By Max Hastings of the Daily Mail:
Next month is the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II in 1939. It was a conflict that Britain could not have won without one man – Winston Churchill.
It was a war that, without him, could not even have been fought. It was his inspiration that prevented Britain from joining the rest of Europe in surrendering to the might of Nazi Germany.
And at the end, as a new world order emerged in 1945 out of the global bloodbath, it was his determination and personality that had this bombed-out and bankrupt nation still holding a crucial position at the centre of international affairs, still in the game, still a player.
‘There I sat,’ the great man recalled of a summit meeting with Stalin, the dictator of the Soviet Union, and Roosevelt, the President of the United States, ‘with the great Russian bear on one side of me, and on the other side the great American buffalo.
Between the two sat the poor little English donkey, who was the only one who knew the right way home.’
All this made that ‘poor little donkey’ the greatest Englishman of the 20th century, indeed of all time.
He was a titan, a warlord extraordinaire, one of a tiny number of actors who proved worthy of the leading role in which destiny cast him.
Yet his wartime relationship with the British people was much more complex than is often acknowledged and he was by no means universally popular, adored or trusted.
For his part, he was constantly disappointed by the performance of the British Army, both officers and men.
Much of the story of Britain’s part in the war was that of the Prime Minister seeking more from his own nation and its warriors than most could deliver.
He was – and still is – accused of arrogance, emotion, self-indulgence, stubbornness and a blind faith in his own ability.
Yet Sir Edward Bridges, then Cabinet Secretary, was right when he wrote of Churchill between 1940 and 1942: ‘Everything depended upon him and him alone. Only he had the power to make the nation believe that it could win.’
Hat tip to Speranza
I’ve always loved this picture of Churchill. Modern PC anti-Gunz nutz would shit their knickers.
Hat tip to one of the Blogmocracy readers.
That actually would be me but that’s ok. Churchill was a lousy military strategist (from Gallipoli to the Italian campaign) but what a great man he was! The only Englishmen (woman) to come close to him in post war Britain was the Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher. I think that W.C. would be turning over in his grave if he saw how today’s Britain (of Gordon Brown and The Guardian) is cowering in the face of Islam.
By the way I do not like Max Hastings who is very anti Israel and not a great friend of America. However he is a terrific World War II military historian but I will never buy his books ever again (I would take them out of the library though).
re: #2 by Speranza
My favorite Churchill story is about his trying to summon the courage to propose to Clemmie. They were sitting in the summerhouse at Blenheim Palace, and he was hemming and hawing. She started watching a bug on the tiled floor and decided that if Winnie hadn’t proposed by the time the bug crossed the tile, she was getting up and leaving.
He beat the bug.
re: #2 by Speranza
He understood the threat of Islam way back.
“Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it.
No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome.
– Sir Winston Churchill (The River War, first edition, Vol. II, pages 248-50 [London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1899]).
Churchill would be considered a Racist Rightwing Extremist now!
/
A certain Blog, would be bashing him everyday!
re: #5 by vagabond trader
Islam is a movement. Its not a Religion.
All fixed, Speranza
re: #7 by Rodan
Murderous cult as far as I’m concerned.
No, I do not trust them, same with Germans.Its personal.
re: #8 by savage
I was just giving ya a hard time for fun. I’m not that into hat tips (well maybe a little!)
re: #6 by Rodan
They’d call him a Nazi, no doubt. Like they would Orianna Fallaci, were she still alive.
BTW, I admit going over there earlier tonight. I’ll note that Zombie seems to be about the only one who is sane now. They are talking about supporting gun control because some people, unwisely perhaps, excercized their rights under the law and carried firearms near where Obama might have been. Maybe. According to Talking Points Memo who would neve lie about such a thing of course.
Oh, my. I wonder if Occasional Reader has read this thread?
re: #10 by Speranza
When you bring up good stuff for discussion, you get the hat tip, so good on ya!
re: #1 by Iron Fist
I love that picture too. I have one of me holding my own “Chicago Typewriter”. Man, that thing is a blast!
re: #4 by goddessoftheclassroom
Five favorite Churchill stories/quotes
1. In the House of Commons lavatory Labour Leader Clement Atlee was standing at the long urinal when Churchill entered the room and walked around Atlee to the far end of the trough to do his business. Atlee said, “Winston, I know we’re political opponents, but we don’t have to carry our differences into the gentleman’s lavatory.” Churchill replied, “Clement, the trouble with you Socialists is that whenever you see anything in robust and sturdy condition you want to regulate it.”
2 There but for the grace of God goes God.
Winston Churchill on Sir Stafford Cripps
3. A modest man, who has much to be modest about.
Winston Churchill On Clement Atlee
4. I wish Stanley Baldwin no ill, but it would have been much better if he had never lived.
Winston Churchill on former Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin
5. “Embalm, cremate, bury at sea. Take no chances”.
On hearing about the death of Stanley Baldwin
re: #9 by vagabond trader
Same with me and Islam, they tried to exterminate my Spanish ancestors. We won and thank God, we did!
re: #11 by Iron Fist
Orianna Fallaci described herself as a “Christian Atheist” in one of her books.
G-d, we need more like her. She was truly a Titan in the culture wars with the mohammedans.
re: #1 by Iron Fist
Well, I do too, that’s why it’s up there now, and it fits too, yay!
re: #11 by Iron Fist
I was never enthralled with Zombie, who believes the Rs should lean more to the left and expell social conservatives.Now if you like pics of SF pervs running around with their junk hanging out….
Just kidding, don’t shoot me!
re: #11 by Iron Fist
Its Progressive to take away guns!
/
That’s how they think.
re: #15 by Rodan
OBL still has an obsession with Spain.Once Islam inhabits someone elses land they think they own it forever.
re: #13 by Foghorn Leghorn
I’m debating. Do I get a Thompson, or one of these? They cost about the same. The Sig is probably the more practical weapon, the Thompson has so much history behind it, though. I can’t afford either, but I can dream, can’t I? Who knows, maybe with the pixie dust and unicorn farts Obama will discover a treat bag for me loaded with gunz to scare his followers with…
re: #11 by Iron Fist
Occasional Reader is one of the biggest pain in the asses (and disappointments) over at LGF 1.0. He also is one of the more pedantic posters there always trying to act the part of a Philadelphia lawyer and always playing or trying to play ‘gotcha’. I told him once to piss off and never had problems with him again.
re: #20 by vagabond trader
All Arabs do, they really believe its theirs. It never was, it was always a Latin Nation since colonized by Romans (Italians) in the 3rd Century BC.
Churchill would love this blog! It is against 4 things that he disliked Nazism, Marxism., Progressivism (Socialism) and Islam!
re: #18 by vagabond trader
I like Zombie on a personal level, even though I disagree with his/her politics to a degree. I also look at where he/she is living and the kind of pressure there must be on him/her to conform. In any event, he/she seems to be about the only sane person at LGF on the gun issue anymore, and that happened quick. OR, Dianna, and the like appear to be absent from this thread. The rest have gone nuts.
re: #20 by vagabond trader
Even the Visigoths who ruled Spain after the Collapse of Rome, were Latinized and became the Modern Catalans!
re: #25 by Iron Fist
I respect Zombie on her exposition of the Left. I think her and Charles will have a falling out. However she hates Christians, that is a no no for me.
That picture of W.C.with the troop’s is worthy of hanging on my wall.Think I’ll work on that.
re: #27 by Rodan
I can understand. Zombie lives in downtown Sodom, though. His/her attitude isn’t surprising. One can only hope that other events intervene and change his/her opinion. What was it Abraham asked for? Ten holy men? I think I’d settle for sane in our modern Sodom and Gomorrah.
Good night, y’all.
re: #30 by goddessoftheclassroom
{goddessoftheclassroom}
21 IF
Go for the SIG, Thompson was state of the art. Thing climbs up and to the right in 3 shots, damn near impossible to hold on target.
re: #21 by Iron Fist
Yea, the Sig is more practical. The Thompson is 12+ lbs. BEFORE loading with a 50 round drum.
But, it is fun and doesn’t kick at all.
re: #25 by Iron Fist
Zombie is a she (no secret about that).
re: #30 by goddessoftheclassroom
Night Goddess.
re: #27 by Rodan
I respect Zombie on her exposition of the Left. I think her and Charles will have a falling out. However she hates Christians, that is a no no for me.
I think she would have had a falling out with LGF by now however she might be afraid of CJ outing her.
re: #29 by Iron Fist
Yeah that’s a valid point.
re: #32 by BenZacharia
re: #33 by Foghorn Leghorn
Yeah, the Sig makes the most sense. I need about $150,000 to dedicate to firearms and edged weapons. Maybe the distaff Obama could donate the money to me. She doesn’t need her nearly half-million a year anymore. I could put a small fraction of that to good use
re: #36 by Speranza
Oh yeah, he has goods on her.
Some of my favorite quotes from Sir Winston Churchill
Here are a few more of Winston Churchills sayings which are as true now as when he said/wrote them . Especially his take on Mohammedans
Winston Churchill said ‘The HUN is either at your throat or at your feet.’
Winston Churchill,said : “Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has no heart; and any man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains.”
Winston Churchill said, “An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.”
Winston Churchill wrote :-
“How dreadful are the curses which Islam lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live.
A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property‹either as a child, a wife, or a concubine must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men. Individual Muslims may show splendid qualities. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen; all know how to die; but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it.
No stronger retrograde force exists in the world.
Far from being moribund, Islam is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science -the science against which it had vainly struggled -the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome.”
~~ Sir Winston Churchill~~
re: #40 by bar
We Americans should remember this.
For his part, he was constantly disappointed by the performance of the British Army, both officers and men.
That is correct. By 1943 the British Army was at the end of its manpower resources (probably due to the massive World War I casualties which left a huge empty years of births for 1919 – 1925) so that a British brigade that got wiped out could not be replaced. Britain had to take a back seat and essentially let America run the war in Europe which must have been a terrible blow to the ego of Churchill and to self described geniuses such as Bernard L. Montgomery and Alan Brooke. The British soldier was always terrific but its leadership was often less then top notch (in World War I the German Field Marshal Hindenburg described them as “Lions led by donkeys” and he was right). In fact the finest British commander of World War II was not even in the British Army and he served in Burma – Field Marshal William Slim of the 14th Army, who was actually in the Indian Army!
Good evening all. Ah my hero.
re: #43 by Speranza
Bomber Harris knew how to fight a War!
re: #42 by Iron Fist
Americans have short memories
re: #41 by Pragmatist
“Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has no heart; and any man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains.”
I was never a liberal and I always had a good heart (and I’d like to think brains too). So that statement always rubbed me the wrong way.
Can anyone even in their wildest imagination imagine the Obamanation even with his Teleprompter and with the reverb that is applied to his voice saying anything as wise and as erudite as Winston did.
Is anyone like me absolutely disgusted that a Politician would sink to the depths that Obambi does with his Teleprompter and voice manipulation. He is just playing to the gullible fools who only see image not substance and God knows America is full of such shallow people and to Racist Blacks who just vote overwhelmingly for him cos ‘he’s from the hood’. Or so they so gullibly think.
re: #45 by Nevergiveup
Bomber Harris wasted a lot of Allied lives (actually way too many) pursuing a strategic bombing campaign that did little to end the war. He thought that bombing alone could bring Germany to its knees despite the fact that the German bombing did not bring Britain to its knees in 1940 – 41. There was also something nihilistic about Harris.
re: #40 by bar
“You can always count on America to do the right thing – eventually.”
re: #5 by vagabond trader
Churchill….. Glorious perhaps Flawed definitely.
I must also recommend ‘The River war’ to all other readers of 2.0. Make sure you get the 1899 edition however some later editions were edited to reflect a more PC perspective with respect to Islam, and the PC ‘rot’ was evident even way back in 1903!
Never ask an Aussie what he thinks of Churchill. He demanded that Australia leave 3 full strength and battle hardened Divisions in Africa for re-deploymenbt to Europe after Rommel was seen off. This at a time when Japan threatened to overrun Australia. There were only a small number of 18 year old conscripts trying to hold the line against japan in the Owen Stanley Ranges of New Guinea. Churchills attitude was … let Australia be over run because we can re capture it back later when the war in Europe is won. The Australian Prime minister told WC to F**K off and pulled the Aussie Divisions back to defend the nation from Japan.
This on top of WC wasting the flower of Australian and New Zealand youth in the Dardenells on Gallipoli,during WWI, when it was clear to ‘blind Freddy’ that it was a hiding for nothing. That time the Aussies took it on the chin but when WC tried a similar stunt in WWII they told him here to ‘get off’!’
Definitely a flawed character but also a vital personality that held Britain together between 1940-42 when many even within this own cabinet wanted to talk terms with Hitler.
re: #47 by Speranza
Yes I have noticed you resemble this remark by many of your posts.
re: #48 by Pragmatist
Churchill knew history, made history, and wrote the history. Obama might make history but then so did Baldwin and Chamberlin.
re: #47 by Speranza
I was never a liberal either. All my life I have appreciated that which makes America unique and great in all the history of man.
re: #42 by Iron Fist
Amen to that.
re: #49 by Speranza
When the bombing campaign started it was the ONLY way Britain could hit back at Germany. The Americans seemed to have no problem with it either and when these ‘Johhny come lately’s’ eventually joined the European War (only because Germany declared war on them) they joined the RAF in doing exactly the same.
re: #55 by bar
I second the Amen.
re: #49 by Speranza
All strategic bombing wasted life and resources during WW2. There were no “smart” bombs then of course. And the germans never had the resources to truly conduct a “strategic” campaign against England ( thanks in no small part to Hitler’s idiotic mangement ). All in all I while Allied bombing could not and did not end WW2, I do think it greatly contributed to the succesful outcome.
Here is a video that is not far off from the Truth.
re: #53 by Nevergiveup
Maobama will likely make history as a bigger idiot than Carter.
re: #58 by Nevergiveup
I would agree. It was the bombing of ball bearing works, air fields, trains, fuel and other infrastructure that clearly helped win the ground war.
re: #60 by Foghorn Leghorn
I’m afraid you may be right.
I love Winston Churchill. He organized the air defense for the Battle of Britain in the summer and fall of 1940, an achievement that preserved his nation’s independence and prevented Germany from seizing a swift victory in the war.
And now this great man isn’t even mentioned in the history
books in Britain.
hey, can i say “Hussein” here?
cj is a shit bird.
re: #63 by chickadee
Yes you can say Hussein and say Fuck Hussein Obama!
Rodan,
Thank You.
re: #60 by Foghorn Leghorn
upding +100
re: #64 by Rodan
I’m afraid that we are the ones who are going to get fucked
re: #67 by Nevergiveup
Hopefully not, but with Progressives you never know.
Nevergiveup,
We are not fucked. We have little old ladies in orthopedic shoes out fighting this imbecile. He is backing down.
Speaking of Britain, now is not the time to go wobbly.
Zero is doing that.
Here comes Zero’s legacy.
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/52602
It seems conservatives are starting to out number the leftist Nazis, I guess the death panels did it./
re: #70 by davehm
Yet the country is still being run by liberals in the White House, Senate and congress. Too many red states have Democrats for Governor or Senator too. That is because conservatives are not self-disciplined enough to vote for conservatives.
re: #71 by Speranza
Or it takes left wingnut jobs to push people to the right
re: #60 by Foghorn Leghorn
Maobama will likely make history as a bigger idiot than Carter.
Carter was an incompetent fairly liberal POTUS. After he left the White House he became a raging leftist.
When you look at our country today I don’t see how anyone could be a moderate or swing voter after zero’s left wing power play.
re: #73 by Speranza
Man, just think how bad Maobama is gonna be when he’s out (after one term, hopefully) and he realizes how much he was hated.
Gonna make Carter look like Reagan.
re: #58 by Nevergiveup
Sorry but the consensus of most historians (and I agree with them) is that the strategic bombing of Germany was poorly conducted (not enough fighter planes with the proper range to escort and protect the bombers to their targets and back) and cost way too many lives of the planes crews without shortening the war appreciatively. One thing the bombers should have done and could have done was to bomb the death camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau.
re: #73 by Speranza
Carter meant well, he was honest and had morals but he was weak and wasn’t up for the job.
re: #75 by Foghorn Leghorn
Oh he is a vindictive bastard and his anti Americanism and anti Semitism will be given full rein.
re: #77 by davehm
He meant well (that’s the best I can say) but he was a piece of shit POTUS who never should have come near the oval office or the White House (except on a public guided tour).
re: #76 by Speranza
Ahhh. weren’t their innocent people in those death camps?
re: #75 by Foghorn Leghorn
Who ever comes in after zero will not have big shoes to fill, they will how ever have a huge mess to clean…like Nixon, Reagan and Bush.
re: #80 by davehm
Yes and they were all headed to the gas chambers any way. Destroying the camps would have saved many people and ought to have been seriously considered.
re: #82 by Speranza
“”Yes and they were all headed to the gas chambers any way. Destroying the camps would have saved many people and ought to have been seriously considered.”"
No No and NO AGAIN!!!!!!!
Do you realizse how much politically correct shit was thrown at the aircrew of the Dambusters Raid recently (last 10-20 years) because 800 or so slave workers were drowned by the raid?
re: #69 by chickadee
But my ass hurts already.
Well, since most people know my last name thanks to that Grand Rapids whore, here is a link to the 391st Bombardment Group. My brother put that site together and he has the actual mission logs Dennis had to file after each mission.
My uncle Dennis Tracy is on the right in that pic. Flew in D-Day +2 in that B26.
So if that POS Irish Rose says I am a Nazi symphathiser, she can kiss my rightwing ass!
re: #85 by savage
I think she’d rather lick it.
And dammit, why does she have to use “Irish” in her nic?
Bitch!
re: #85 by savage
If she ever does, be sure to wash and get a shot of pencillin.
re: #81 by davehm
Yea, but they won’t have any problems filling the jock.
re: #86 by Foghorn Leghorn
because since her divorce she needs some roots.
Paula Parker does not invoke an Irish heratige sort of feeling, hence the Connell.
re: #87 by LanceKates
I’m on penicillin right now. Had a root canal done today, yuk
re: #45 by Nevergiveup
Bomber Harris:
“The Nazis started this war under the rather childish delusion that they would bomb everyone else, and no else would bomb them…they have sowed the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.”
People will debate the utility of strategic bombing in WWII for the next 1000 years, but the fact is the RAF Bomber Command under Harris did score some amazing successes. The 1943 night raid on the V2 development works and test center at Peenemunde on the Baltic probably slowed the deployment of the V2 by at least a year or more, forcing the Nazis to disperse the rocket program to other locations in Germany, including the notorious “Mittelwerke”. The Dam Busting raid is the stuff of legend. Lesser known is the precision bombing of Gestapo headquarters and prisons all across Western Europe prior to D-Day carried out at low altitude by squadrons of DeHavilland Mosquito fighter-bombers. The strategy behind this was to destroy Gestapo records of suspected Resistance fighters and enable imprisoned Resistance fighters to escape and prepare for the invasion.
Harris is considered a war criminal by some deluded people today, but the decision to firebomb Dresden was not his…Stalin leaned heavily on Churchill and Roosevelt to have Dresden hit, as it was a major rail hub for supplies going to the Wehrmacht and Waffen SS on the Eastern Front.
A poster upthread commented about how the British Army often suffered from poor leadership. This grew out of the historical fact that the Army had always relied on leadership coming from the landed aristocracy, where there had been a tradition of buying a commission as officers in the cavalry or regiments of foot, whereas the Royal Navy, and later the RAF, were more of a meritocracy, where a smart middle or working class lad could rise up in the ranks based on skill, not heredity. George Orwell touches upon this in his study of how the war was changing the class structure of British society, his excellent wartime essay, “England, your England”.
One of my favorite Winston Churchill quotes:
I wonder if sharmuta or irish rose are distantly related to Lady Astor?
re: #7 by Rodan
Islam is a movement. Its not a Religion.
I think it’s satanism, repackaged.
re: #80 by davehm
The ones who lived would have had a chance to escape or revolt.
re: #59 by Rodan
I think it makes us look bad.
Osprey my father flew on the Peenemunde raid he was a Lancaster rear gunner . The guys with the lowest life expectancy in the highest casualty part of all the British Forces He was also Irish so did not even need to be in the fight. His aircraft was hit by a night fighter BEFORE they got to the target and he was wounded and his turret set on fire. Him and the mid upper gunner shot the night fighter down and they continued to the target and bombed it. My father and all the crew got the DFC the only aircrew up to then to have that distinction. Because of his wounds my father then went to a pioneering revolutionary Hospital called East Grinstead where Sir Alistair MacKinaw used the badly wounded and burned men as Guinea Pigs for as then primitive plastic surgery. They wear this name Guinea Pig with pride and the 800 or so who initially survived are now down to about 60 or 70 who still regularly meet each year at East Grinstead Hospital. My father died last year and I am afraid very few men like him exist in the UK now. They were modest unassuming heroes.
re: #85 by savage
re: #96 by Pragmatist
Thank G-d for men like these.