The Second World War

by Winston S. Churchill

  at outbreak of war, 161

  in Annexe, 355

  organises “Aid to Russia”, 471, 721

  with Churchill in Quebec, 692, 696, 700–1

  flies to Carthage, 753

  in Paris, 859

  and election result, 949–50

  mentioned, 82, 324, 348, 892, 938

  Churchill, Randolph, speaks for Flandin, 90

  and Maisky, 127

  on need for War Cabinet Minister in Egypt, 445–6, 892

  at Casablanca, 644

  at Teheran, 744

  Churchill, Sarah, 744, 753, 877, 892

  Churchill, Rt. Hon. Sir Winston S., relations of, with Baldwin, 14–15, 19–20

  Chancellor of Exchequer, 14

  and Locarno, 17–18

  a back-bencher, 22

  accident to, in America, 37–8

  life and work of (1931–35), 38–9

  sources of information open to, 39, 95

  Hitler fails to meet, 40

  presses in Parliament for rearmament, 56–62, 95–6, 98

  attitude of, to Italian threat to Abyssinia, 73–5, 77

  not included in Baldwin’s Government, 79

  advised to remain abroad during Hoare-Laval Pact crisis, 82

  and re-occupation of Rhineland, 88–91

  helps Flandin, 90

  attitude of, to Spanish Civil War, 93–4

  leads deputation to Prime Minister, 96–7

  attitude of, towards Edward VIII, 99–100

  loses influence in House, 100

  conversation of, with Ribbentrop, 102–3

  in sympathy with Eden, 106, 111

  powers of sleep of, 111, 167

  at farewell party to Ribbentrop, 118–19

  seeks Franco-British-Russian alliance, 119, 151

  Maisky approaches, 127–8

  on Munich, 135

  supports conscription, 147

  agitation for return of, 147

  and Molotov, 151, 554–5

  visits French front on Rhine, 152–3

  letter of, on atomic energy (1939), 154

  and atomic bombs, 154, 939–42

  organises his own protection, 160

  in War Cabinet, 161, 166–7

  takes shelter at first air-raid warning, 161–2

  returns to Admiralty, 162–4, 171–172

  statistical department of, 164

  without responsibility for past, 167, 211

  elder statesman, 167

  his method of conserving energies, 167–8

  accused of placing bomb in Athenia, 170

  visits Scapa Flow, 171

  correspondence of, with Roosevelt, 173–4, 235–7, 518, 710, 721, 756–8, 761, 786, 799–801, 807–8, 810–13, 853, 861, 863, 898–900, 902–3, 907

  believes in strength of defensive, 188

  seeks permission to mine the Leads, 193, 197–198

  sanctions boarding of Altmark, 199

  presides over Military Co-ordination Committee, and Chiefs of Staff, 204–6, 214

  survives Norwegian failures, 211–212, 215

  defends Chamberlain, 215–17

  Prime Minister, 216–17, 219–20, 230–1

  Minister of Defence, 220, 231, 515, 527

  Cabinet of, 227–30

  relations with Conservative Party, 227

  Leader of House, 228

  system of, for conducting affairs, 232–6

  correspondence of, with heads of Governments, 235–7

  speech of, asking for vote of confidence (1940), 237

  Reynaud reports defeat to, 242

  visits France (1940), 243–6, 250–2, 269–72, 286–90, 301–3

  prepares for evacuation of B.E.F., 248

  and decision to “go it alone”, 260–2, 264, 273, 311, 312–13

  orders return of Gort, 268–9

  speech of, after Dunkirk, 273–4, 312

  letter of appeal to Mussolini, 276–7

  plans counter-offensive, 296–300

  schemes of, for amphibious warfare, 297–9, 328, 694

  and de Gaulle, 303, 308, 375, 631, 645–6

  orders re-embarkation of B.E.F., 307

  offers France union with Britain, 308

  prepares to journey to France, 308–9

  broadcasts on fall of France, 311

  demands resolute and steadfast spirit, 319

  has support of whole House, 319–20

  visits coast defences, 324–5

  relations with Brooke, 325–6

  witnesses conduct of air battle, 348–51

  experiences of, in “Blitz”, 354–7

  weekly luncheons of, with King, 365–6

  relations with Roosevelt, 367

  tells Roosevelt of payment difficulties, 370

  and relations with Vichy France, 374–5

  meets Wavell, 377

  Harry Hopkins sent to, 388

  proclaims Battle of Atlantic, 400

  sole directorship of, 404–405

  letter of, on help for Greece, 408

  speech of, after evacuation of Greece, 420

  sends tanks through Mediterranean, 423–5, 444

  advocates changes in Middle East Command, 444–6, 591–3

  realises German intention of attacking Russia, 449–50, 453

  seeks to warn Stalin, 450–1, 609

  broadcast of, on German attack on Russia, 455–7, 463

  Moscow visits of, 461, 509, 587–8, 597–613, 850–8

  correspondence of, with Stalin, 464, 467–9, 587–8, 718–721, 783–4, 817–19, 908–12

  and Russian demands, 465, 468, 721

  meets Roosevelt in Newfoundland, 474–8

  drafts Atlantic Charter, 477–8

  in Iceland, 478–9

  and Auchinleck, 481–4, 589–90, 595–6

  hears of attack on Pearl Harbour, 491

  visits Washington, 493, 497, 503–4, 507–8, 511–12, 561–7, 663–6, 701, 703–4

  hears of loss of battleships, 496

  voyages across Atlantic, 497–502, 663–4, 691–6

  papers of, on course of war, 500–1

  attitude of, to Second Front, 501–2, 551–4, 584–5

  his personal recollections of Roosevelt, 503

  map room of, 503

  addresses Congress, 503–4

  addresses Canadian Parliament, 503, 505–506

  and Declaration of United Nations, 507–8

  takes holiday at Palm Beach, 511

  trans-Atlantic flights of, 512–14, 562, 567

  criticisms of war direction of, 515, 527

  demands Vote of Confidence, 515, 517–18

  discusses evacuation of Singapore, 521–2, 524, 526

  aide-mémoire of, on “Sledgehammer”, 555–6, 607

  hears of fall of Tobruk, 564–5

  meets Eisenhower and Clark, 565–6

  Vote of Censure debate on, 566, 568–76

  speech of, in Censure debate, 573–6

  visits Egypt, 587–96, 614–18, 652, 727–9, 747–51, 892

  his journeys to and from Moscow, 597–9, 613

  residence of, in Moscow, 599–600, 604

  Lady Astor on, 608

  his personal talks with Stalin, 608–9, 610–12, 732–4, 737–40

  writes in Montgomery’s diary, 616

  his relations with Eisenhower, 619

  retains goodwill of Parliament and nation, 621–2

  minute of, on “Four-Power Plan”, 622–3

  seeks 1943 invasion of Europe, 641–2

  flies to Casablanca, 643–4

  at Casablanca Conference, 644–5

  and “unconditional surrender”, 646–9

  visits Turkey, 652–4

  visits Tripoli and Algiers, 654–5

  ill with pneumonia, 655–6, 751–4

  determined on invasion of Italy from Sicily 665, 667, 669, 710, 712

  visits Algiers to consult with Eisenhower, 666–7, 710

  and question of operations in Balkans,
668–669, 714, 731

  at Quebec Conferences, 691, 696–9, 829, 921, 963

  broadcasts in Canada, 700–1

  fishing holiday of, 700–701

  in disagreement with Americans on operations in E. Mediterranean, 707–14, 728, 731, 747

  seeks easement of date of “Overlord”, 714, 748

  and suspension of Arctic convoys, 715, 718, 722

  refuses to receive Russian telegram, 721–2

  at Cairo Conference, 727–9

  refuses to countenance amphibious operation in Burma, 727, 747–9

  at Teheran Conference, 727, 729–46

  American myths regarding aims of, 729, 731

  on post-war Germany, 732–3, 746, 879–80

  on postwar Poland, 733–4, 745–6

  ideas of, on world government, 735, 881

  presents Sword of Honour, 735

  Stalin questions sincerity of, as to “Overlord”, 736, 737

  sixty-ninth birthday of, 737, 741–2

  gives dinner at British Legation, 741–4

  position of, under British Constitution, 742–3

  takes Roosevelt to see Sphinx, 751

  convalesces at Marrakesh, 756–7

  flies over mountains, 757

  returns to England, 758

  and dismissal of Mihailović, 762–3

  visits troops before D Day, 779

  reports capture of Rome to Commons, 783

  visits Normandy front, 784–786, 791–3

  disagrees with Americans over “Anvil”, 798–801

  in Italy, 801–7

  on right of Greeks to choose own Government, 805

  makes political arrangement with Russia over Balkans, 810–13, 901–2

  seeks help for Poles in Warsaw, 817, 819–21

  and demands for reconquest of N. Burma, 823–4, 829

  drafts letter to Stalin on Eastern Europe, 853–5

  meets Lublin Poles, 856–7

  his good relations with Stalin, 858

  visits liberated Paris, 859–60

  on disappointing war situation, 861, 863, 876

  orders strong hand in Greece, 868–71

  in Athens, 872–4, 891

  at Malta Conference, 876–7

  at Yalta, 878–81, 943

  on Polish Government in London, 886–7

  last talk of, with Roosevelt, 892

  sees crossing of Rhine, 894–5

  crosses Rhine, 896–7

  anxious about strategy of advance into Germany, 897–900

  oppressed with forebodings at time of victory, 900, 909, 912–14, 928, 930–2

  and death of Roosevelt, 907

  on Russian occupation of Europe, 912–13

  correspondence of, with Truman, 912, 923, 931–2 934–5, 937

  on need for meeting of Big Three in Germany, 912, 914, 922, 930–1

  presses for delay in withdrawing troops to occupation zones, 912–13, 922–3, 934–7

  presses for U.S. occupation of Prague, 919

  broadcasts to nation on surrender of Germany, 928–9

  “Iron Curtain” telegram of, 931–2

  refuses to consider President’s suggestion as to Potsdam Conference, 932–3

  and General Election, 934, 938, 944, 949–50, 953

  painting holidays of, 938, 956

  in Berlin, 939

  meets Truman, 939

  at Potsdam Conference, 943–9, 953

  resigns, 950

  Fulton Speech of, 954–6, 959

  on need for Anglo-American unity, 956

  reaches agreement with Roosevelt on atomic weapons, 963

  seeks approach to Russia after death of Stalin, 965–6

  Churchill, H.M.S., 479

  Ciano, Count, at meeting of Mussolini and Hitler, 46–7

  Diary of, on visit from Chamberlain and Halifax, 140–1

  Hitler talks of impending war to, 155

  on German information via England, 159

  and declaration of war, 277–8

  discusses invasion of Britain, 323

  on British reception of “Peace Offer”, 324

  on invasion of Egypt, 379

  votes against Mussolini, 686

  Mussolini reconciled to, 768

  death of, 769

  mentioned, 146

  Cinque Ports, dummy ships in, 777

  Cisterna, 770

  Citrine, Sir Walter, 99

  Civil Defence Service, 363

  Clark, General Mark (U.S.), Churchill meets, 565–6

  in London, 582

  weekly meetings of, with Churchill, 618–19

  and Darlan, 637

  in Italy, 713, 804, 808

  and Anzio landing, 755, 758, 770

  and Cassino, 771

  weakened Army of, 804

  in command, Fifteenth Army Group, 915

  Clark Kerr, Sir Archibald, Ambassador to Kremlin, 904–5

  Clarke, Colonel Frank W., 700

  Clemenceau, Georges, 7–8, 287, 646, 883

  son of, 303

  Clement, S.S., sinking of, 178

  Clyde, River, protection to approaches of, 120, 398

  air attacks on, 353, 391

  shipping to, 397

  “Torch” convoys start from, 631, 633

  ships sail from, for “Overlord”, 779

  Coastal Command, in Battle of Atlantic, 406, 535

  very long-range aircraft of, 535

  on D Day, 781

  Colijn, Mr., 240

  Collective Farm policy, Russian, 611–12

  Collins, Michael, 120

  Colmar, 305

  Cologne, 17

  Colville, Jock, 753, 894, 905

  Colvin, Ian, 39

  Combined Chiefs of Staff Committee, 235, 508–9

  meets in London, 584–5

  divergencies in views of, on strategy, 643–4, 664–6

  reach agreement at Casablanca, 645

  report of, on “Conduct of War in 1943”, 649–50

  and invasion of Italy, 664–6, 670–1

  reach agreement at Quebec, 698–9, 708

  order dispatch of assault shipping to Burma, 708

  meet in Egypt, 727–9, 747, 749, 751

  in Teheran, 734–5, 741

  and operation in Bay of Bengal, 747

  at Malta Conference, 876–877

  and occupation zones, 921

  dismantled, 961

  Combined Headquarters, Liverpool, 404

  Combined Operations Command, 300, 776

  Comines, 262

  “Commando” aeroplane, Churchill’s flights in, 587–9, 618, 643–4, 652–3, 655

  attempt to heat, 643–4

  last flight of, 655

  Commandos, in Syria, 441

  at St. Nazaire, 533

  at Anzio, 770

  at Walcheren, 848–9

  in Greece, 867

  in Germany, 894

  Commons, House of, destroyed in air raid, 358, 392

  Vote of Confidence in (1942), 516–18

  Vote of Censure debate in, 568–76

  Vote of Confidence in, on action in Greece (1944), 870–1

  discusses Yalta, 892

  adjourns in memory of Roosevelt, 907

  questions on Fulton speech in, 956

  Communism, threatens Europe in early post-war years, 10

  in Germany, 25, 34

  in France, 63, 94, 191, 213

  in Spain, 92–93

  in Britain, 213, 386, 463

  Nazism in conflict with, 454–6

  Turkish fear of, 653

  of Tito, 759–60

  in Greece, controls E.A.M.-E.L.A.S., 763–4, 868

  threatens Europe, 851, 875, 954–5, 958

  fear of, 854–5

  Greece escapes domination by, 875, 955, 958–9

  threat of world cleavage by, 909

  doctrine of, and Russian military machine, 965–6

  in Far East, 968–70

  Como, 918

  Compiègne
, French armistice at, 339

  Concentration camps in Germany, 50

  Congress, Churchill addresses, 503–6

  Coningham, Air Marshal Sir A., A.O.C. Western Desert, 591, 625

  2nd Tactical Air Force under, 848

  Conscription, in France, 9, 36, 63, 70

  in Germany, 63–4, 69–70, 84

  in Britain, 146–7

  Conservative Party, under Baldwin, 14, 19–20

  Churchill joins, 15

  Churchill’s idea as to rôle of, 19

  and National Government, 33

  reaction of, to German rearmament, 41

  fatuity and fecklessness of, 43–4

  attitude of, to MacDonald, 66

  deputation from members of, on need for rearmament, 96–7

  division in, on Munich, 134–6

  in National Coalition (1940), 227–8

  loyalty of, to Chamberlain, 227–8

  supports Churchill, 320

  in Canada, 505

  Convoys: North Atlantic, 171, 173

  North Sea, 397

  spotted by aircraft, 399

  surface raiders of, 399

  U.S., to Iceland, 404

  in Mediterranean, menaces to, 484–485

  U.S. coastal, 532, 534

  air support for, 535–6, 676

  losses in German, in Mediterranean, 625–7

  losses in W. African, 633

  destruction of German air, 661

  carrying “Overlord”, 781. See also Arctic Convoys, Atlantic Convoys

  Cooper, Rt. Hon. Sir Alfred Duff, 73, 135

  Copeland, Major W. O., 533

  Coral Sea, Battle of the, 540–4

  Corfu, Italian garrison on, 768

  Corinth Canal, 418

  Corregidor, embarkation of MacArthur from, 268–9

  defence of, 522, 524, 537

  rock gallery at, 667

  Corsica, 712

  plans for invasion of, 668–9, 699

  Eisenhower on value of, 681

  allocation of forces to operation in, 707, 730

  Churchill in, 802

  Cos, 708–9

  Cossack, H.M.S., 198–9

  Cot, M., 94

  Cotentin Peninsula, 556, 693

  landing on, 697

  Courageous, H.M.S., 172

  Courland, 815

  Courseulles, 785

  Courtrai, 258

  Coutances, 792

  Coventry, aircraft industry at, 261

  blitz on, 364, 391

  Crace, Admiral Sir J. G., 540–1

  Cracow, 65, 449–50

  Crerar, General Henry, 793, 845

  Crete, British occupy Suda Bay in, 381, 427

  tanks for, 425

  strategic importance of, 426–7

  neglected defences of, 427–8

  German attempts at sea invasion of, 427, 430–1

  advantages gained by defence of, 429, 434, 441

  airborne attack on, 429–30, 434

  evacuation of, 431–4

  losses in, 433–4

  help from civilians in, 433

  Germans on British defence of, 434