by Max Hastings
Carol, King of Romania, 543
Carthage, 380, 436–8
Casablanca conference (January 1943), 352–62, 367,
376 Cassin, René, 56
Cazalet, Victor, 257, 397
Century Association (New York), 172
Cetniks (Yugoslavia), 467–9
Ceylon: bombed by Japanese, 251
Chamberlain, Neville: revulsion from conflict, xxiii; WSC replaces after failure of Norway campaign, 1–4, 8, 10, 13; cheered in Commons, 13; as lord president, 17; snubs Roosevelt, 18; supports WSC’s decision to fight on, 30, 33; remains Party leader, 31; and Stanley Bruce, 32; favours suing for peace, 36; opposes sending more forces to France, 43–4; and proposed Irish union, 71; cancer, 86, 105; premiership, 104; Maisky on, 105; death, 106, 109–6; dealings with Soviet Union, 152
Channon, Sir Henry (‘Chips’), 8, 95, 105–6, 127
Chapelle, Fernand Bonnier de la, 349
Chartwell, Kent: WSC at, 19; running costs, 590
Chemnitz: bombed, 561
Chequers (house): entertaining, 202–3; WSC at, 204; WSC contributes to, 591; WSC leaves, 592
Cherwell, Frederick Lindemann, Viscount (‘the Prof’): Jefferis works with, 83; controversy with Tizard over Luftwaffe navigational beams, 84–5; relations with WSC, 145; character and qualities, 146–7; at Placentia Bay meeting, 197; attacked in Commons, 209; and bombing of Germany, 246–7; denies reinforcements for Coastal Command, 249; Beaverbrook complains of, 275; proposes dropping random arms supplies over Europe, 458; supports Morgenthau’s proposals on Germany, 512
Chiang Kai-shek, 376, 429, 519
Chicago Daily News, 446
Chicago Sun, 528
Chicago Tribune, 229
chiefs of staff: composition and meetings, 140–3
Childs, Marquis, 531
China, 376, 429, 434, 481
Chindits, 387, 429
Churchill, Clementine (Lady): marches out of pacifist sermon, 66; deplores Beaverbrook, 82; relations with WSC, 90; advises WSC against accepting Tory party leadership, 106; asks about landing forces on continent, 113; and WSC’s view of generals, 114; reads Henderson’s biography of Stonewall Jackson, 115; disparages Wavell, 139; Harriman gives tangerines to, 187; uses motor car, 203; letters from WSC on US visit, 218, 220; on the ‘Valley of Humiliation’, 242; WSC writes to from Cairo, 318; WSC buys gifts for in Cairo, 332; WSC writes to from Casablanca conference, 355; accompanies WSC to America (August-September 1943), 387; letter from WSC on Dodecanese failure, 420; visits sick WSC in Tunisia, 437; and WSC’s fears of hostile France, 505; letter from WSC on watching Dragoon landings, 506; and WSC’s visit to Stalin (October 1944), 516; warns WSC over intervention in Greek civil war, 526; distress at WSC’s decision to travel to Athens, 534; letters from WSC in Athens, 537–8; believes Attlee’s criticism of WSC to be just, 545; letter from WSC in Yalta on plight of German refugees, 551; visit to Russia, 569; on WSC’s 1945 election campaigning, 579; qualities, 597–8
Churchill, Mary (later Lady Soames; WSC’s daughter), 244, 387, 437, 449, 579, 596
Churchill, Pamela (Randolph’s wife; later Harriman), 510
Churchill, Randolph (WSC’s son): on visit to WSC in Admiralty House, 17–18; letter from WSC at popular restiveness, 168; letter from WSC on revival of optimism, 257; relations with father, 270; Beaverbrook helps pay debts, 396; accompanies WSC to Cairo, 427, 436; WSC takes to North Africa, 433; WSC writes to in Yugoslavia, 449; with partisans in Yugoslavia, 467, 467–8; WSC denounces de Gaulle to, 505; marriage breakdown, 510; as financial drain on WSC, 590
Churchill, Sarah (WSC’s daughter), 426, 437, 551
CHURCHILL, (SIR) WINSTON SPENCER: appointed prime minister, 2–5, 8; dual role as prime iminister and Minister of Defence, 4, 310, 335; Conservative Party wariness of, 8–9, 13; militancy, 10, 34, 148–9; appoints first war cabinet, 11; addresses Commons, 12, 60, 63, 381, 521, 544; devotion to France, 12, 347–8, 447, 564; underestimates German military strength, 12; requests US aid, 15, 21; flies to France, 16; self-discipline and confidence, 17, 54, 88; determination to enlist USA as ally, 18, 171, 188, 190, 207; broadcasts to nation, 20, 35, 63, 75–6, 93, 238–9, 569–70; view of Cripps, 22; mistrusted and resented by British ruling class, 27, 34, 105–6, 182; opposes suing for peace, 28, 33–5; declares resolve to fight on to ministers, 37; and Dunkirk evacuation, 41–2, 44; travels to France before surrender, 41, 45–6, 48–50; sends more troops to France, 45; belief in destiny, 47, 88–9; pessimism with French defeat, 47–8; escapes German fighters in flight from France, 48; agrees to withdraw British troops from N.W. France in ‘Second Dunkirk’, 51–2; commits troops to N.W. France, 54; proposes union with France, 54–5; resolve in summer 1940, 61–3; on Britain’s lack of military equipment, 66; wit and encouraging remarks, 66–7; sanctions bombardment of French fleet, 69; and Irish neutrality, 70–2; plans defence against German invasion, 73–4, 96–7, 103, 123; belief in bombing campaign against Germany, 74–5, 248, 425, 560–4; effect of speeches, 75–6, 93; foresees German attack on Russia, 75; orders formation of SOE, 75, 451; sentimentality, 80; personal security, 81; and technological innovation, 84–5; exploits Ultra intelligence, 85; phrase on debt to ‘the few’ in Battle of Britain, 87; isolation and remoteness, 88, 315, 374; personal qualities and manner, 89–93, 110, 230; scrutinises newspapers, 91, 120, 334; popularity, 98, 104–5, 106; US admiration for, 103–4; elected Tory leader, 106; magnanimity towards Germany, 108; working routines and methods, 108, 224–5; obituary tribute to Chamberlain, 109; First World War soldiering, 113; on winning war, 113–14; believes fitted for higher command, 115; proposes minor operations, 116; supports campaign in Middle East, 117–18; intervention in Greece, 119–20, 124–5, 129; impatience with Wavell, 127–8, 138; relations with and view of commanders, 127–8, 131, 140, 208, 260–1, 267; on British retreat in North Africa, 130–1; admits to defeat in Mediterranean, 135; dismisses Wavell, 139; chairs war cabinet, 140; high command organisation, staff and entourage, 142–8; independence of thought and judgment, 147–8; on Western aid to Russia, 150, 168; welcomes Russia as wartime ally, 152–4, 160; apprehension over airborne attack on Britain, 158; cultivates relations with Roosevelt, 177, 190, 193, 196, 229–31, 435–6; earlier visits to USA, 177–8; relations with Hopkins, 180–3; fears Japanese aggression, 189, 196, 205, 207, 212; awarded honorary doctorate by Rochester University, New York, 190; meets Roosevelt at Placentia Bay, 191–8; lacks social intimates, 193; hostility to socialism, 194; supposed interest in Crown Princess Marthe of Norway, 194; wartime diet and comforts, 202; sends naval battle squadron to Far East, 205, 215; Brooke’s relations with, 211, 252, 374, 380, 510, 521, 568–9, 593; declares war on Japan after Pearl Harbor, 212–13; visit to Roosevelt in Washington (December 1941), 216–24, 227–8, 239; strategic proposals after US entry, 217–19, 226; aversion to whistling, 218; addresses US Congress, 222–3, 377; angina attack, 223; single-mindedness about war, 225; popular and official criticisms of, 233–4, 237–8, 243–4, 257; attitude to dominions, 235; imperialist prejudices, 235–6, 597; demands votes of confidence in Commons: (January 1942), 236; (1944), 477; (December 1944), 529; health concerns, 236; despair at fall of Singapore, 238–40, 244, 251; promises use of poison gas if used against Russia, 245; opposes bombing of civilians, 247; uninterested in post-war and social concerns, 252–4, 508; opposes Indian independence, 255; and army’s poor performance, 259–62, 271; on elements of war, 262; attitude to workers, 281–399–500; letter from Roosevelt advocating second front to relieve Russians, 283–6; Molotov meets, 288, 291; visits Roosevelt (June 1942), 296–7, 302; popular US hostility to, 301–2; resists demands for early second front, 306, 312; low contemporary media coverage of, 307; faces censure motion in Commons, 309–10; visit to Middle East and Moscow (1942), 315–20; discomfort on flight, 316; appoints and replaces commanders, 319; Soviet knowledge of activities, 321–2; meeting with Stalin in Moscow (1942), 323–9; misjudges relations with Russia, 330; return to Cairo, 332; optimism, 334–5; at low ebb, 336; and ba
ttle of Alamein, 337–8, 339–41; hopes for invasion of continent in 1943, 345, 349–50, 352; impatience to act, 345–6; view of de Gaulle, 347–8, 446–7, 505; attends Casablanca conference, 352–7, 358–9; proposes summit meeting with Stalin and Roosevelt, 352; and Roosevelt’s insistence on unconditional surrender, 360; favours Mediterranean strategy, 360, 376, 389, 426, 443, 597; relationship with Roosevelt declines, 361; painting, 362; visit to Turkey, 363–4; drinking, 363, 498; French speaking, 364, 521; musings about death, 365; waning importance, 367; difficult relations with Stalin and Russians, 372; on Katyn massacre, 373; working day, 374; visit to Washington (May 1943), 375, 377–80; addresses troops at Carthage, 380; misgivings over D-Day, 383, 386, 389, 396, 426, 428, 443, 447–8, 478–9, 483–5; resists Stimson’s proposal to advance D-Day date, 385; attends Quebec conference (August 1943), 386–9; standing in USA declines, 386, 393; warns of Russia as future threat, 386, 388; applauds success of Sicily campaign, 389; and Dodecanese (Aegean) operation, 400–4, 406, 408–11, 416, 419–21, 449; favours minor operations, 404; and Dardanelles campaign (1916), 420, 441; prestige as leader, 422–3; reluctance to consider post-war reconstruction, 422; frustrated by US ascendancy, 423–4; sickness at Malta, 427; meets Roosevelt in Cairo, 428–30; at Tehran conference, 431–5; on British insignificance beside USA and Russia, 435; and results of Tehran conference, 435–6; contracts pneumonia in Tunisia, 437; and Anzio stalemate, 441; attacks critics, 444; strategic vision, 448–9; life at Chequers, 449–50; physical decline, 449; encourages Resistance movements and SOE, 453–4, 458–9, 463, 471–2; maintains aid to Greek communists, 463; and effect of SOE activities, 475; dispute with chiefs of staff over Far East strategy, 477; exhaustion, 479; proposes additional landings in France with Overlord, 480, 493, 504; favours Italian campaign, 481, 488, 494–5; and relations with Americans, 483; dissuaded from witnessing D-Day landings, 485; on success of D-Day, 488; visits Normandy beachhead, 489; maintains leadership qualities, 491; diminishing authority among Allies, 495–6; turbulent relations with colleagues, 497–8; forecasts continuing German resistance, 499; recites poetry, 499; on Nazi extermination of Jews, 501–2; proposes Invergordon summit meeting, 502; support for Poles, 503–4, 517–18, 552–4, 557; visits battlefields in Europe, 504–8, 564; witnesses Dragoon landings in southern France, 506; patch on lung, 508; attends second Quebec conference (September 1944), 510–13; flies to Moscow for bilateral talks with Stalin, 514–18; ‘percentage agreement’ proposals in Russia, 515; decline in relations with Roosevelt, 519, 567; hardening popular attitude to, 521–2; and post-war policies in liberated countries, 523–9, 547; and Greek civil war, 524–31; sends unclassified message on Greece to Scobie, 530; travels to Athens (December 1944), 534–40; wins devotion of personal staff, 543; travels to Yalta conference, 547, 549–54; preserves Allied unity, 549; compassion for German refugees, 551–2; returns from Yalta, 554; protests to Stalin about Soviet oppression in Poland, 557; and bombing of Dresden and Potsdam, 558–9, 561; and Stalin’s behaviour towards war’s end, 565–6; non-attendance at Roosevelt’s funeral, 567; celebrates victory in Europe, 569–70; gloom over fate of Poland, 571; suggests Anglo-US drive against Russia, 571–2, 584; forms new ministry after dissolution of coalition, 577; campaign and defeat in 1945 general election, 578–9, 589; meeting with and demands on Gusev, 580–3; enthusiasm for atom bomb, 585–6; personal finances, 590–1; holds final cabinet, 591; achievements, 592–8; oratory, 594; Great Contemporaries, 261; History of the English-Speaking Peoples, 590; Into Battle (speeches), 590
Ciano, Count Galeazzo, 490
Clark, Bennett Champ, 161
Clark, Kenneth (later Baron), 176
Clark, Gen. Mark: and North African landings, 335;
campaign in Italy, 391–2, 394, 481
Clark Kerr, Sir Archibald (later Baron Inverchapel), 300, 373, 382, 426
Clausewitz, Karl Marie von, 63, 261–2
Clay, Gen. Lucius, 572
coal miners: disaffection and low morale, 278–9, 476
Colfox, Maj. Sir Philip, 13
Cologne: bombed, 247
Colville, Lady Cynthia, 108
Colville, Sir John (‘Jock’): papers, xxii, 144; on French retreat, 15; as WSC’s private secretary, 17, 54, 144; and Italy’s entry into war, 45; on maintaining British military presence in France, 51; and WSC’s sayings, 67; admires butterflies during Battle of Britain, 80; on Beaverbrook, 83; on WSC’s relations with king and queen, 86; and WSC’s self-criticism, 87; and WSC’s personal qualities, 89, 92; and WSC’s interest in news, 91; on WSC’s dictating style, 119; and WSC’s regrets over Greek venture, 136; on WSC’s independence of thought, 147; on popular distaste for Soviet Union, 154; and WSC’s view of Americans, 178; on WSC’s meeting with Roosevelt at Placentia Bay, 191; and WSC’s wish for US entry into war, 200; hears WSC’s broadcast on fall of Singapore, 238; trains as fighter pilot, 238; on worker disaffection, 276–7; visits sick WSC in Tunisia, 437; on WSC’s depression, 444; on WSC at Chequers, 449; on Kirkpatrick’s disparagement of SOE, 473; on WSC’s exhaustion, 479; on WSC’s leadership qualities, 491; on WSC’s diminishing authority among Allies, 495; on extravagant meals on Queen Mary en route for Quebec, 510; with WSC at second Quebec conference, 511; on WSC’s 1944 visit to Athens, 535–6; and WSC’s attachment to Smuts, 544; and WSC’s response to Attlee’s rebuke, 545; and WSC’s concern for Poland, 556; on WSC’s obstructiveness in old age, 565; and WSC’s reaction to emollient cable from Stalin, 566; on WSC’s move to religious faith, 570
Combined Chiefs of Staff Committee (US-British), 232
Commons, House of: WSC addresses, 12, 60, 63, 381, 521, 544; harasses WSC, 208–9, 242; WSC demands votes of confidence, 236, 477, 529; censure motion on WSC, 309–10; welcomes WSC on return from Tehran, 439–40; affection for WSC, 520; anxiety over outcome of Yalta, 555; WSC’s respect for, 592
communists: and Soviet entry into war, 155–6, 160; British party membership increases, 304; WSC opposes in Greek civil war, 525–33, 539; admired for efforts in war, 526; at Athens meeting with WSC, 537
Compass, Operation, 121–2, 126
Compton, Edmund, 83
Coningham, Air Marshal Sir Arthur (‘Maori’), 317, 450
Conservative Party: wariness of WSC, 8–9, 13; popular hostility to, 521–2, 578–9; WSC’s attitude to, 579–80; defeat in 1945 election, 589
Cooper, Alfred Duff (later 1st Viscount Norwich): as Minister of Information, 16; and WSC’s prescription for victory, 124; and newspaper reporting of code-breaking, 159; on dealing with Americans, 189; WSC rebukes for mocking Italians, 271; letter from Halifax on Conservative lack of social concern, 282; on Katyn massacre, 373
Coral Sea, Battle of the (1942), 256
Cork and Orrery, Admiral William Henry Dudley Boyle, 12th Earl of, 13
Cossacks, 464
Coulaudon, Emile, 459
Cowan, Howard, 562
Craigavon, James Craig, 1st Viscount, 70–2
Craigie, Sir Robert, 213
Craven, Sir Charles, 83
Crete: proposed occupation by British, 19; German airborne assault on, 133–4; Greek expeditionary force evacuated to, 133; lost, 134–6; guerrilla activity and German reprials, 472
Cripps, Sir Stafford: as ambassador in Moscow, 75, 153; submits proposals on post-war reconstruction, 86; and German invasion of Russia, 153; requests British troops to reinforce Red Army, 165; declines ministry of supply, 237; background and character, 242–3; in war cabinet as lord privy seal, 242; as potential successor to WSC, 243; mission to India, 254–6; Bevin rebukes, 273; letter from Frankfurter on Anglo-US relations, 300; resigns from war cabinet, 344
Crossman, Richard, 351
Crozier, W.P., 395
Crusader, Operation, 161, 209, 215
Cunliffe-Owen, Sir Hugo, 105
Cunningham, Gen. Sir Alan Gordon, 210, 267
Cunningham, Admiral Sir Andrew: commands Mediterranean fleet, 87, 101; dislikes publicity, 101–2; and Battleaxe operation in North Africa, 138; character a
nd qualities, 142; succeeds Pound as first sea lord, 142; on shortage of fighter aircraft, 157; WSC threatens to dismiss, 260; reluctance to express view on course of war, 308; Harwood succeeds in Mediterranean, 319; scepticism on Overlord, 385; on loss of Leros, 417; dismisses Tehran conference as waste of time, 435; on Anzio landings, 439; dispute with WSC over Far East strategy, 477; on relations with Americans, 482; on WSC’s response to V1 crisis, 489; at second Quebec conference, 511; WSC toasts on VE-Day, 568
Curtin, John, 162, 235, 350–1
Czechoslovakia: Nazi reprisals for Heydrich’s assassination, 455
D-Day: date established, 385–6; postponed to June, 438–9; WSC fears failure, 484; success, 487–8, 494; casualties, 488; see also Overlord, Operation
D’Abernon, Edgar Vincent, Viscount, 35
Dabney, Virginius, 541
Daily Mail, 237–8
Daily Mirror, 237
Dakar: Free French failed attempt on, 70, 235
Dalmatia, 392, 440
Dalton, Hugh (later Baron): diary, xx; qualities, 10, 275; praises WSC’s resolve, 37; heads SOE, 75, 275; as Minister of Economic Warfare, 98; on Beaverbrook’s defeatism, 111; on Halifax in Washington, 174; at party for Raymond Gram Swing, 176; and Brooke’s view of WSC’s temperament, 237; on Cazalet’s lack of faith in WSC, 257; and Maisky’s view of British soldiers, 263; praises Bevin, 273; on Woolton, 275; on North African successes, 341; inquires about possibility of separate Soviet peace with Germany, 373; on WSC’s need for Beaverbrook, 395; and European Resistance movements, 451; on colleagues’ exhaustion, 476; and WSC’s drinking, 498
Daluege, Kurt, 159
Damaskinos, Archbishop (Dimitrios Papandreou), 531–2, 535–7
Dardanelles campaign (1915), 420, 441
Darlan, Admiral Jean François: pessimism, 41; commands French troops against Allies in North Africa, 346; as France’s high commissioner in North Africa, 346–8; assassinated, 348–9
David, Operation, 5
Davies, Joseph E., 377–8
Deakin, Sir William, 363, 467–8, 470
