Oftentimes, the best leaders are those who are willing to step up and face the daunting tasks that no one else will. As Prime Minister of England during World War II, Winston Churchill’s leadership left a permanent mark upon history. Many believe that without him, the Allies would have lost the war. In the words of John C. Maxwell, “Leaders become great not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others.” Churchill prided himself in having courage in all things and possessed the unique ability to provide others with courage also. He led the British empire through battle after battle tirelessly, saying, “Continuous effort – not strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking our potential.” To him, there was “no use saying ‘we are doing our best.’ You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary.” Although it was almost certain that Britain would lose World War II, Churchill provided the willpower needed to stand against Germany and engendered a motivated and hardworking government, as well as an inspired nation.
Winston Churchill’s headstrong resiliency in the face of danger defined his career as a war leader. Former Prime Minister David Cameron states,” He was an incredible leader for our country, and indeed for the whole free world, at an impossibly difficult time.” (1). Five months before his inauguration, Churchill gave his speech “House of Many Mansions” wherein he urged the then Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and other world
From the vantage point of the present, it is easy to look back at the tenure of any great leader and draw conclusions about just what it was that made him/her great. We can examine the circumstances under which their leadership flourished; piece together what we know of their character and personality traits; delve into the factors that may have driven them; and dissect their leadership style all in an effort to pinpoint the source of their success. The ‘Great Man’ theory, popular in the 19th century and now thoroughly debunked, held that leaders are born, not made; suggesting that men like George Washington, Martin Luther King Jr., and Winston Churchill were born with the innate capacity to change the world (Landis,
The year was 1940; the world’s second great World War was in full swing, with Britain and Germany at the forefront. The fall of Britain’s closest ally, France, stunned the British Empire and threw it into disarray. Through the chaos, Winston Churchill emerged. Churchill would be an inspiring leader who was able to rally the entire nation in times of hardship. Through his leadership, the “British Bulldog” would face the Axis powers and come out victorious, as well as become a public hero for the British people. Yet, immediately after the war, Churchill did not return to the prime minister seat because of a shocking defeat in his re-election, despite his immense reputation he gained from the war. Though lauded by the British population for his prowess as a wartime leader, Churchill’s conservative politics were out of touch with a population ready for post-war relief and led to his defeat in the 1945 election.
On the brink of war, with the enemy force appearing impenetrable and unstoppable, new Prime Minister Winston Churchill has the daunting task to rally parliament to enter the war. While speaking to the House of Commons, the representing body in the United Kingdom, he must not only create a lasting impression, but illustrate the logistics of the meeting as well as the dire importance of victory for the Allies. He opens with the immediate facts to answer any of the parliament’s doubts or concerns, then he focuses his attention to unity and expands his audience to the entire country of the United Kingdom to express the sentiment of unity and the importance of the call to arms.
Even before the climactic World War II, Churchill’s mental war starts with the Indian Independence movement. Churchill was brusque about his opinion on the movement, knowingly showing his opposition to the public. “To Churchill, all Indians were the pedestal for a throne. He would have died to keep England free, but was against those who wanted India free.(Tondon, n.d.)” With this ornery still in the mind of the public and government officials, Churchill’s 1940 election was met with opposition. In Churchill and Orwell, “Peter Eckersley, a Tory MP, predicted that “Winston won’t last five months.”(Ricks, pg. 91)” The general public were critical of such a disposition leading the United Kingdom during a time struggle. Even with the public’s pessimistic prospect of him, Churchill’s resilience will become a favorable trait to exhibit in this psychological war.
His life is an example of his spirit, overcoming the difficulties with which he was presented, and making himself stronger as a result of it. Churchill was a more than just a great speaker though; he was a great man and a great leader as well. He took over as Prime Minister of Britain during one of the most trying times ever to come upon the country, and led his country to eventual victory over their adversaries. The analysis of his speech allows one to come closer to understanding the true rhetorical genius of the man known as Churchill. In particular,
You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life. -Winston Churchill. Churchill was a prime minister and war leader through WWII. Churchill was also known as a british statesman, orator, author, and prime minister. This paper will discuss Winstons childhood & family his prime minister years and also his role in WWII.
Winston Churchill’s powerful mind began developing at a young age. He enjoyed learning, but only what interested him (Vander Hook 20). According to a teacher at Harrow, he had “a brilliant brain, but he would only work when he chose to, and for the matters he approved of” (Vander Hook 24). He
Churchill’s actions represent how he was a man that cared about others, wanted world peace, and
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was born on November 30 1874 and died on 24 January, 1965. He was the son of politician Lord Randolph Churchill and Jennie Jerome (an American). He was a direct descendant of the first Duke of Marlborough. Physically he was a small man at 5 feet tall. Churchill attended Harrow and Sandhurst. When his father died in 1895, Churchill was commissioned in the fourth hussars. He later obtained a leave and worked during the Cuban war as a reporter for the London Daily Graphic.
Setting up such a narrative comes with some foreboding questions. If Winston Churchill was never born, would Britain have remained in the war? Would a connection between the U.S. and the U.K. be as cohesive? Would anybody have the experience or ingenuity needed to prevent the world from an Allied defeat? The answers to these questions lie in a scenario which has constructed an alternate timeline where Churchill was never
As a proactive visionary, Winston Churchill’s ability to modernize war strategies contributed to his success during the Second World War. He recognized post World War One Germany as a great potential threat and made tremendous efforts to increase their presence as a super power on the seas. Additionally, to enhance performance and moral, he improved the war diet for sailors and soldiers alike(Historyextra.com ). As a great advocate for the development of new technologies like the green siren suit for air rates (Historyextra.com ), Churchill additionally called for a larger pre war budget and pushed the House of Commons for funding as he firmly believed weapons of mass destruction would be an inevitable violation of the Treaty of Versailles. These preventative measures largely contributed to their success in World War Two.
3. The Second World War in Europe began with the Wehrmacht's invasion of Poland on the 1st of September, 1939. 2 days later, Great Britain and France declared war on Nazi Germany. However, barely any fighting took place. Instead, the only conflict initially, over an 8 month period, was that of propaganda. Measures taken included included international condemnation and distribution of propaganda leaflets by the Royal Air Force over Germany. This inactivity of the Allies was referred to as the ‘Sitzkrieg’ by the British Press, a word play on Blitzkrieg.
Winston Churchill symbolized Britain during World War II. His image, and that of the British people as a whole, was one of defiance in the face of overwhelming adversity. His galvanizing and courageous leadership as Prime Minister of Britain during World War II was the catalyst for the stubborn resistance of the British and the ultimate victory of the Allied forces over Hitler. His speeches stirred the masses and mobilized the British. When everything continued to go wrong, when things could seemingly get no worse, he was there to encourage and give support to the Allied armies. With his inspiring speeches, he motivated the nation of Great
Churchill begins “We Shall Never Surrender” by providing vivid descriptions of the life and environment of war to describe the hardships, then follows up with showing that the strength that the troops had together helped them overcome specific events. He continues to use repetition to emphasize the importance of staying together and not losing hope in order to provide small victories, one at a time. Churchill’s courage to speak up during such a disturbing time helped assist the nations morality by providing hope and encouragement in the bloodshed time of war. When a nation felt defeated Winston Churchill used his powerful voice in “We Shall Never Surrender” to lift the nation’s spirits
It is difficult to examine leadership as a concept without mentioning Winston Churchill. He was at once a brilliant, petty and compassionate man. He is lauded in many texts as one of the greatest leaders of all times for his actions during World War II, and he received awards as the most recognizable person and greatest leader in the twentieth century. The qualities of leadership he displayed though can be widely debated because he was one thing before the public and another to the people closest to him. There is no doubt that without the redoubtable courage of Winston Churchill Strongly leading the charge, Britain, and maybe the world, would not have survived the chaos of World War II. But, he also did do some amount of harm because of his blind self-confidence. The research paper is about the leadership of Churchill, and it looks specifically at his background, capabilities, and then gives conclusions based on his life that give clues as to what leadership actually is.