Darkest Hour

by Anthony McCarten

p. 183: be prepared . . . Expeditionary Force: CAB 63/13/20, 26 May 1940.

  p. 183: we had to face . . . our own Empire: Ibid.

  p. 184: Mussolini’s principal . . . peace in Europe: Ibid.

  p. 184: we should naturally . . . were assured: Ibid.

  p. 184: [P]eace and security . . . rights and power: Ibid.

  pp. 184–5: a powerful lever . . . separate peace: Ibid.

  p. 185: the Germans would . . . with England: Ibid.

  p. 185: our ability to carry . . . out of gear: Ibid.

  p. 186: while he would obey . . . in the Mediterranean: CAB 65/13/21, 26 May 1940.

  p. 186: we were not prepared . . . in the war: Ibid.

  p. 187: stick things out . . . entirely different: Ibid.

  p. 187: the last thing that . . . have to consider: Ibid.

  p. 188: too rambling and . . . and temperamental: Dilks (ed.), Diaries of Sir Alexander Cadogan, 23 May 1940, p. 288.

  p. 188: it was incredible . . . jump at it: Neville Chamberlain, diary, 26 May 1940, cited in David Reynolds, ‘Churchill and the British “Decision” to Fight on in 1940: Right Policy, Wrong Reasons’, in Richard Langhorne (ed.), Diplomacy and Intelligence during the Second World War (Cambridge and New York, CUP, 2003), p. 152.

  pp. 188–9: In the discussion . . . cession of territory: CAB 65/13/23, 27 May 1940.

  p. 189: there was no limit . . . had her way: CAB 63/13/21, 26 May 1940.

  p. 190: at the same time . . . serious fighting: Ibid.

  p. 190: perhaps rather more . . . harm in trying: Ibid.

  p. 191: take a line independent . . . point of view: Ibid.

  p. 191: thought it was best . . . of the Force: Ibid.

  p. 192: no such option . . . must part company: Ibid.

  p. 192: At the same time . . . Signor Mussolini: Ibid.

  p. 193: if Paris was likely . . . serve any purpose?: Ibid.

  p. 193: found that we could . . . not accept them: Ibid.

  p. 194: He has a hundred . . . downright dangerous: Cited in Nassir Ghaemi, A First-Rate Madness: Uncovering the Links between Leadership and Mental Illness, Penguin Books, London, 2011, p. 61.

  p. 195: The Prime Minister . . . French coast: CAB 65/7/26, 20 May 1940.

  p. 196: hurling himself about . . . never give in: Captain Berkley, diary, Berkley Papers, 26 May 1940, cited in Gilbert, Never Surrender.

  p. 196: Operation Dynamo is to commence: Signal sent from the Admiralty, cited in L. F. Ellis, The War in France and Flanders, 1939–1940 (London, HMSO, 1953), p. 182; Gilbert, Never Surrender.

  p. 196: fight it out until the bitter end: Ismay, Memoirs, p. 131.

  p. 197: one of the most painful of the war: The Rt Hon. The Earl of Avon, KG, PC, MC, The Eden Memoirs, vol. 2: The Reckoning (Cassell, London, 1965), p. 109.

  p. 197: unusually silent during . . . evident distaste: Ismay, Memoirs, p. 131.

  p. 197: I feel physically sick: Ibid.

  9. Cabinet Crisis and Leadership

  p. 201: a bad situation . . . approaching Dunkirk: Vice-Admiral Somerville to Churchill, 7.15 a.m., 27 May 1940, Premier Papers, 3/175, cited in Martin Gilbert, The Churchill War Papers, vol. 2: Never Surrender: May 1940–December 1940 (William Heinemann, London, 1993).

  p. 201: the King of the Belgians . . . with Germany: CAB 65/7/36, 27 May 1940.

  p. 201: transferred themselves . . . the struggle: Ibid.

  p. 201: considered that the . . . Hitler’s protection: Ibid.

  p. 202: impress on him . . . present choice: Churchill to Roger Keyes, 27 May 1940, Churchill Papers, 20/14, cited in Gilbert, Never Surrender.

  p. 202: ‘[W]e are asking . . . themselves for us: Churchill to Lord Gort, 27 May 1940, Churchill Papers, 20/14, cited in Gilbert, Never Surrender.

  p. 202: we should cede . . . our war debt: CAB 65/7/36, 27 May 1940.

  p. 202: an offer of this kind . . . our security: Ibid.

  p. 202: The United States . . . own defence: Ibid.

  pp. 202–3: issue a general . . . of defeat: CAB 65/13/22, 27 May 1940.

  p. 203: what are the . . . next meeting: Churchill to Ismay, 27 May 1940, Churchill Papers, 20/13, cited in Gilbert, Never Surrender.

  p. 203: Cadogan: The Hon. Sir Alexander Cadogan, Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

  p. 203: Sinclair: The Right Hon. Sir Archibald Sinclair, Bt, MP, Secretary of State for Air.

  p. 203: Bridges: The Cabinet Secretary, Sir Edward Bridges.

  p. 204: If Signor Mussolini . . . these wishes: CAB 66/7/50, 26 May 1940, ‘Suggested Approach to Signor Mussolini’.

  p. 204: President Roosevelt . . . the Memorandum: CAB 65/13/23, 27 May 1940.

  p. 204: nothing would come . . . failing ally: Ibid.

  pp. 204–5: would encourage the . . . terms for us: Ibid.

  p. 205: If it got out that . . . those approaches: Ibid.

  pp. 205–6: He was increasingly . . . Nazi tyranny: Ibid.

  p. 207: while he agreed . . . complete refusal: Ibid.

  p. 207: it was generally . . . course to take: Ibid.

  p. 207: it does drive one . . . and reason: Lord Halifax, diary, 27 May 1940, Halifax Papers (Borthwick Institute, York), A7/8/3/, p. 142.

  p. 208: profound differences of points of view: CAB 65/13/23, 27 May 1940.

  p. 208: He could not . . . to disaster: Ibid.

  pp. 208–9: On the present . . . avoidable disaster: Ibid.

  p. 209: he would be . . . Cabinet Ministers: CAB 65/13/21, 26 May 1940.

  p. 209: WC [Churchill] said . . . be content: Neville Chamberlain, diary, 26 May 1940, Neville Chamberlain Papers (University of Birmingham), 2/24A.

  p. 210: Wars fought for ideas . . . much the better: Andrew Roberts, The Holy Fox: A Biography of Lord Halifax (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London, 1991), p. 289.

  p. 211: If Herr Hitler was . . . was one thing: CAB 65/13/23, 27 May 1940.

  p. 211: It was quite . . . such offer: Ibid.

  p. 212: The Foreign Secretary . . . discuss them?: Ibid.

  p. 212: I thought Winston . . . would separate: Lord Halifax, diary, 27 May 1940, p. 142.

  p. 214: surprised and mellowed: Ibid.

  p. 214: that he would not . . . consider them: CAB 65/13/23, 27 May 1940.

  p. 214: in good temper . . . on our own: Ibid.

  p. 214: I can’t work with Winston any longer: David Dilks (ed.), The Diaries of Sir Alexander Cadogan O.M., 1938–1945 (Cassell, London, 1971), p. 291.

  p. 214: Nonsense: his rodomontades . . . stress of that: Ibid.

  p. 215: the hyperbole which . . . been avoidable: Roberts, Holy Fox, p. 298.

  p. 215: full of apologies and affection: Lord Halifax, diary, 27 May 1940, p. 142.

  p. 215: hoped he really . . . hasty decisions: Dilks (ed.), Dia-ries of Sir Alexander Cadogan, p. 291.

  p. 215: The Cabinet are . . . and independence: John Colville, The Fringes of Power: Downing Street Diaries 1939–1955 (Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1985), 19 May 1940, p. 109.

  p. 216: even more desperate . . . on the way: CAB 69/1, 27 May 1940.

  p. 216: were now paying . . . was now faced: Ibid.

  p. 216: telegraphed to his . . . 27th–28th May: Telephone conversation between Major-General Sir Edward Spears and Churchill, 27 May 1940, Cabinet Papers, 65/7, cited in Gilbert, Never Surrender.

  p. 216: The Defence Committee . . . Belgian armistice: CAB 69/1, 27 May 1940.

  pp. 216–17: importance of ensuring . . . through to Dunkirk: Ibid.

  pp. 217–18: a statement should be issued . . . to do so: CAB 65/7/38, 27 May 1940.

  p. 218: at midnight . . . went up to bed: Colville, Fringes of Power, p. 109.

  p. 218: a very black day: Lord Halifax, diary, 28 May 1940, p. 143.

  p. 218: Belgian Government . . . cracked at once: CAB 65/7/39, 28 May 1940.

  p. 219: All Belgian troops . . . will be overcome: Ibid.

  p. 219: Considerable numbers . . . would be serious: Ibid.

  p.
220: for a frank . . . short statement: Ibid.

  pp. 220–21: The situation of the . . . our enemies: Churchill, Hansard, HC Deb Series 5, 28 May 1940, vol. 361, cc.421–2.

  p. 221: [W]e have not yet . . . this country: Mr Lees-Smith, in ibid.

  p. 221: the dignified statement . . . whole nation: Sir Percy Harris, in ibid.

  p. 221: an atmosphere . . . impending doom: Roberts, The Holy Fox, p. 300.

  p. 221: wholly negative reply: CAB 65/13/24, 28 May 1940.

  p. 221: we should give a . . . mediation by Italy: Ibid.

  pp. 221–2: clear that the French . . . this position: Ibid.

  p. 222: that we should say . . . make to Italy: Ibid.

  p. 222: the French were trying . . . this country: Ibid.

  p. 223: wider aspect . . . consider such terms: Ibid.

  p. 223: we must not ignore . . . months’ time: Ibid.

  p. 223: Signor Mussolini . . . to us now: Ibid.

  pp. 223–4: so wrong . . . offered to us: Ibid.

  p. 224: [T]he nations which . . . as ultimate capitulation: Ibid.

  p. 224: it was necessary . . . of the people: Ibid.

  pp. 224–5: although grievous . . . present time: Ibid.

  p. 225: one of the most . . . scenes of the war: Martin Gilbert, Winston S. Churchill, vol. 6: Finest Hour, 1939–1941 (Heinemann, London, 1983), p. 419.

  pp. 227–9: In the afternoon . . . upon the ground: Ben Pimlott (ed.), The Second World War Diary of Hugh Dalton (Jonathan Cape, London, 1985), pp. 27–8.

  p. 230: There occurred . . . all the people: Winston S. Churchill, The Second World War, vol. II, Their Finest Hour (Cassell, London, 1949), p. 88.

  pp. 230–31: They had not expressed . . . so emphatically: CAB 65/13/24, 28 May 1940.

  p. 231: Another Cabinet at 4 . . . last approach: Lord Halifax, diary, 28 May 1940, p. 144.

  pp. 231–2: There was a white . . . end to end: Churchill, Their Finest Hour, p. 88.

  10. ‘Fight on the beaches’

  p. 233: the LUFTWAFFE . . . TWENTY-FIVE VESSELS: Douglas C. Dildy, Dunkirk 1940: Operation Dynamo (Osprey, Oxford, 2010), p. 9.

  p. 235: magical . . . being sent to Rome: General Sir Edward Spears, Assignment to Catastrophe, 2 vols. (William Heinemann, London, 1954), vol. 1, p. 255.

  pp. 235–6: In these dark days . . . and our Cause: Churchill to Cabinet ministers and senior officials, 29 May 1940, Premier Papers, 4/68/9, cited in Martin Gilbert, The Churchill War Papers, vol. 2: Never Surrender: May 1940 –December 1940 (William Heinemann, London, 1993).

  p. 236: Italy’s entry into . . . and his alone: CAB 65/7/41, 29 May 1940.

  p. 236: unpleasant: David Dilks (ed.), The Diaries of Sir Alexander Cadogan O.M., 1938–1945 (Cassell, London, 1971), p. 292.

  pp. 236–7: definite guidance . . . the last resort: CAB 65/13/25, 29 May 1940.

  p. 237: to continue the struggle . . . the Germans: Ibid.

  p. 237: [He] was not altogether . . . from massacre: Ibid.

  p. 237: [i]n a desperate situation . . . to Lord Gort: Ibid.

  p. 238: A Commander . . . resistance and capitulation: Ibid.

  pp. 238–9: Lord Gort might well . . . suggested by [Attlee]: Ibid.

  p. 239: [a] horrible discussion . . . theatricality: Dilks (ed.), The Diaries of Sir Alexander Cadogan, p. 292.

  pp. 239–40: essential that the . . . possible, arise: Churchill to Anthony Eden, General Ismay and General Dill, 29 May 1940, Premier Papers, 3/175, cited in Gilbert, Never Surrender.

  p. 240: Your reports most . . . whatever they do: Churchill to General Spears, 29 May 1940, FO Papers, 800/312, cited in Gilbert, Never Surrender, p. 000.

  p. 240: If you are cut . . . in your hands: Churchill to Lord Gort, 29 May 1940, Premier Papers, 3/175, cited in Gilbert, Never Surrender, p. 000.

  p. 240: in great form: Colonel Roderick Macleod, DSO, MC, and Denis Kelly (eds.), The Ironside Diaries: 1937–1940 (Constable, London, 1962), p. 344.

  p. 240: Winston’s ceaseless industry is impressive: John Colville, The Fringes of Power: Downing Street Diaries 1939–1955 (Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1985), p. 115.

  p. 240: French troops to share . . . new BEF: Churchill to Reyanud , 29 May 1940, Premier Papers, 3/175, cited in Gilbert, Never Surrender.

  pp. 240–41: this is only . . . troops in France: Ibid.

  p. 241: in all comradeship . . . frankly to me: Ibid.

  p. 241: God bless you . . . with you myself: Captain Pim, recollection, 29 May 1940, Pim Papers, cited in Gilbert, Never Surrender.

  p. 241: still soaking wet . . . our salvation: John Spencer-Churchill, Crowded Canvas (Odhams Press, London, 1961), pp. 162–3.

  p. 241: fog was now . . . with the evacuation: CAB 65/7/43, 30 May 1940.

  p. 242: General Weygand . . . all the difference: CAB 65/13/26, 30 May 1940.

  p. 242: as we must . . . the present moment: Ibid.

  p. 242: always preferred to see . . . at first hand: Lionel Hastings, Baron Ismay, The Memoirs of General the Lord Ismay K.G., P.C., G.C.B., C.H., D.S.O. (Heinemann, London, 1960), p. 136.

  p. 242: [t]he British Army . . . could continue: CAB 69/1, 30 May 1940.

  p. 242: irreparable harm: Ibid.

  p. 243: straggling masses . . . they were able: Ex-Detective Inspector W. H. Thompson, I was Churchill’s Shadow (Christopher Johnson, London, 1951), p. 41.

  p. 243: [h]e was brave . . . enter his mind: Ismay, Memoirs, p. 133.

  pp. 243–4: up to noon on that day . . . to the British: CAB 99/3, 31 May 1940.

  pp. 244–5: Dunkirk could not . . . from the North: Ibid.

  pp. 245–6: He could not believe . . . a few days: Ibid.

  p. 246: he entirely agreed . . . their history: Ibid.

  p. 246: at a psychological . . . supreme value: Sir Ronald Campbell to Lord Halifax, 31 May 1940, Foreign Office Papers, 800/212, cited in Gilbert, Never Surrender.

  pp. 246–7: He handled the French . . . to bondage: Ibid.

  p. 247: disorderly . . . it is irritating: Lord Halifax, diary, 30 May 1940, Halifax Papers (Borthwick Institute, York), A7/8/4, p. 146.

  p. 247: typically intended . . . in the audience: definition of peroration, Oxford English Dictionary (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2017).

  p. 248: The King says . . . France as well!: Ben Pimlott (ed.), The Second World War Diary of Hugh Dalton (Jonathan Cape, London, 1985), 31 May 1940, p. 31.

  p. 248: Operation Dynamo . . . and expectation: Ismay, Memoirs, p. 135.

  p. 248: Dunkirk was worth . . . United States: Lord Halifax, diary, 30 May 1940, p. 147.

  p. 248: events were moving . . . United States: CAB 65/7/46, 1 June 1940.

  p. 248: about sending the . . . to beat them: Colville, Fringes of Power, p. 115.

  p. 248: I believe we shall . . . can be permitted: Churchill to Desmond Morton, Premier Papers, 7/2, cited in Gilbert, Never Surrender.

  p. 249: emphasised the importance . . . naval losses: CAB 79/4, 1 June 1940.

  p. 250: There are few grounds . . . the forces: Harold Nicolson, Diaries and Letters 1930–1964, ed. Stanley Olson (Penguin Books, Harmondsworth, 1984), 1 June 1940, p. 186.

  p. 250: What will Europe . . . has overrun: Pimlott (ed.), Second World War Diary of Hugh Dalton, 3 June 1940, p. 34.

  p. 250: Everything is conspiring . . . island people: R. R. James (ed.), Chips: The Diaries of Sir Henry Channon (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London, 1993), 2 June 1940, p. 255.

  pp. 250–51: Through all those terrible . . . Britain depended: Sir John Martin, Downing Street: The War Years (Bloomsbury, London, 1991), p. 5.

  p. 251: a little rough on the French High Command: Anthony Eden to Churchill, 3 June 1940, Churchill Papers, CHAR 9/172/104.

  p. 251: Even though the . . . more darkly: Churchill, speech notes for 4 June 1940, Churchill Papers, CHAR 9/172/23.

  p. 252: express sympathy! . . . and missing: Ibid., CHAR 9/172/16.

  p. 252: tremendous care . . . psalm form: Interview with Si
r John Martin in 1973, BBC Archives, ‘Remembering Winston Churchill’, http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/churchill/11021.shtml.

  p. 253: [a] miracle of deliverance . . . by evacuations: Churchill, Hansard, War Situation, HC Deb Series 4, 4 June 1940, vol. 361, cc.787–98.

  p. 253: Could there have . . . thousand airmen: Ibid.

  pp. 253–4: There had never . . . noble knight: Ibid.

  p. 254: Continental tyrants: Ibid.

  pp. 254–5: I have, myself . . . liberation of the old: Ibid.

  p. 255: The speech was . . . were in tears: James (ed.), Chips, 2 June 1940, p. 255.

  p. 255: who had the lion . . . give the roar: Churchill, speech to Westminster Hall, 30 November 1954, for his eightieth birthday, Churchill Papers, CHAR 5/56B/235.

  p. 255: fight them on . . . behind Paris: Georges Clemenceau, speech in Paris, November 1918, cited in Donald McCormick, The Mask of Merlin: A Critical Study of David Lloyd George (Macdonald, London, 1963), p. 143.

  p. 256: the orator is . . . the multitude: Winston S. Churchill ‘The Scaffolding of Rhetoric’, Churchill Papers, CHAR 8/13/1–13.

  p. 256: vividly and directly . . . highly coloured: Winston S. Churchill, Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat: The Great Speeches, ed. David Cannadine (Penguin Books, London/New York, 2007), Introduction, p. xxii.

  pp. 256–7: Of all the talents . . . the direction: Churchill ‘Scaffolding of Rhetoric’.

  Epilogue: If the Truth be Told

  pp. 260–61: It will be found . . . write that history: Churchill, Hansard, Commons Sitting, HC Deb, 23 January 1948, vol. 446, cc.556–62.

  p. 262: There is more . . . these hands: See e.g. Nigel Jones, ‘Churchill and Hitler: At Arms, at Easels’, History Today, vol. 64, Issue 5, May 2014.

  p. 262: at once simple . . . deception or intrigue: Winston S. Churchill, Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat: The Great Speeches, ed. David Cannadine (Penguin Books, London/New York, 2007), Introduction, p. xxii.

  Index

  The pagination of this electronic edition does not match the edition from which it was created. To locate a specific entry, please use your e-book reader’s search tools.

  Abbeville 161, 172

  Abyssinia, Mussolini’s invasion of 59–60

  Admiralty buildings ix, 43, 48, 68, 106, 116, 137, 141, 197, 218, 240

  Alexander, A. V. 82

  All-Party Parliamentary Action Group 3, 5