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- English
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The End of the Beginning
About This Book
This collection of WWII speeches by the Nobel Prize-winning Prime Minister reflect his determination in the face of a fearsome enemy. 1942 was an important turning point in World War II. Britain and its allies had faced considerable challenges thus far. Beset by bombings and devastated by personal loss and the restrictions of war, the British public was losing patience with the war effortâand their prime minister. This collection of Winston Churchill's wartime speeches from 1942 provides an enlightening commentary on this volatile time in history from the point of view of one of its most prominent leaders. Churchill faced an uphill battle in his military efforts as well as in gathering political and public support for the struggle to come. But the tides had turned when the United States joined the war at the end of 1941. Churchill has been quoted as saying he felt certain of the Allied victory with the US on his sideâand his speeches reflect this renewed sense of hope and conviction.
Frequently asked questions
Information
âHEREâS TO 1942!â
âDESERT TOILS AND TRIUMPHSâ
JANUARY 1, 1942
A VISIT TO BERMUDA
JANUARY 15, 1942
January 2. | Headed by Mr. Winston Churchill and President Roosevelt, twenty-six States signed a Grand Alliance against the Axis, pledging joint conduct of the war and a fight to the finish. Chinese troops entered Burma to aid British forces. In Libya Imperial troops captured Bardia and in Russia Soviet troops recaptured Malo Yaroslavets. | |
January 3. | General Wavell made supreme commander of all Allied forces, land, sea and air, in the Pacific. | |
January 6. | President Roosevelt announced to Congress a huge production programme: 60,000 planes in 1942, 125,000 planes in 1943; 45,000 tanks in 1942; 75,000 tanks in 1943. He also stated that United States forces would take up stations in the British Isles. British troops lost Kuantan aerodrome in Malaya. | |
January 7. | President Roosevelt presented to Congress the greatest budget in history, expenditure in 1943 to be more than ÂŁ13,000,000,000. | |
January 8. | R.A.F. raided Bangkok (Siam). British troops made further withdrawals in Malaya. | |
January 9. | Cruiser Galatea sunk in the Mediterranean. | |
January 10. | Officially announced that Mr. Duff Cooper had been recalled from Singapore, where he was Resident Minister. | |
January 11. | Japanese made landings in North-East Borneo and the Celebes. | |
January 12. | Imperial troops in Malaya withdrew from Kuala Lumpur. | |
January 14. | General Wavell established his headquarters in the Dutch East Indies. United States established a unified War Production Board under Mr. Donald Nelson. |
Table of contents
- COVER
- TITLE PAGE
- COPYRIGHT
- LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
- CONTENTS
- âHEREâS TO 1942!â A toast in a train. January 1, 1942
- âDESERT TOILS AND TRIUMPHS.â A New Yearâs Day Message to the Forces in the Middle East. January 1, 1942
- A VISIT TO BERMUDA. A Speech to the House of Assembly, at the Sessions House, Hamilton, Bermuda. January 15, 1942
- BROADCASTING OF PARLIAMENTARY SPEECHES. A Statement to the House of Commons, January 20, 1942
- TRIBUTE TO THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT. A Speech to the House of Commons. January 20, 1942
- SECRET SESSIONS. A Statement in reply to Questions in the House of Commons. January 22, 1942
- THE WAR SITUATION. Two Speeches in a House of Commons debate on a Vote of Confidence, which was carried by 464 votes to 1. January 27 and 29, 1942
- THE DEFENCE OF RANGOON. A Message sent to Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith, the Governor of Burma. February 2, 1942
- IMPERIAL WAR CABINET. A Reply to a Question in the House of Commons. February 5, 1942
- SERVICE PAY AND ALLOWANCES AND THE MINISTRY OF WAR PRODUCTION. Statements to the House of Commons. February 10, 1942
- âTHROUGH THE STORM.â An Address broadcast. February 15, 1942
- THE WAR SITUATION. A Statement to the House of Commons. February 17, 1942
- HEART OF AUSTRIA. A Speech outside No. 10, Downing Street, when Sir George Franckenstein, formerly Austrian Minister in London, presented on behalf of Austrians in Britain a trailer canteen to the Womenâs Voluntary Service. February 18, 1942
- RED ARMYâS ANNIVERSARY. A Message to Premier Stalin. February 23, 1942
- CHANGES IN THE GOVERNMENT. A Speech to the House of Commons. February 24, 1942
- SPEED UP THE SHIPS. A Message to a Conference of Employers and workers in the Transport Industry. February 27, 1942
- SIR STAFFORD CRIPPSâ MISSION TO INDIA. A Statement to the House of Commons. March 11, 1942
- DUTIES OF THE MINISTER OF PRODUCTION. A Statement to the House of Commons. March 12, 1942
- THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MIDDLE EAST. A Statement in the House of Commons. March 19, 1942
- DEFENCE OF A CONVOY. A Message sent to the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet, following the successful defence of a convoy from Alexandria to Malta. March 24, 1942
- THE OUTLOOK FOR 1942. A Speech to the Central Council of the Conservative Party at Caxton Hall, London. March 26, 1942
- FREE DENMARK. A Speech at No. 10 Downing Street when receiving a cheque for ÂŁ38,300 presented by the Free Danes to provide Great Britain with fighter aeroplanes. April 9, 1942
- A MESSAGE TO SIR STAFFORD CRIPPS IN INDIA. April 11, 1942
- THE WAR SITUATION. A Statement to the House of Commons. April 13, 1942
- A GREAT DAYLIGHT RAID. A Message to Air Marshal Harris, Chief of the Bomber Command, after the great daylight attack by the R.A.F. on Augsburg. April 20, 1942
- ANZAC DAY, 1942. A Message to Mr. Curtin, the Prime Minister of Australia. April 25, 1942
- POLANDâS FIGHT. A Message to General Sikorski, the Polish Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief, on the 151st anniversary of the Polish Constitution. May 4, 1942
- âEVATT IS WITH US.â A Message to Mr. Curtin, the Australian Prime Minister, on the occasion of the visit to London of Dr. H. V. Evatt, the Australian Minister for External Affairs. May 6, 1942
- THE LANDING ON MADAGASCAR. A Statement to the House of Commons. May 7, 1942
- PRIME MINISTER FOR TWO YEARS. A World Broadcast. May 10, 1942
- THE HOME GUARD. A Speech to the Palace of Westminster Home Guard. May 12, 1942
- âWE SEE THE RIDGE AHEAD.â A Speech from the steps of Leeds Town Hall during a tour of the City with Dr. H. V. Evatt, Australian Minister for External Affairs. May 16, 1942
- AIRGRAPHS FROM SOUTH AFRICA. The Prime Ministerâs reply to General Smutsâs airgraph letter on the opening of the airgraph Service from South Africa to Great Britain. May 24, 1942
- 1,000 BOMBERS RAID COLOGNE. A Message to the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Bomber Command, following the first 1,000-bomber raid on Germany. May 31, 1942
- THANKS TO LABOUR. A Letter to Mr. W. H. Green, M.P., Chairman of the Labour Party Conference, who at the close of the Conference had assured the Prime Minister of the continued loyalty and support of the Labour Movement in the prosecution of the War. May 31, 1942
- THE BATTLE IN LIBYA. A Statement to the House of Commons. June 2, 1942
- THE ANGLO-SOVIET TREATY. A Message to M. Stalin on the signing of the treaty. June 11, 1942
- FEWER GIFTS FROM AMERICA. A Letter to President Roosevelt. June 14, 1942
- UNITED NATIONS DAY. A Message issued on June 14, 1942
- ALL POSSIBLE HELP TO THE SOVIET UNION. A Message to M. Stalin on the Anniversary of the German attack on the Soviet Union. June 22, 1942
- THE UNITED STATES ARMY. A Speech to American troops during a visit to a southern army camp in the United States. June, 1942
- THE WAR OUTLOOK. A Statement issued jointly by Mr. Winston Churchill and Mr. Roosevelt on the Prime Ministerâs return to London from Washington after his third Conference with the President. June 27, 1942
- GENERAL AUCHINLECK TAKES COMMAND. A Statement to the House of Commons. June 30, 1942
- ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. June 30, 1942
- THE CENTRAL DIRECTION OF THE WAR. Speeches in the Debate on the Motion of âNo-Confidence,â House of Commons. July 1 and 2, 1942
- THE R.A.F. IN EGYPT. A Message sent to Air Chief Marshal Tedder, C.-in-C. of the R.A.F. in the Middle East. July 4, 1942
- A PLEDGE TO CHINA. A Message to Chiang Kai-Shek on the fifth anniversary of the outbreak of war between China and Japan. July 5, 1942
- ARMY AND R.A.F. CO-OPERATION. Answers to Questions in the House of Commons. July 7, 1942
- A MOTTO FOR SCOUTS. A Message to a Conference of County Commissioners of the Boy Scouts Association. July 16, 1942
- ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. July 21, 1942
- RETRIBUTION ON NAZIS. A Message to a New York demonstration by Jewish Societies against German atrocities. July 21, 1942
- DEFENCE OF IRAQ. A Message to General Nuri El Said, Prime Minister of Iraq. August 29, 1942
- ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
- THE DEATH OF THE DUKE OF KENT. A Speech to the House of Commons. September 8, 1942
- THE WAR SITUATION. A Speech to the House of Commons. September 8, 1942
- AIRGRAPHS TO SOUTH AFRICA. A Message to Field-Marshal Smuts on the opening of the Airgraph Letter Service from England to South Africa. September 9, 1942
- THE SITUATION IN INDIA. A Speech to the House of Commons. September 10, 1942
- THE PEN AND THE SWORD. A Speech at an Inspection of the London Civil Service Battalion of the Home Guard. September 10, 1942
- MADAGASCAR OPERATIONS RESUMED. A Statement to the House of Commons. September 11, 1942
- CHINAâS INSPIRATION. A Reply to a Message from General Chiang Kai-Shek on the Third Anniversary of the outbreak of the War between Great Britain and Germany. September 16, 1942
- 500 VICTORY SHIPS IN A YEAR. A Message in praise of the Shipbuilders of the United States, sent to Mr. J. G. Winant, the American Ambassador to Great Britain, and read by him in a broadcast to his countrymen. September 27, 1942
- MADAGASCAR OPERATIONS REVIEWED. A Statement to the House of Commons. September 29, 1942
- ANSWERS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
- PLANNING FOR VICTORY. A Message to the Central Council of the National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations at Caxton Hall, Westminster. October 1, 1942
- âKEEP RIGHT ON TO THE END.â A Speech in the Usher Hall, Edinburgh, when the Prime Minister received the Freedom of the City, October 12, 1942
- DEFENCE OF A CITY. A Speech at an Inspection of Edinburgh Civil Defence Workers. October 12, 1942
- CHAINING OF PRISONERS OF WAR. A Statement to the House of Commons. October 13, 1942
- BOOKS FOR THE FORCES. An Appeal issued on October 13, 1942
- GENERAL SMUTSâS VISIT. A Statement to the House of Commons. October 15, 1942
- âBE PREPARED.â A Message sent to a parade of Civil Defence Workers at Wembley and read by Mr. Herbert Morrison, Home Secretary and Minister of Home Security. October 18, 1942
- TRIBUTE TO GENERAL SMUTS. A Speech of thanks after General Smuts had addressed an assembly of both Houses of Parliament in London. October 21, 1942
- MESSAGES:
- COAL AND WAR. Speech to the Conference of Coal Owners and Miners at the Westminster Central Hall. October 31, 1942
- MESSAGES:
- âTHE END OF THE BEGINNING.â A Speech at the Lord Mayorâs Day Luncheon at the Mansion House, London, November 10, 1942
- ARMISTICE IN MADAGASCAR. A Statement to the House of Commons, November 10, 1942
- THE WAR SITUATION. A Speech to the House of Commons. November 11, 1942
- HARROW SCHOOL SONGS. A Speech to the Boys of Harrow School. November 18, 1942
- âWATCH OVER VICTORY.â A Message to Freedom House, Washington, on the First Anniversary of an Association formed to promote the âFour Freedomsâ enumerated by President Roosevelt: âFreedom from Want and Fear and Freedom of Expression and Worship.â November 19, 1942
- VICTORY AS A SPUR. A Broadcast to the World. November 29, 1942
- SIXTY-EIGHTH BIRTHDAY. Messages in Reply to Dominionsâ Prime Ministers greetings. November 30, 1942
- ONE GREAT FAMILY. A Speech to the People of Bradford from the steps of the Town Hall. December 5, 1942
- RETRIBUTION FOR JAPAN. A Message to the British Far Eastern Territories on the First Anniversary of Japanâs Assault on the British Empire and the United States of America. December 7, 1942
- MESSAGES:
- FIGHTING THE U-BOATS. A Statement to the House of Commons. December 15, 1942
- THE CHURCHILL TANK. A Statement to the House of Commons. December 15, 1942
- MESSAGES:
- BEWARE OF LOGIC! An Answer in the House of Commons, December 17, 1942
- BONDS WITH AMERICA. Message to President Roosevelt in reply to greetings from the United States Congress to Great Britainâs Armed Forces. December 25, 1942