Allied Leaders of World War II: Winston Churchill (Part 2)

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

Winston Churchill used his early failures to take the initiative to shape a successful political career.

(Check out the first Related Lesson in the right-hand sidebar to learn more.)

Continue to evaluate how the events leading up to WWII influenced Churchill as a leader in this lesson.

Adolf Hitler's Nazi party began its ascent to power in 1933. While many countries throughout Europe questioned the Nazi's ideology and tactics, few engaged the German government for fear of starting another war. World War I (WWI) was a costly, deadly war, and no one was interested in repeating it.

While most political leaders insisted on turning a blind eye to the Nazi threats and tactics, one person insisted that the British stand up to the major political force. That person was Winston Churchill.

Throughout the 1930s, Hitler and the Nazi party sought to expand their land and army. They began manufacturing more planes and weapons and took over the Rhineland, all of which was forbidden by the treaty that had been established after WWI.

Despite the Nazis' apparent defiance of rules that had been set at the end of WWI, most British leaders continued to look in the opposite direction. Churchill, on the other hand, refused to look the other way.

As a member of Parliament, he gave many speeches about the tyranny being committed by Hitler and attempted to bring public awareness to these events. Most in Britain began viewing Churchill as either crazy or desperate for another war and ignored his words.

Read Gathering Storm to learn Churchill's unique opinions about Hitler during the 1930s.

• Why did the public and other political leaders refuse to listen to Churchill's warnings?

Unfortunately, Churchill's predictions proved accurate.

In March of 1939, as Hitler continued his conquest of Western Europe, the British prime minister, Neville Chamberlain, promised Poland that Great Britain would declare war against Germany if the Germans invaded Poland. In September of 1939, the Nazi party invaded Poland, forcing the prime minister to declare war.

Chamberlain proved an unsatisfactory wartime leader. His poor decisions in the early phases of the war prompted great division throughout the British government.

In May of 1940, Chamberlain submitted his resignation and recommended that Winston Churchill take his place as prime minister. Many felt Churchill was the obvious choice due to his foresight regarding an inevitable war with Germany.

Watch the video below to see how these events unfolded.

• How did Churchill's predictions make him an obvious choice for prime minister?

Churchill left behind many memorable quotations, but one of his most memorable was said shortly after he became prime minister.

When Churchill became prime minister during a time of war, he stated, "I felt as if I were walking with destiny, and that all my past life had been but a preparation for this hour and this trial."

• What trial was Churchill referring to?

Consider what you know of Churchill and what you have learned, not only about him but also about the temperament of the time.

• How did previous events in and around his life prepare him to be prime minister of Great Britain?

Continue to the Got It? section to compare your experience with Mr. Churchill's.