Churchill's War

Churchill was Britain’s greatest wartime leader and, until 1940, the nation had followed him in an extraordinary way. But from then on—Max Hastings argues—there was a deep division between the leader and the British people, to such an extent that by 1942, his popularity hit rock bottom amidst an uninterrupted succession of battlefield defeats. Some of his closest colleagues joined forces to have him relinquish his role as war director. Hastings offers a sharp image of the prime minister in triumph and tragedy, such as when Churchill's impulsiveness threatened to lose almost all the troops deployed in northwest France. British wartime unity was increasingly marred by worker unrest, with many strikes in the mines and industries. Hastings also provides new perspectives on the English leader based on the opinions of British soldiers, civilians, and newspapers of the time, and condemns some of his failed actions, such as his attempt to promote mass uprisings in occupied Europe and his "unthinkable" plan to liberate Poland, which involved an Allied offensive against the Russians.

Churchill was Britain’s greatest wartime leader and, until 1940, the nation had followed him in an extraordinary way. But from then on—Max Hastings argues—there was a deep division between the leader and the British people, to such an extent that by 1942, his popularity hit rock bottom amidst an uninterrupted succession of battlefield defeats. Some of his closest colleagues joined forces to have him relinquish his role as war director. Hastings offers a sharp image of the prime minister in triumph and tragedy, such as when Churchill's impulsiveness threatened to lose almost all the troops deployed in northwest France. British wartime unity was increasingly marred by worker unrest, with many strikes in the mines and industries. Hastings also provides new perspectives on the English leader based on the opinions of British soldiers, civilians, and newspapers of the time, and condemns some of his failed actions, such as his attempt to promote mass uprisings in occupied Europe and his "unthinkable" plan to liberate Poland, which involved an Allied offensive against the Russians.