Completely overlooks the fact that British defences were in a shocking state throughout the 1930s, largely as a result of the 10 year rule, which Churchill introduced in 1919. In 1928, as Chancellor of the Excehquer, he made the rule self-perpertuating. In other words, Churchill himself did not believe there would be a war before 1938 (i. e. 1928 + 10). Ironically it was a former Labour Prime Minister and Pacifist, Ramsay Macdonald, who eventually scrapped the rule in 1932. From then on, the British government planned for a war in 1941-42, and policy was directed towards delaying it till then. Macdonald and Chamberlain both died before they could write their memoirs. Baldwin too died in 1947. So the dominant voice for this period is that of Churchill who re-wrote history to serve his reputation.
Does this lecture cover his decision to downsize the Pacific Fleet when he was Chancellor in the '20s? I feel that may have emboldened the Japanese. Churchill is not the visionary hero that some people uphold him as. *Edit: thought he was First Lord of the Admiralty from '25-'29, but he was Chancellor. Still thoroughly culpable for weakening the Fleet
@@lindamarsh3335 he also had the privilege of sanitising his image after the War, exemplified by adopting his own terms to discuss the complex issue of Nazi expansionism in the '30s. We don't extend the same courtesy nor sympathy to a great many others who were actually lumbered with the difficult decisions of the day. The historiographical pitfalls of this are pretty self-evident
@@granitesevan6243 And you have the privilege of hindsight. Winston Churchill was "lumbered with the difficult decisions of the day" as much or more than any other person at that time......
@@geoffbarker5669 I'm not trying to pass myself off as a morally courageous national hero either - an image that he had a great hand in creating, often at the expense of the truth, I would add. Gallipoli, downsizing the fleet, ordering the use of lethal force against striking miners, Dieppe, denial of responsibility for strategic bombing... Where are all these "esteemed" achievements in all of this? Don't forget, he was resoundingly seen off in the '45 general election and they had to pay working people three times their usual rate to participate in his state funeral. They knew, even if many others buy the myth
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Winston did wear pink underwear. Check out Clementine’s letters
Completely overlooks the fact that British defences were in a shocking state throughout the 1930s, largely as a result of the 10 year rule, which Churchill introduced in 1919. In 1928, as Chancellor of the Excehquer, he made the rule self-perpertuating. In other words, Churchill himself did not believe there would be a war before 1938 (i. e. 1928 + 10). Ironically it was a former Labour Prime Minister and Pacifist, Ramsay Macdonald, who eventually scrapped the rule in 1932. From then on, the British government planned for a war in 1941-42, and policy was directed towards delaying it till then. Macdonald and Chamberlain both died before they could write their memoirs. Baldwin too died in 1947. So the dominant voice for this period is that of Churchill who re-wrote history to serve his reputation.
Does this lecture cover his decision to downsize the Pacific Fleet when he was Chancellor in the '20s? I feel that may have emboldened the Japanese. Churchill is not the visionary hero that some people uphold him as.
*Edit: thought he was First Lord of the Admiralty from '25-'29, but he was Chancellor. Still thoroughly culpable for weakening the Fleet
Churchill grew in the job, like others.
@@lindamarsh3335 he also had the privilege of sanitising his image after the War, exemplified by adopting his own terms to discuss the complex issue of Nazi expansionism in the '30s. We don't extend the same courtesy nor sympathy to a great many others who were actually lumbered with the difficult decisions of the day. The historiographical pitfalls of this are pretty self-evident
@@granitesevan6243 And you have the privilege of hindsight. Winston Churchill was "lumbered with the difficult decisions of the day" as much or more than any other person at that time......
@@geoffbarker5669 I'm not trying to pass myself off as a morally courageous national hero either - an image that he had a great hand in creating, often at the expense of the truth, I would add. Gallipoli, downsizing the fleet, ordering the use of lethal force against striking miners, Dieppe, denial of responsibility for strategic bombing... Where are all these "esteemed" achievements in all of this? Don't forget, he was resoundingly seen off in the '45 general election and they had to pay working people three times their usual rate to participate in his state funeral. They knew, even if many others buy the myth
@@granitesevan6243 Result of Chamberlain and Daladier appeasment is a WW II and 60 mil dead. It is a fact not a myth.