Churchill and the Politics of War, 1940–1941

A new examination of Churchill's first year as Britain's wartime leader.

Sheila Lawlor (Author)

9780521466851, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 12 May 1994

288 pages
22.7 x 15 x 1.6 cm, 0.407 kg

"Lawlor's case, closely argued and well documented, is that novel thing: a revisionist view that elevates rather than denigrates Churchill's skill and judgement." Max Schoenfeld, Journal of Military History

This book offers a reappraisal of Churchill's role as Britain's wartime leader, and in particular reconsiders his response to the dominant strategic challenges of his first year as prime minister. Based on a detailed examination of the public and private records of both political and military leaders, Dr Lawlor analyses what were often conflicting views and reactions to events. She suggests that Churchill's own position reflected the uncertainties, differences and vacillations of his colleagues, and that he was a far more sophisticated and astute politician than he allowed himself to appear. The first part of the book considers the various reactions among the British leadership to the fall of France and the Battle of Britain. The second and third parts analyse the discussions and decisions which led to British action in the Middle East and to sending military support to Greece.

Acknowledgements
List of abbreviations
Introduction
Retrospect
Part I. Churchill, The Conservative Party and the War: 1. The opposition to Churchill and its causes
2. Events and reactions - (I) the German attack on France and its aftermath
3. Events and reactions - (II) the Battle of Britain
4. Chamberlain, Churchill and the conservative party
Part II. The Middle East, Imperial Defence and The Balkans (October to December, 1940): 5. Churchill and the Middle East
6. Eden and the Middle East
7. Halifax and the Middle East
8. The military and the Middle East
Part III. The Greek Decision (January to March, 1941): 9. The Greek decision: the background
10. Churchill, Eden and the Greek decision, January to February 1941
11. The military command at home and the Greek decision, January to February 1941
12. The Middle East command and the Greek decision
13. The Greek decision, 10th February to early March 1941
General conclusion
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Second World War [HBWQ], British & Irish history [HBJD1]