KT1 - Churchill and the road to war

Churchill context:

Came from and aristocratic family. His grandfather was a Duke, his father was a leading Conservative politician. Had been a soldier before joining the Conservative party in 1900. He left the conservative party to join the Liberals in 1904 but returned to the Conservatives in 1924. Was first Lord of the Admiralty from 1911 to 1915 but resigned following failings at Gallipoli. Churchill was outspoken, confident, ambitious and his speeches were influential. He encouraged strong friendships and was an opponent to the trade unions.

KT1 - Churchills view of events.

In short, his old-fashioned views, constantly going against public opinion, meant he was isolated and very unpopular. Examples of his views are: India, the abdication of Kind Edward VIII, Rearmament and Concessions to Hitler.

India

Context: Pushback from Indian nationalists due to demands for self governance → Britain responds with repressive Rowlatt acts 1919 (increase police power by allowing imprisonment without trial) → Ghandi led protests → April 1919 Amritsar Massacre (British troops kill 380 protestors, 1200 wounded) → led to mass disobedience campaign → 1930 Salt March led by Ghandi to protest British salt tax (Ghandi arrested) → 1930-32 Ghandi released to discuss end to conflict in Round table conferences → Government of India Act 1935

Churchill viewed India as ‘the Jewel of the crown’. He believed it was his duty to launch a personal crusade to defend Britains interest. Churchill disliked a proposal from Viceroy Lord Irwin (Lord Halifax) which proposed Round table conferences to discuss giving India dominion status (allowing it to govern itself). Churchill in a conversation with Edward Montagu said “that Indians were a very low class of labourers and to put them on equality with Europeans is revolting”. Furthermore, Churchill spoke out in December 1930 at a meeting of The Indian Empire Society - an organisation opposing Indian independence - an organisation highly unrepresentative of British public opinion. Churchill had been unwise to associate himself with it by speaking out. Churchill also had a strong belief in racial-superiority and their entitlement to govern other nations, often calling India ‘British possessions’. The independence of Britains dominians: Canada, New Zealand, South Africa meant that to oppose Indian independence seemed motivated only by prejudice. This highlighted his out of touch views. He stopped agitating after the government of India act 1935.

Abdication of Edward VIII

Context: King Edward VIII wants to marry twice divorced women (Wallis Simpson) → needs cabinets permission and they say no → So he abdicates in 1936

Churchill held the unpopular view that the British should support the king as it is owed to him through divine right → Was a member of a group called ‘The King’s Friends’ → who undertook chivalrous attitude. He then misjudged the mood in the House of Commons (7 December 1936) where he made a speech supporting the King’s decision which was shouted down. As he exited the House of Commons he said that his political career was finished. This is a clear example of Churchill’s chivalrous attitude being rooted in the past and leading to him isolating himself from parliamentary attitudes.

Rearmament + Appeasement

Rearmament

Context: 1933 Hitler becomes chancellor of Germany and German rearmament quickly follows.

Churchill saw German rearmament as dangerous, particularly the new German airforce as he had approved air attacks in Iraqi in 1920 and had witnessed the effects of aerial bombing. Churchill had also been a member of government during the creation of the Treaty of Versailles and wanted to uphold it. However, public opinion swayed towards maintaining disarmament in Britain. The public was tired of war - every person in Britain knew someone who had died. In Adlington 169 conscripts went to fight in WW1 and not a single one returned. Churchill had also been responsible for disarming in 1920s and maintaining the 10 year rule (that defence planning should not consider war likely for the next ten years). Furthermore, many saw German rearmament as fair, the TOV was renowned for being incredibly harsh and Germany faced a threat from the Soviet Union and the French and thus a larger military would be a fair deterrent for Germany to have. Churchills career was also in a particularly dire position by this point and therefore his reputation lacked credibility. It appeared that Churchill always held a contrarian point of view and this made him unpopular.

Appeasement

Context: 1925 Locarno Pact between France, Britain, Italy and Germany ‘guaranteed Germans western frontiers’. Germany left the League of Nations in 1933. Hitler reintroduced conscription in 1935. Remilitarised the Rhineland in 1936, again breaking the TOV. Britain had lost alliance with Mussolini as public opinion had forced it to condemn invasion of Ethiopia. Germany annexed Austria in March 11 1938 (Anschluss) - invaded and incorporated Austria into the German Reich. Britain made the Polish Guarantee on the 31st March 1939.

Acts of appeasement: Anglo-German Naval Treaty 1935 → Britain gave Germany approval to increase its naval fleet if it was limited to 35% of the British navy. This broke the TOV and Locarno pact. Munich conference in September 1938 appeased Hitlers demand in controlling the Sudetenland.

Churchills view:

Churchill made a speech in the HOC about Munich on October 1938 where he called it “the first sip of a bitter cup” highlighting his prediction that Hitler would not stop with appeasement. Churchill detested the “neglect and deficiency of defences”. Churchill pushed for a Grand Alliance between Britain, France and USA → saw it as necessary for defending against German expansion within Europe. Whether Churchill believed Britain should have gone to war is unclear but he clearly believed that Britain should have forcefully opposed German expansion, in conjunction with other allied forces.

Problems with Churchills view:

Issues with alliances: there had been no talks about alliances with France or other nations; the Grand alliance appeared unrealistic; Chamberlain himself mentioned in a letter that he had considered a Grand alliance but all you had to do was look at a map to see that USA and France could do nothing to help Czechoslovakia. Churchill had been relentlessly hostile towards Communism and the Soviet Union so no immediate, effective alliance appeared to be available with Stalin. USA also favoured isolationism → passing Neutrality Acts which prevented even supplying other countries engaged in war.

Resources in the Empire: Britain did not have expeditionary forces ready to go to war; its troops were caught up in peacekeeping within the Empire, especially in Palestine.

Why did Churchill become Prime Minister in 1940?

Context: Nazi-Soviet Pact 1939 → joint invasion of Poland → Nazi’s in the West, Soviets in the East. Britain declares war on Sep 3 1939 and Chamberlain asks Churchill to be a member of the inner war cabinet. → Churchill pushes for intervention in Norway as German invasion would mean a route to Swedish Iron → Failure of the Norway Campaign.

So why when Norway fails did Churchill still come to power? Churchill took responsibility for the failure at Norway and remained loyal to Chamberlain; this actually improved his popularity despite the losses. There was also a growing hostility towards Chamberlain and as he became unwell there was a clear view that a new leader was needed. Lord Halifax was the most popular option but he did not want to step into a role he knew he was not fit for. Churchill was popular with the British Public; he represented the only part of the armed service actively engaging during the ‘Phoney War’. This, combined with backing by Labour and its leader Clement Attlee towards Churchill ensured his promotion. Against the Kings judgement he appointed Churchill as Prime minister on 10th May 1940.