you analyze Winston Churchill’s speech “Their Finest Hour,” delivered at the House of Commons, the British Parliament. The speech took place on June 18th, 1940, during the early stages of World War II. Summary.
Summary. Winston Churchill begins his speech “Their Finest Hour” by commenting on the Dunkirk evacuation and the situation of the British troops after the Battle of France, when German troops invaded France and Northern Europe.
- Churchill Addresses The Threat to Britain
- Churchill's Background and Role
- Start of World War II
- Battle of France
- Churchill in Command
- Call For Unity
- Vow to Fight on
- Britain's Military Preparedness
- Britain's Strong Navy
- Britain's Air Force
On June 18, 1940, with France about to fall to the invading German army early in World War II, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill delivered one of his most inspiring speeches. Speaking to the House of Commons, the lower house of the British Parliament, he assessed the ominous situation in the war. Churchill outlined British defenses against a...
Churchill, born to an aristocratic family, was a poor student whose grades prevented him from entering university. Instead, he went to Britain's Royal Military Academy. After finishing school, Churchill became a journalist and then entered the House of Commons. In 1904, he switched political parties from the Conservatives, or Tories, to the Liberal...
In 1939, Hitler started World War II by invading Poland. The British and French declared war soon after the invasion but mounted little effort to curb the Germans' overtaking Poland. Hitler's troops overwhelmed Polish forces, which were also under attack from the east by the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin. Chamberlain, preparing for war, put Chur...
In April of 1940, Germany invaded and took over Norway. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded Belgium and the Netherlands. The two nations fell quickly, and German tanks rolled into France. Within days, the situation in France turned dangerous. Two weeks later, Great Britain decided to pull most of its army from France, which saved the army but doomed F...
The German invasion of Belgium and the Netherlands doomed Chamberlain's leadership. He resigned as prime minister, and a new government (administration) was formed with Churchill in charge. He also named himself minister of defense, determined to impose his strategies on the course of the war. Three days after taking charge, he spoke to the House o...
Churchill starts the speech by reviewing the bad situation in Europe. He notes the "colossal military disaster" that has just occurred, with Nazi troops successfully invading northern Europe and France. His purpose, Churchill says, is not to criticize the previous government. He is referring to the administration—the government, in British parlance...
While he calls for unity and wants to cut off criticism of the previous government, Churchill does also stress that he had predicted the military catastrophe that just took place. He notes that he had spoken to the House of Commons two weeks previously. At that time, he had said that a terrible defeat was possible, but he had also emphasized that B...
Churchill lays out details of the current state of military preparedness, offering them as proof that the country is equipped to fight on, even though France and other allies had been defeated. He explains that some 350,000 British troops have been brought back safely from the fighting in Europe, along with great stashes of weapons and ammunition. ...
Churchill then brings his focus to Britain's Royal Navy, the branch of the military he had overseen as lord of the admiralty. The British navy had long been one of the strongest in the world and remained so at the start of World War II. Churchill rather testily comments that some people seem to need reminding that Britain has a navy. He goes on to ...
Churchill next moves to his analysis of Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF). He notes "the great question": Can Britain succeed against German air assaults? He plainly expresses regret that Britain's air force does not have "an Air Force at least equal to that of the most powerful enemy within striking distance of these shores." Here, Churchill seems w...
Ethos, Pathos, Logos, Hooray! Unlock the secrets of Winston S. Churchill's "Their Finest Hour" with our comprehensive study guide. Dive deep into themes, characters, and literary devices that shaped this WWII masterpiece. 📚 Get ready to explore history like never before!
People also ask
How did Britain's 'finest hour' affect Britain?
Why is Churchill's 'their finest hour' important?
Why did Charles de Gaulle write their finest hour?
How does Churchill use retaliation in 'their finest hour'?
Their Finest Hour. Nonfiction | Essay / Speech | Adult | Published in 1949. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. Download PDF.
