(One of a series of weekday posts on the life of Winston S. Churchill.)
A Pearl Harbor background statement at the White House Historical Association’s website notes “Churchill knew immediately the implications of this attack.”
The most important implication? America’s entry into the war assured Allied victory.
In hindsight that seems so obvious a conclusion that you might ask: “Why bother even mentioning it?”
Because in 1941 the decisive role America would play in assuring victory wasn’t so obvious. Those who controlled policy in Japan, for instance, to the extent they considered it, discounted it.
More than 10 years after Pearl Harbor Churchill had such short-sighted people in mind when he wrote:
Silly people, and there were many, not only in enemy countries, might discount the force of the United States. Some said they were soft, others that they would never be united. They would fool around at a distance. They would never come to grips. They would never stand bloodletting. Their democracy and system of recurrent elections would paralyze their war effort. They would be just a vague blur on the horizon to friend or foe. Now we should see the weakness of this numerous but remote, wealthy and talkative people.”Churchill’s words are found in his The Second World War, Vol. 3, (pg. 539).
Tomorrow we’ll read Churchill’s answer to the “silly people” and I’ll offer some commentary.
4 comments:
Churchill was right then. Unfortunately, the "silly people" seem to be right now.
J in C,
One of the myths about Churchill ios he helped win the war "by mobilizing the English language".True,but he ran a viryual 'shadow cabinet' in the thirties garnering information on the Nazi's build-up and pushe through funding for defense appropriations that were ready for war usage when it came.Wouk's "Winds of War" details a "Chain Home" or radar station scene during the Blitz.I argue this was more valuble to winning WW II than Enigma.Any way,WSC was more than an heroic figure/orator.He got things done,pre war,which wewre invaluble.
Wouk wrote;"Today,an idealizee figure of history WSC was,at various times,considered by the English public a drunkard,a Victorian figure past his time,a mawkish figure......For all his faults he is one of a very few who can be considered a savor of his country and perhaps civilization,which is a very select company.
Best wishes,Corwin
Churchill was the single most important human in the 20th century. By any measure.
To Straightarrow,
I often think about the "silly people" now.
Corwin,
I don't know how to weigh radar v. Enigma. It's an interesting question that reminds us how easily at least in the early years WW II might have gone "the other way."
Straightarrow,
Churchill "most important" person in 20th?
I'm inclined to agree with you.
Best to all three of you,
John
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