1 00:00:17,183 --> 00:00:21,437 (narrator) September 1 , 1939. 2 00:00:21,521 --> 00:00:23,731 Germany attacks Poland. 3 00:00:24,524 --> 00:00:29,403 Adolf Hitler ignores Britain and France which had promised to fight for Poland. 4 00:01:12,197 --> 00:01:18,368 Sunday September 3. The British prime minister Neville Chamberlain broadcasts. 5 00:01:18,453 --> 00:01:22,790 (Chamberlain) This morning the British ambassador in Berlin 6 00:01:22,874 --> 00:01:27,252 handed the German government a final note 7 00:01:27,337 --> 00:01:32,674 stating that unless we heard from them by 1 1 o'clock 8 00:01:32,759 --> 00:01:37,805 that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, 9 00:01:37,889 --> 00:01:41,391 a state of war would exist between us. 10 00:01:42,936 --> 00:01:48,774 l have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received 11 00:01:48,858 --> 00:01:54,655 and that consequently this country is at war with Germany. 12 00:02:53,339 --> 00:02:55,424 (chanting / cheering) 13 00:03:03,683 --> 00:03:07,352 (narrator) Danzig, taken from Germany affer the First World War, 14 00:03:07,437 --> 00:03:09,146 welcomed its liberators. 15 00:03:09,230 --> 00:03:12,566 To many good Germans the city's capture symbolised the end 16 00:03:12,650 --> 00:03:15,861 of the humiliating Treaty of Versailles. 17 00:03:34,964 --> 00:03:39,426 Hitler swept forward to congratulate his victorious troops. 18 00:03:39,510 --> 00:03:44,514 He said they'd rescued his people from Polish barbarism. 19 00:03:56,903 --> 00:04:00,489 The Germans thrust into Poland from the west and north. 20 00:04:00,573 --> 00:04:04,701 ln two weeks the Polish army had virtually ceased to exist. 21 00:04:04,786 --> 00:04:07,788 Warsaw was one of the few places to hold out. 22 00:04:07,872 --> 00:04:10,123 The Russians, by agreement with Germany, 23 00:04:10,250 --> 00:04:13,585 seized parts of Poland they claimed as theirs by right. 24 00:04:13,670 --> 00:04:16,964 The two conquerors met at Brest-Litovsk. 25 00:04:17,048 --> 00:04:22,261 lt was the scene of the Russian surrender to Germany in 1918. 26 00:04:26,015 --> 00:04:29,101 The official German greeting in Russian 27 00:04:29,185 --> 00:04:33,563 said German soldiers had always respected Russian soldiers. 28 00:04:33,690 --> 00:04:38,318 The clash of Nazi and Communist was, for the moment, conveniently forgotten. 29 00:04:40,196 --> 00:04:44,116 The final bombardment of Warsaw began on September 23. 30 00:04:57,714 --> 00:05:00,215 (♪ Polish national anthem) 31 00:05:08,808 --> 00:05:11,601 For nearly three weeks Warsaw Radio 32 00:05:11,686 --> 00:05:15,314 had defiantly played the Polish national anthem. 33 00:05:29,787 --> 00:05:32,831 On September 27 the anthem stopped. 34 00:05:38,254 --> 00:05:42,215 - (announcement in Polish) - (air-raid siren) 35 00:05:47,055 --> 00:05:49,097 Warsaw was reduced to rubble. 36 00:06:02,820 --> 00:06:05,447 The capital's commander surrendered. 37 00:06:51,369 --> 00:06:53,703 Poland, swallowed by Germany and Russia, 38 00:06:53,788 --> 00:06:56,164 disappeared into a new dark age. 39 00:06:56,249 --> 00:06:59,709 Arrests, deportations, executions began. 40 00:06:59,794 --> 00:07:02,045 (siren) 41 00:07:06,300 --> 00:07:09,636 Britain's war started with a false alarm. 42 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:12,013 September 3. 43 00:07:12,098 --> 00:07:16,226 (man) l remember when the outbreak of war came. 44 00:07:16,310 --> 00:07:18,770 We were in the cabinet room 45 00:07:18,855 --> 00:07:23,775 at the moment that the ultimatum expired. 46 00:07:23,860 --> 00:07:26,319 (narrator) Lord Butler was a junior minister. 47 00:07:26,404 --> 00:07:31,616 (Butler) And we were just beginning to congratulate the prime minister 48 00:07:31,701 --> 00:07:35,579 on his broadcast when we heard a terrible wailing, 49 00:07:35,663 --> 00:07:39,624 which of course was the first air-raid siren. 50 00:07:42,086 --> 00:07:45,255 Chamberlain took it very seriously 51 00:07:45,339 --> 00:07:50,802 and his wife appeared with an enormous basket full of things for the night 52 00:07:50,887 --> 00:07:56,266 and Thermos flasks and things to read and so on. 53 00:07:56,392 --> 00:07:59,352 And so we all went and sheltered. 54 00:07:59,479 --> 00:08:04,399 l went and sheltered affer some delay in the Foreign Office. 55 00:08:04,484 --> 00:08:07,986 The whole of the Horse Guards Parade was empty of people 56 00:08:08,070 --> 00:08:10,614 and there was nobody in sight anywhere. 57 00:08:10,698 --> 00:08:15,243 When l got there, there was no furniture so l had to sit on the floor. 58 00:08:15,328 --> 00:08:19,289 And an air-raid warden said that there would be no gas. 59 00:08:19,373 --> 00:08:24,169 But of course there wasn't really any war for some time, 60 00:08:24,253 --> 00:08:26,505 quite apart from being no gas. 61 00:08:26,589 --> 00:08:28,673 (air-raid siren) 62 00:08:38,851 --> 00:08:43,939 (narrator) So, no war that day, or for many months. 63 00:08:44,023 --> 00:08:47,234 People settled down to enjoy the unexpected reprieve. 64 00:08:47,318 --> 00:08:51,446 lt was perfect weather for a late holiday - or invading Poland. 65 00:08:51,531 --> 00:08:53,615 (♪ military band) 66 00:10:04,103 --> 00:10:06,771 People had braced themselves for a grimmer war. 67 00:10:06,856 --> 00:10:09,983 Hospitals were cleared to take air-raid casualties. 68 00:10:10,067 --> 00:10:13,945 The experts predicted over a million injured in two months. 69 00:10:23,456 --> 00:10:27,751 Children and their mothers evacuated from the cities - 1 .5 million of them. 70 00:10:27,877 --> 00:10:31,671 For some, a nightmare. For others, an adventure. 71 00:10:31,756 --> 00:10:35,508 (man) We assembled in a playground rather like this. 72 00:10:35,593 --> 00:10:38,928 The kids were there and the parents. 73 00:10:39,013 --> 00:10:45,143 Children had the gas mask over their shoulder and labels tied to them. 74 00:10:46,812 --> 00:10:50,815 (woman) The women had to decide whether to keep their children with them 75 00:10:50,900 --> 00:10:53,568 or whether to allow them to go out. 76 00:10:54,111 --> 00:10:57,113 Now, one would think that this was an easy decision. 77 00:10:57,198 --> 00:11:00,742 Why not keep your children with you - the natural thing to do? 78 00:11:00,826 --> 00:11:03,703 But against this was the terrible thought 79 00:11:03,788 --> 00:11:06,164 that there was going to be gas, 80 00:11:06,248 --> 00:11:09,834 that there was going to be terrible bombing and death 81 00:11:09,919 --> 00:11:13,129 and that children would be maimed. 82 00:11:15,216 --> 00:11:19,260 (man) Everyone was crying - the parents and children - 83 00:11:19,345 --> 00:11:23,765 and as we moved off especially, people burst into tears. 84 00:11:23,849 --> 00:11:27,102 My mother was more unhappy about the wrench of us going 85 00:11:27,228 --> 00:11:29,562 rather than the war itself. 86 00:11:29,647 --> 00:11:33,024 My sister was crying. l personally wasn't. 87 00:11:33,150 --> 00:11:38,947 l was rather excited at the prospect of leaving this part of London. 88 00:11:40,950 --> 00:11:43,910 We thought we'd travelled to the other side of the world, 89 00:11:43,994 --> 00:11:47,914 but in fact, we came to Denham, here, only 20 miles from London. 90 00:11:49,083 --> 00:11:52,544 l promised my mother l wouldn't be separated from my sister, 91 00:11:52,628 --> 00:11:56,840 so we went to the village hall with all the other kids, 92 00:11:56,924 --> 00:12:01,261 and because we wouldn't be separated, we were the last ones to find a billet. 93 00:12:01,345 --> 00:12:04,848 lt was like being auctioned off at the time. 94 00:12:04,932 --> 00:12:09,352 But when we finally got a house to take us in, it was fantastic. 95 00:12:09,437 --> 00:12:12,480 lt was a new world that opened out to us. 96 00:12:12,565 --> 00:12:18,737 l mean, we had toothbrushes and sheets on the bed and hot water. 97 00:12:18,863 --> 00:12:21,614 lmagine hot water! We just couldn't get over it. 98 00:12:21,699 --> 00:12:24,909 And we didn't know what eiderdowns were for. 99 00:12:24,994 --> 00:12:29,038 ln the morning we went blackberry picking. 100 00:12:29,165 --> 00:12:33,877 Then we heard the sirens, so we rushed back to our billet. 101 00:12:33,961 --> 00:12:39,632 The woman there reassured us and said not to worry, and we sat down to lunch. 102 00:12:39,717 --> 00:12:44,763 lt was the first fully laid-out table l'd ever seen in my life. 103 00:12:44,847 --> 00:12:49,726 And war was declared, l think, that same lunchtime. 104 00:12:50,269 --> 00:12:53,730 She said not to worry and passed us the horseradish sauce. 105 00:12:53,814 --> 00:12:57,317 But l think a number of children suffered really deeply 106 00:12:57,401 --> 00:12:59,569 being away from their families. 107 00:12:59,695 --> 00:13:02,489 They suffered a sense of rejection. 108 00:13:02,573 --> 00:13:07,619 They exhibited their senses of rejection and sorrow and suffering 109 00:13:07,745 --> 00:13:12,332 very offen by strange behaviour problems, 110 00:13:12,416 --> 00:13:16,127 by bedwetting, perhaps not eating. 111 00:13:16,212 --> 00:13:20,423 31 arrived, with two junior nurses, l think. 112 00:13:20,508 --> 00:13:26,679 They were pretty dirty and two of them got impetigo. 113 00:13:26,764 --> 00:13:29,224 l had young children at the time. 114 00:13:29,308 --> 00:13:31,559 And l put them into a large room. 115 00:13:31,644 --> 00:13:35,396 You've no idea... l had no idea that such things existed in England. 116 00:13:35,481 --> 00:13:38,191 They relieved themselves all over the carpet 117 00:13:38,275 --> 00:13:41,569 and the place was a shambles. 118 00:13:42,154 --> 00:13:45,740 (man shouts orders) 119 00:13:52,498 --> 00:13:56,000 (narrator) There was no heroic rush to volunteer for the forces. 120 00:13:56,085 --> 00:13:58,086 You waited your turn to be called up 121 00:13:58,170 --> 00:14:01,339 for processing in the military sausage machine. 122 00:14:01,423 --> 00:14:03,341 All rather leisurely. 123 00:14:05,761 --> 00:14:07,846 (church bells) 124 00:14:09,473 --> 00:14:11,391 But a rush to get married. 125 00:14:11,475 --> 00:14:15,436 ln August and September, the highest number of weddings ever recorded. 126 00:14:15,521 --> 00:14:17,814 White the only wear. 127 00:14:19,900 --> 00:14:26,698 White for the blackout too, to make sure car drivers can see you in the dark. 128 00:14:27,241 --> 00:14:29,951 At first the blackout was a bit of a joke. 129 00:14:34,665 --> 00:14:39,252 Then road casualties shot up and the blackout wasn't funny any more. 130 00:14:39,336 --> 00:14:41,004 There were no air raids, 131 00:14:41,088 --> 00:14:46,050 but thousands of people were killed or injured in accidents in the blackout. 132 00:14:49,805 --> 00:14:53,808 Depressing, too. Without it, you could almost forget there was a war on. 133 00:14:53,893 --> 00:14:56,978 Every night, every home had to be blacked out. 134 00:14:57,062 --> 00:14:59,647 The air-raid warden looking for chinks of light 135 00:14:59,732 --> 00:15:02,400 became more hated than Hitler. 136 00:15:05,154 --> 00:15:07,864 The government closed cinemas and entertainments 137 00:15:07,948 --> 00:15:09,407 at the beginning of the war. 138 00:15:09,491 --> 00:15:12,118 A fortnight later they were allowed to open again. 139 00:15:12,202 --> 00:15:17,957 (♪ band plays "We're Going to Hang Out the Washing on the Siegfried Line") 140 00:15:43,776 --> 00:15:50,031 ln spite of total war, there were nearly a million and a half unemployed. 141 00:15:55,496 --> 00:15:58,289 Sir John Simon, the chancellor of the exchequer, 142 00:15:58,374 --> 00:16:00,333 introduced an emergency budget. 143 00:16:00,417 --> 00:16:03,169 ln three hours' time 144 00:16:03,253 --> 00:16:07,423 all budget secrets will be revealed. 145 00:16:08,050 --> 00:16:14,347 l am confident that, whatever may be the burdens 146 00:16:14,431 --> 00:16:18,434 which have to be carried by the British taxpayer, 147 00:16:18,519 --> 00:16:22,355 my fellow countrymen will bear them 148 00:16:22,481 --> 00:16:26,818 with the same resolution and courage 149 00:16:26,902 --> 00:16:30,113 as our fighting men will show 150 00:16:30,197 --> 00:16:37,161 when they discharge their grimmer task on the field of battle. 151 00:16:37,246 --> 00:16:39,330 (cheering) 152 00:16:48,298 --> 00:16:51,467 The blackout budget. lncome tax up to 7s 6d. 153 00:16:51,552 --> 00:16:54,470 A 60% tax on excess profit. 154 00:16:54,555 --> 00:16:56,889 ln retrospect, mild enough, 155 00:16:57,016 --> 00:16:59,559 but a ConserVative MP, Chips Channon, 156 00:16:59,643 --> 00:17:03,062 thought it demolished the edifice of capitalism. 157 00:17:04,732 --> 00:17:09,527 Another Tory, Leo Amery, wanted a tougher war. Why not bomb Germany? 158 00:17:09,611 --> 00:17:12,196 The air minister Kingsley Wood said no. 159 00:17:12,281 --> 00:17:15,491 German munition works were private property 160 00:17:15,576 --> 00:17:17,452 and the Germans would retaliate. 161 00:17:17,536 --> 00:17:19,620 The opening phase of the war 162 00:17:19,705 --> 00:17:23,583 was one of the most extraordinary periods through which l've lived, 163 00:17:23,667 --> 00:17:26,335 because it was a period of euphoria 164 00:17:26,420 --> 00:17:28,838 on the part of the people of this country. 165 00:17:28,922 --> 00:17:32,175 For a long time there were quite a lot of unemployed, 166 00:17:32,259 --> 00:17:36,846 while the Germans were manufacturing arms at full stretch, 167 00:17:36,930 --> 00:17:41,517 particularly in the Skoda works in Czechoslovakia, 168 00:17:41,643 --> 00:17:44,312 which they had by that time occupied. 169 00:17:44,396 --> 00:17:47,815 Now, all this time the Germans were a beehive of activity. 170 00:17:47,941 --> 00:17:50,443 We were doing absolutely nothing. 171 00:17:50,527 --> 00:17:54,572 We'd gone to war for the defence of Poland. 172 00:17:54,656 --> 00:17:58,910 ln the event, we did nothing to help Poland at all. 173 00:17:58,994 --> 00:18:01,079 We never liffed a finger. 174 00:18:01,163 --> 00:18:03,581 For the first three months of the war, 175 00:18:03,665 --> 00:18:07,752 the greatest number of casualties were in the blackout. 176 00:18:07,836 --> 00:18:14,258 We confined our war effort to dropping leaflets on the German people 177 00:18:14,384 --> 00:18:17,178 telling them that it was a bad idea to go to war 178 00:18:17,262 --> 00:18:19,806 and that it was a pity that they'd done it 179 00:18:19,890 --> 00:18:21,724 and perhaps we might make peace. 180 00:18:23,727 --> 00:18:25,645 (narrator) The Phoney War. 181 00:18:25,729 --> 00:18:28,564 When a German plane crashed in Scotland in November, 182 00:18:28,649 --> 00:18:31,984 people came from miles around to see it. 183 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:39,617 And the Luffwaffe's dead were buried with full military honours. 184 00:18:51,505 --> 00:18:55,591 Three British divisions went off to France at the beginning of the war. 185 00:18:55,676 --> 00:19:00,930 More followed. "Nearly 200,000 men," said the war minister proudly. 186 00:19:01,014 --> 00:19:03,599 The French had mobilised six million men. 187 00:19:03,684 --> 00:19:07,270 They grumbled that the British weren't taking the war seriously. 188 00:19:07,354 --> 00:19:13,025 (Gracie Fields) ♪ Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye 189 00:19:13,110 --> 00:19:19,031 (men join in) ♪ Cheerio, here l go on my way 190 00:19:19,116 --> 00:19:24,120 ♪ Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye 191 00:19:24,204 --> 00:19:29,500 ♪ With a cheer, not a tear, make it gay 192 00:19:29,585 --> 00:19:34,797 ♪ Give me a smile l can keep all the while 193 00:19:34,882 --> 00:19:40,261 ♪ ln my heart while l'm away 194 00:19:40,345 --> 00:19:45,558 ♪ Till we meet once again, you and l 195 00:19:45,642 --> 00:19:52,315 ♪ Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye 196 00:19:57,946 --> 00:20:02,033 (narrator) ln France, training for a war that ended in 1918. 197 00:20:02,159 --> 00:20:05,578 The newsreel reporter tried hard to make it sound impressive. 198 00:20:05,662 --> 00:20:09,207 (reporter) The force, instead of being thrown into the line, 199 00:20:09,291 --> 00:20:13,252 is able to perfect its training in conditions similar to those at home. 200 00:20:13,337 --> 00:20:17,965 This bayonet drill in gas masks is our reply to transparent Nazi propaganda 201 00:20:18,050 --> 00:20:23,179 which seems to indicate that Germany is preparing to employ poison gas. 202 00:20:23,263 --> 00:20:26,390 lnfantry battalions exercise with their weapons, 203 00:20:26,475 --> 00:20:29,685 awaiting the moment for their use in actual warfare. 204 00:20:29,811 --> 00:20:31,896 The mortar platoon goes into action 205 00:20:31,980 --> 00:20:34,523 with a rapidity acquired by constant practice. 206 00:20:34,608 --> 00:20:38,986 Steel helmets assume a fashionable appearance with camouflage. 207 00:20:42,366 --> 00:20:44,784 (narrator) French and British generals too 208 00:20:44,868 --> 00:20:47,453 prepared for their part in the battle to come. 209 00:20:57,089 --> 00:21:00,049 The British dug in on the Belgian frontier. 210 00:21:00,133 --> 00:21:03,010 ln December it was decided that when fighting began 211 00:21:03,095 --> 00:21:06,847 they'd leave their defences and advance into Belgium. 212 00:21:06,932 --> 00:21:11,102 Anything helped to keep their minds off the war. 213 00:21:11,937 --> 00:21:14,355 (♪ "Maginot Line" by George Formby) 214 00:21:14,439 --> 00:21:17,275 ♪ Now, imagine me in the Maginot line 215 00:21:17,359 --> 00:21:19,735 ♪ Sitting on a mine in the Maginot line 216 00:21:19,820 --> 00:21:22,321 ♪ Now it's turned out nice again 217 00:21:22,406 --> 00:21:24,949 ♪ The army life is fine 218 00:21:25,033 --> 00:21:27,410 ♪ French girls make a fuss of me 219 00:21:27,494 --> 00:21:29,453 ♪ l'm not French as you can see 220 00:21:29,538 --> 00:21:32,164 ♪ But l know what they mean when they say oui, oui 221 00:21:32,249 --> 00:21:35,459 ♪ Down on the Maginot line 222 00:21:35,544 --> 00:21:38,462 ♪ Now, imagine me in the Maginot line 223 00:21:38,547 --> 00:21:40,840 ♪ Sitting on a mine in the Maginot line 224 00:21:40,924 --> 00:21:43,467 ♪ Now it's turned out nice again 225 00:21:43,552 --> 00:21:45,594 ♪ The army life is fine 226 00:21:45,679 --> 00:21:48,472 ♪ At night myself to sleep l sing 227 00:21:48,557 --> 00:21:50,808 ♪ To my old tin hat l cling 228 00:21:50,892 --> 00:21:53,227 ♪ l have to use it now for everything 229 00:21:53,353 --> 00:21:55,187 ♪ Down on the Maginot line 230 00:21:55,314 --> 00:21:57,398 (cheering) 231 00:22:04,990 --> 00:22:08,784 (narrator) "Winston's back," the navy was told on September 3. 232 00:22:08,869 --> 00:22:13,039 Chamberlain was reluctant to recall his most bitter political opponent 233 00:22:13,123 --> 00:22:16,417 with a reputation for military adventure. 234 00:22:18,754 --> 00:22:21,339 But Churchill was popular with the public. 235 00:22:21,423 --> 00:22:24,133 He had warned them war was coming. 236 00:22:24,217 --> 00:22:27,219 Now, with surprising energy for a 64-year-old, 237 00:22:27,304 --> 00:22:29,430 he proved a willing leader. 238 00:22:42,444 --> 00:22:45,696 The RAF dropped leaflets, the army dug trenches, 239 00:22:45,781 --> 00:22:49,116 but Churchill's navy was Britain's strongest arm. 240 00:22:51,328 --> 00:22:55,331 And the first lord of the admiralty was offen in the news. 241 00:22:55,415 --> 00:22:58,334 We are in a very different position 242 00:22:58,460 --> 00:23:03,381 from that we were in ten weeks ago. 243 00:23:03,465 --> 00:23:07,301 We are far stronger than we were ten weeks ago. 244 00:23:07,386 --> 00:23:10,221 We are far better prepared 245 00:23:10,305 --> 00:23:15,142 to endure the worst malice of Hitler and his Huns 246 00:23:15,227 --> 00:23:18,145 than we were at the beginning of September. 247 00:23:18,230 --> 00:23:20,523 (narrator) The news that a German battleship 248 00:23:20,607 --> 00:23:24,318 was sinking British merchantmen gave the chance to take the offensive. 249 00:23:29,741 --> 00:23:34,286 Churchill concentrated much of the navy's strength on finding her. 250 00:23:34,371 --> 00:23:38,082 One hunting group patrolled off the River Plate in South America. 251 00:23:38,166 --> 00:23:41,794 Three cruisers - Exeter, Ajax and Achilles. 252 00:23:41,878 --> 00:23:45,548 At dawn on December 13 they sighted a heavier German ship. 253 00:23:45,632 --> 00:23:49,135 lt was the pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee. 254 00:23:49,219 --> 00:23:52,096 Although outgunned, the cruisers engaged her. 255 00:23:52,180 --> 00:23:55,307 The Battle of the River Plate began. 256 00:23:58,979 --> 00:24:02,731 (man) Within about five minutes of the alarm being sounded, 257 00:24:02,816 --> 00:24:06,569 Graf Spee and Exeter were shooting at each other 258 00:24:06,695 --> 00:24:12,575 and the Ajax and Achilles were both shooting at the Graf Spee, 259 00:24:12,659 --> 00:24:15,578 concentrating their gunfire. 260 00:24:16,204 --> 00:24:18,914 The Exeter was quite soon hit 261 00:24:18,999 --> 00:24:21,834 and received early damage. 262 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:25,421 Her foremost guns only fired a few rounds each 263 00:24:25,505 --> 00:24:27,548 before they were out of action. 264 00:24:27,632 --> 00:24:31,969 She continued as long as she possibly could with her affer turret, 265 00:24:32,095 --> 00:24:37,433 but the ship herself was badly damaged. Her speed was reduced. 266 00:24:40,645 --> 00:24:46,734 The six-inch-gun cruisers before long turned directly towards the Graf Spee 267 00:24:46,818 --> 00:24:49,069 so as to close the range still faster 268 00:24:49,154 --> 00:24:52,531 and the captain of the Graf Spee 269 00:24:52,657 --> 00:24:58,078 did not follow up the Exeter entirely, 270 00:24:58,163 --> 00:25:03,292 but indeed before very long started heading towards Montevideo. 271 00:25:04,211 --> 00:25:09,798 But we could not see any spectacular damage inflicted on him, 272 00:25:09,883 --> 00:25:13,552 and indeed his speed seemed to be unimpaired 273 00:25:13,637 --> 00:25:19,892 and his heavy guns were still firing regularly and with very good accuracy. 274 00:25:23,563 --> 00:25:26,023 (narrator) The Graf Spee took on fuel 275 00:25:26,107 --> 00:25:29,818 and put ashore the crews of the merchant ships she'd sunk. 276 00:25:36,368 --> 00:25:41,121 Captain Langsdorff asked the Uruguayans for permission to stay 277 00:25:41,206 --> 00:25:44,792 but was told he must clear the port in 72 hours. 278 00:25:49,506 --> 00:25:51,840 So he buried his dead. 279 00:25:51,925 --> 00:25:55,261 Believing that heavier British ships were waiting for him, 280 00:25:55,345 --> 00:25:59,348 he prepared to carry out his final orders from Berlin. 281 00:26:03,436 --> 00:26:06,855 (Woodhouse) As soon as he started pulling his anchor up 282 00:26:06,940 --> 00:26:10,776 we got news of it from our people ashore 283 00:26:10,860 --> 00:26:15,239 and we sent off our aircraff. 284 00:26:15,323 --> 00:26:19,702 ln due course we got the signal from the aircraff, 285 00:26:19,786 --> 00:26:21,662 which was a very welcome one: 286 00:26:21,746 --> 00:26:24,039 "Graf Spee has blown herself up." 287 00:26:30,046 --> 00:26:34,508 (narrator) Two days later, Langsdorff shot himself. 288 00:26:38,930 --> 00:26:43,350 Churchill made the most of a victory won by bluff rather than gun power. 289 00:26:43,476 --> 00:26:46,186 Two of the cruisers were brought home. 290 00:26:46,271 --> 00:26:50,065 (♪ "A Life on the Ocean Wave" by Henry Russell) 291 00:26:51,234 --> 00:26:54,653 Their crews marched through the City of London to Guildhall 292 00:26:54,779 --> 00:26:58,324 and the first lord of the admiralty basked in their glory. 293 00:26:58,408 --> 00:27:01,577 (Churchill) The brilliant sea fight 294 00:27:01,661 --> 00:27:05,664 which you executed, 295 00:27:05,790 --> 00:27:09,126 those who are here executed, 296 00:27:10,670 --> 00:27:15,007 takes its place in our naval annals 297 00:27:15,133 --> 00:27:21,096 and l may add that in a dark, cold winter, 298 00:27:21,222 --> 00:27:25,267 it warmed the cockles of the British heart. 299 00:27:25,352 --> 00:27:27,102 (cheering) 300 00:27:32,859 --> 00:27:35,152 (air-raid siren) 301 00:27:43,453 --> 00:27:47,831 (narrator) Helsinki, November 30, 1939. 302 00:27:47,916 --> 00:27:50,959 Finland has refused to hand over bases and territory 303 00:27:51,044 --> 00:27:53,003 demanded by her neighbour Russia. 304 00:27:53,088 --> 00:27:55,923 The Russians attack. 305 00:28:22,283 --> 00:28:24,827 The massive Russian army crossed the frontier, 306 00:28:24,911 --> 00:28:27,204 apparently set for the kind of easy victory 307 00:28:27,330 --> 00:28:28,956 the Germans had had in Poland. 308 00:28:35,213 --> 00:28:38,882 But the Finns, few in number, fought back. 309 00:28:46,933 --> 00:28:50,978 Camouflaged Finnish ski troops knew how to use their own conditions, 310 00:28:51,062 --> 00:28:55,649 moving round the Russian flanks, cutting their supply lines. 311 00:28:59,154 --> 00:29:01,321 The Russian advance ground to a halt, 312 00:29:01,406 --> 00:29:04,366 confirming the German belief that the Russian army, 313 00:29:04,451 --> 00:29:08,871 purged by Stalin of many of its regular officers, couldn't fight. 314 00:29:21,301 --> 00:29:23,761 Whole Russian divisions were destroyed. 315 00:29:23,845 --> 00:29:27,556 Those who weren't taken prisoner died in the snow - 316 00:29:27,640 --> 00:29:31,894 for the Russians, a humiliating, if temporary, failure. 317 00:30:10,016 --> 00:30:12,100 ln Britain it was snowing, too. 318 00:30:12,227 --> 00:30:16,355 The censorship tried to hush it up but people couldn't help noticing it. 319 00:30:16,439 --> 00:30:20,234 To the trials of the blackout were added the worst winter for 45 years, 320 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:24,822 a coal shortage, burst pipes and food rationing. 321 00:30:26,241 --> 00:30:28,909 The RAF was grounded. 322 00:30:33,206 --> 00:30:36,458 Troops were called in to keep the trains running. 323 00:30:44,175 --> 00:30:46,176 For the navy, another victory. 324 00:30:46,261 --> 00:30:48,971 Taking refuge in a Norwegian fjord, 325 00:30:49,055 --> 00:30:53,642 the Graf Spee's supply ship Aitmark was cornered by British destroyers. 326 00:30:53,726 --> 00:30:57,062 lgnoring Norwegian neutrality, they boarded her 327 00:30:57,146 --> 00:31:01,149 and affer a fight released 300 British prisoners. 328 00:31:03,278 --> 00:31:06,738 For Hitler the seizure of the Aitmark was a setback. 329 00:31:06,823 --> 00:31:10,200 He hastened his plans to invade Norway. 330 00:31:17,375 --> 00:31:20,168 (cheering) 331 00:31:20,920 --> 00:31:24,131 For Churchill, another popular triumph. 332 00:31:24,215 --> 00:31:26,967 He too had his eyes on Norway. 333 00:31:37,020 --> 00:31:39,938 Churchill's colleagues had discussed for months 334 00:31:40,023 --> 00:31:42,524 his plan for British action in Norway, 335 00:31:42,609 --> 00:31:45,485 but some, like the foreign secretary Lord Halifax, 336 00:31:45,570 --> 00:31:47,487 were difficult to persuade. 337 00:31:51,826 --> 00:31:54,912 Churchill now added a plan to help Finland 338 00:31:54,996 --> 00:31:57,748 as part of the Norwegian operation. 339 00:31:57,832 --> 00:32:01,752 He proposed to stop Germany's important supply of iron ore, 340 00:32:01,836 --> 00:32:05,339 which came from Sweden to the Norwegian port of NarVik. 341 00:32:05,423 --> 00:32:10,344 Then it was shipped to Germany through neutral Norwegian waters. 342 00:32:13,181 --> 00:32:15,265 Churchill wanted to mine the waters 343 00:32:15,391 --> 00:32:18,560 and he added enticingly that if NarVik were captured 344 00:32:18,645 --> 00:32:23,649 it could be used as a base for helping Finland against Communist Russia. 345 00:32:26,319 --> 00:32:30,280 Churchill knew that his plan might mean retaliation by Hitler in Norway, 346 00:32:30,365 --> 00:32:34,534 and helping Finland could mean war with Russia. 347 00:32:37,080 --> 00:32:40,499 Chamberlain was concerned about innocent Norwegian lives 348 00:32:40,583 --> 00:32:42,584 and the effect on American opinion. 349 00:32:42,669 --> 00:32:45,128 Eventually, he was persuaded. 350 00:32:45,213 --> 00:32:47,965 (man) l think that deep down he still hoped 351 00:32:48,049 --> 00:32:52,094 that perhaps the major clash of armies could be avoided. 352 00:32:52,178 --> 00:32:54,638 He thought that Germany 353 00:32:54,722 --> 00:32:57,140 was on the verge of starVation, 354 00:32:57,225 --> 00:32:59,351 or if not on the verge of starVation, 355 00:32:59,435 --> 00:33:03,605 it anyhow would be brought to the verge of starVation by economic warfare. 356 00:33:03,690 --> 00:33:05,565 He thought also that deep down 357 00:33:05,650 --> 00:33:08,819 the German people didn't support Hitler, 358 00:33:08,903 --> 00:33:12,739 that this was a clique and that if we did our propaganda properly 359 00:33:12,824 --> 00:33:16,118 there would perhaps be a revolt of the generals 360 00:33:16,202 --> 00:33:18,370 or somebody else against Hitler 361 00:33:18,454 --> 00:33:24,251 and that therefore dropping propaganda leaflets by bomber command of the RAF 362 00:33:24,335 --> 00:33:28,213 rather than bombs was a good way of conducting the war. 363 00:33:28,297 --> 00:33:32,426 Anything to stop the real major outbreak. 364 00:33:32,510 --> 00:33:38,348 And that is why l think to some extent the campaigns in Norway 365 00:33:38,433 --> 00:33:41,810 were something acceptable to Chamberlain, 366 00:33:41,936 --> 00:33:44,104 because it kept the war distant. 367 00:33:44,188 --> 00:33:49,484 lt kept the idea of a real big clash, 368 00:33:49,569 --> 00:33:54,031 a repetition of Passchendaele or the Somme, far away. 369 00:33:54,157 --> 00:33:59,077 lt meant that war would be localised and perhaps some miracle would happen. 370 00:33:59,162 --> 00:34:01,663 Perhaps Hitler would die or be assassinated 371 00:34:01,748 --> 00:34:05,000 and the whole thing would end with the minimum of bloodshed. 372 00:34:06,210 --> 00:34:08,295 Finland today 373 00:34:10,131 --> 00:34:15,177 amidst her snows and her frozen lakes 374 00:34:17,346 --> 00:34:23,435 is fighting against the forces of unscrupulous violence 375 00:34:23,519 --> 00:34:26,146 just as we are oursegves. 376 00:34:26,230 --> 00:34:28,857 (applause) 377 00:34:29,734 --> 00:34:35,530 And her need calls for our sympathy and our aid. 378 00:34:39,077 --> 00:34:41,161 (no sound) 379 00:34:43,790 --> 00:34:46,583 (narrator) British aid did go to Finland, but late. 380 00:34:46,667 --> 00:34:49,669 The Russians brought all their weight to bear 381 00:34:49,754 --> 00:34:51,963 and overwhelmed the Finnish defences. 382 00:34:57,970 --> 00:35:01,723 The day the British steeled themselves to force a landing in Norway, 383 00:35:01,808 --> 00:35:03,850 Finland surrendered. 384 00:35:03,935 --> 00:35:09,397 So Britain was saved from war against Russia and Germany at the same time. 385 00:35:10,858 --> 00:35:14,694 The armistice terms gave Russia most of what she wanted. 386 00:35:19,534 --> 00:35:23,203 Hundreds of thousands of Finns had to evacuate their homes. 387 00:35:32,505 --> 00:35:34,548 The French prime minister Daladier 388 00:35:34,632 --> 00:35:37,634 had staked everything on helping Finland. 389 00:35:37,718 --> 00:35:40,345 He was replaced by Paul Reynaud. 390 00:35:41,556 --> 00:35:44,432 Reynaud went on pressing for Churchill's operation 391 00:35:44,517 --> 00:35:46,726 to cut off the German iron ore. 392 00:35:46,811 --> 00:35:51,356 An Allied meeting in London decided to mine Norwegian waters. 393 00:35:51,440 --> 00:35:53,400 Churchill had got his way. 394 00:35:57,697 --> 00:36:01,408 British and French troops stood ready to invade Norway. 395 00:36:04,245 --> 00:36:07,706 The mines were laid on April 8. 396 00:36:18,759 --> 00:36:21,636 A few days earlier, no thought of Norway in his mind, 397 00:36:21,721 --> 00:36:26,224 Chamberlain had proclaimed that Hitler had missed the bus. 398 00:36:26,309 --> 00:36:31,479 And General lronside dared the Germans to do their worst. 399 00:36:35,860 --> 00:36:39,863 Hitler's invasion force sailed on April 6. 400 00:37:18,653 --> 00:37:21,821 The Luffwaffe took over most of the Norwegian airfields. 401 00:37:21,906 --> 00:37:24,032 (♪ marching band) 402 00:37:31,707 --> 00:37:35,460 The German march into Oslo was led by a band. 403 00:37:43,719 --> 00:37:47,931 Norway had no standing army, only half-trained militia. 404 00:37:48,015 --> 00:37:51,393 The Norwegians were antimilitarist by tradition 405 00:37:51,477 --> 00:37:56,022 and they had seen German newsreels of the blitzkrieg on Poland. 406 00:37:56,107 --> 00:37:59,317 No one wanted Oslo to go the way of Warsaw. 407 00:37:59,402 --> 00:38:01,278 There was little resistance. 408 00:38:16,627 --> 00:38:20,088 The Allied operation in Norway was a muddle from the start. 409 00:38:20,172 --> 00:38:26,428 Troops were embarked, disembarked, embarked again, without vital equipment. 410 00:38:29,515 --> 00:38:34,227 A contingent of French troops sailed with the British, plentifully equipped. 411 00:38:45,531 --> 00:38:49,159 Unlike the British, they were trained for winter conditions, 412 00:38:49,243 --> 00:38:52,454 but they hadn't got straps for their skis. 413 00:39:01,213 --> 00:39:04,215 Even the expedition's objectives were confused. 414 00:39:04,300 --> 00:39:08,011 Trondheim in central Norway was to be captured by a pincer attack 415 00:39:08,095 --> 00:39:10,347 from Andalsnes and Namsos. 416 00:39:10,431 --> 00:39:12,766 So some troops were diverted south. 417 00:39:12,892 --> 00:39:16,227 But Churchill's mind was still fixed on NarVik, 418 00:39:16,312 --> 00:39:18,897 and it was there the first battle took place. 419 00:39:49,053 --> 00:39:50,762 The navy bombarded NarVik 420 00:39:50,846 --> 00:39:53,973 and German destroyers already there took a battering. 421 00:39:54,058 --> 00:39:55,850 But the advantage was lost. 422 00:39:55,935 --> 00:40:00,021 The British army commander didn't make a direct assault on the town. 423 00:40:05,486 --> 00:40:09,948 British Territorials did land at Namsos and Andalsnes. 424 00:40:10,032 --> 00:40:13,660 They had no skis, no proper maps of Norway, 425 00:40:13,744 --> 00:40:16,746 and no heavy guns. 426 00:40:18,958 --> 00:40:24,462 There was little they could do when they ran into the well-equipped Germans. 427 00:40:29,260 --> 00:40:32,846 Captain Martin Lindsay was with the British force at Namsos. 428 00:40:32,930 --> 00:40:36,433 (Lindsay) There was no hope at all for this operation 429 00:40:36,517 --> 00:40:41,604 because it was entirely improvised at short notice and in a great hurry 430 00:40:41,689 --> 00:40:46,818 and the force had no aircraff supporting it and no artillery. 431 00:40:46,902 --> 00:40:50,947 But even more important, all the ground was covered with snow 432 00:40:51,031 --> 00:40:54,242 and the only way to operate was with ski troops, 433 00:40:54,326 --> 00:40:56,661 and we hadn't got ski troops. 434 00:40:56,745 --> 00:40:59,789 Therefore the troops were confined to the road. 435 00:40:59,915 --> 00:41:05,462 Whenever the Germans got onto the hills on the flank they had to retire. 436 00:41:09,842 --> 00:41:13,887 (narrator) The British couldn't stop the Luffwaffe 437 00:41:13,971 --> 00:41:17,265 from blitzing the little Norwegian towns. 438 00:41:17,349 --> 00:41:21,686 German control of the Norwegian airfields was the key to the battle. 439 00:41:38,454 --> 00:41:42,832 The Germans advanced, capturing hundreds of British prisoners. 440 00:41:46,670 --> 00:41:50,673 Some of these were flown to Berlin and paraded before Hitler. 441 00:41:53,969 --> 00:41:56,846 Others were put in front of German newsreel cameras. 442 00:41:56,972 --> 00:42:02,810 You seem to be in a good mood. You don't find Germans as bad as you expected? 443 00:42:02,895 --> 00:42:05,021 - Oh, no, certainly not. - Oh, no. 444 00:42:05,105 --> 00:42:07,899 l was captured at Fåberg by the Germans. 445 00:42:07,983 --> 00:42:10,944 From there l came to Lillehammer 446 00:42:11,070 --> 00:42:13,821 and we had a supper. 447 00:42:13,906 --> 00:42:18,493 lt consisted of brown bread, Gorgonzola, 448 00:42:18,577 --> 00:42:22,288 wine which the Germans gave to us, cigarettes. 449 00:42:22,414 --> 00:42:26,543 And a hot meal each day. 450 00:42:26,627 --> 00:42:29,337 And l'm getting on fairly decent. 451 00:42:29,421 --> 00:42:32,757 l hope the war will soon be over and we'll all go back home. 452 00:42:35,344 --> 00:42:37,845 (narrator) Most did go home ingloriously, 453 00:42:37,930 --> 00:42:41,891 abandoning Andalsnes and Namsos still burning. 454 00:42:53,195 --> 00:42:57,782 Chased by the Luffwaffe - the Norwegian campaign rammed home the lesson 455 00:42:57,866 --> 00:43:03,079 that sea power without air power could no longer win battles. 456 00:43:30,399 --> 00:43:34,319 Their only honour the part they played in bringing down a government, 457 00:43:34,403 --> 00:43:38,197 for now the machinery of democracy began to work. 458 00:43:41,327 --> 00:43:43,369 As the troops disembarked, 459 00:43:43,454 --> 00:43:47,498 an angry parliament was assembling to debate the disaster. 460 00:43:47,583 --> 00:43:50,335 Feeling cut across party lines. 461 00:43:50,419 --> 00:43:54,339 Captain Lindsay, a Tory, went to the leader of the Labour opposition. 462 00:43:54,423 --> 00:44:00,011 (Lindsay) Well, l was the first person from this force to reach London. 463 00:44:00,137 --> 00:44:04,140 l went to see Mr Attlee on the morning of the first day of the debate 464 00:44:04,224 --> 00:44:06,309 and l gave him a memorandum 465 00:44:06,393 --> 00:44:10,521 about the appalling improvisation and deficiencies in Norway, 466 00:44:10,606 --> 00:44:15,109 because l was convinced that we should lose the war if we went on like that, 467 00:44:15,194 --> 00:44:18,029 which he gave to Herbert Morrison 468 00:44:18,113 --> 00:44:21,032 to help him open for the opposition that affernoon. 469 00:44:21,116 --> 00:44:25,703 The Norway debate was the only decisive debate l ever attended 470 00:44:25,788 --> 00:44:29,624 during my 34 years as a member of the House of Commons 471 00:44:29,750 --> 00:44:31,918 because it was the only division 472 00:44:32,002 --> 00:44:35,213 which definitely brought about the fall of a government. 473 00:44:35,297 --> 00:44:37,382 For nearly a year before that debate 474 00:44:37,466 --> 00:44:41,010 there had been a piling-up of bitterness and anguish 475 00:44:41,095 --> 00:44:42,845 in the breasts of people 476 00:44:42,930 --> 00:44:47,517 who wanted Britain to go all out and win the war against Hitler. 477 00:44:47,601 --> 00:44:52,480 And so you can imagine that the debate was a very fierce one - 478 00:44:52,564 --> 00:44:58,403 not only the Labour opposition but also ConserVatives. 479 00:44:58,487 --> 00:45:03,741 They felt that the whole conduct of the war could not be carried on 480 00:45:03,826 --> 00:45:09,372 under a man whom they had already assailed at the time of Munich 481 00:45:09,456 --> 00:45:13,376 and whom they realised was not really by nature a war leader. 482 00:45:13,460 --> 00:45:16,337 Gradually, the temperature began to rise, 483 00:45:16,422 --> 00:45:19,215 and when Herbert Morrison for the Labour Party 484 00:45:19,299 --> 00:45:23,177 announced that they were going to divide at the end of the debate 485 00:45:23,262 --> 00:45:25,555 against the government... 486 00:45:25,681 --> 00:45:28,099 There was an action group 487 00:45:28,183 --> 00:45:33,813 of which Clement Davies was chairman, the Liberal leader, and l was secretary. 488 00:45:33,897 --> 00:45:37,358 lt was an all-party committee, 489 00:45:37,443 --> 00:45:41,779 committed to pressing for more decisive action during the war 490 00:45:41,864 --> 00:45:44,198 and a more vigorous posture 491 00:45:44,283 --> 00:45:46,659 and more vigorous prosecution of the war. 492 00:45:46,744 --> 00:45:50,788 And we decided to hold a meeting affer Morrison's announcement 493 00:45:50,873 --> 00:45:53,958 and we asked Leo Amery to preside over it. 494 00:45:54,042 --> 00:45:56,544 lt was an enormously attended meeting. 495 00:45:56,628 --> 00:45:59,547 Many ConserVative members of parliament were there 496 00:45:59,631 --> 00:46:02,091 and l felt something was happening. 497 00:46:02,217 --> 00:46:04,802 There were a great many members of parliament 498 00:46:04,887 --> 00:46:08,556 who had never been hitherto members of our action group 499 00:46:08,640 --> 00:46:10,391 who fetched up at the meeting. 500 00:46:10,476 --> 00:46:12,852 The feeling at the meeting was passionate. 501 00:46:12,936 --> 00:46:17,523 And l felt, at that time, that a great many ConserVative members 502 00:46:17,608 --> 00:46:20,401 were not only prepared to abstain in the division 503 00:46:20,486 --> 00:46:22,779 but even to vote against the government. 504 00:46:22,863 --> 00:46:27,825 And l came down from that meeting with feelings of great tension. 505 00:46:27,910 --> 00:46:34,874 Meanwhile, Churchill had been putting up a great defence of the government, 506 00:46:35,000 --> 00:46:40,087 and it was ironical again there because the debate was about Norway 507 00:46:40,172 --> 00:46:43,299 and Norway had been a series of disasters for which, 508 00:46:43,383 --> 00:46:48,638 although he might not be blamed because they may have been unavoidable, 509 00:46:48,722 --> 00:46:52,225 he was directly responsible as first lord of the admiralty. 510 00:46:52,351 --> 00:46:56,687 And Amery made a most formidable speech 511 00:46:56,772 --> 00:46:59,398 in which he quoted Cromwell's words: 512 00:46:59,483 --> 00:47:02,819 "You have been here long enough for any good you have done." 513 00:47:02,903 --> 00:47:05,196 "ln the name of God, go." 514 00:47:05,280 --> 00:47:07,365 And then Lloyd George came down 515 00:47:07,491 --> 00:47:11,160 and made the most devastating speech l've ever heard even him make 516 00:47:11,245 --> 00:47:14,080 in which he concluded by saying to Chamberlain: 517 00:47:14,164 --> 00:47:16,457 "You have asked the nation for sacrifices 518 00:47:16,583 --> 00:47:20,169 but there is one sacrifice that is more necessary than any other, 519 00:47:20,254 --> 00:47:22,797 and that is the sacrifice of your own office." 520 00:47:22,881 --> 00:47:25,341 When the result was announced 521 00:47:25,425 --> 00:47:29,428 and the ConserVative majority fell to about 80, 522 00:47:29,513 --> 00:47:32,974 and that meant the fall of the government in the circumstances, 523 00:47:33,058 --> 00:47:36,894 l could see Chamberlain, l can see him now, blanch. 524 00:47:37,020 --> 00:47:42,358 He had asked for friendship 525 00:47:42,442 --> 00:47:44,610 from those who were his friends 526 00:47:44,695 --> 00:47:49,448 and he hadn't got it, and he walked out of the chamber a solitary figure. 527 00:47:49,533 --> 00:47:52,076 And l felt very sorry for him at that moment 528 00:47:52,160 --> 00:47:54,662 because l knew that he knew that he was done. 529 00:47:54,746 --> 00:47:58,040 And l remember Chamberlain going to his room afferwards 530 00:47:58,125 --> 00:48:01,043 and saying he wondered whether this could go on. 531 00:48:01,128 --> 00:48:06,841 But it wasn't till the next day that he really realised that his number was up. 532 00:48:06,925 --> 00:48:10,553 On that particular day the whips, l think, tried to explain to him 533 00:48:10,637 --> 00:48:13,514 that it might have been worse and that sort of thing, 534 00:48:13,640 --> 00:48:15,391 but those of us who were with him 535 00:48:15,475 --> 00:48:18,144 could see the writing on the wall by that time. 536 00:48:18,228 --> 00:48:21,981 During those two days, 9 and 10 May, 537 00:48:22,065 --> 00:48:26,152 there was great doubt as to who would succeed Chamberlain. 538 00:48:26,236 --> 00:48:30,364 The Labour Party made it clear that if there was to be a coalition government, 539 00:48:30,449 --> 00:48:33,117 which by now everybody thought necessary, 540 00:48:33,201 --> 00:48:35,369 they would not serVe under Chamberlain. 541 00:48:35,454 --> 00:48:39,624 The choice, therefore, was between Churchill and Halifax. 542 00:48:40,542 --> 00:48:43,336 (narrator) Lord Halifax was the obvious successor, 543 00:48:43,420 --> 00:48:46,464 Chamberlain's trusted colleague. 544 00:48:46,548 --> 00:48:52,803 But no peer had been prime minister for nearly 40 years. As for his rival... 545 00:48:52,888 --> 00:48:56,057 (Coiville) Churchill was viewed with grave misgiving 546 00:48:56,141 --> 00:48:59,769 by the establishment, as it would now be called. 547 00:48:59,853 --> 00:49:04,148 Everybody at 10 Downing Street and Whitehall generally, 548 00:49:04,232 --> 00:49:08,861 the cabinet offices, and in very large sectors of the ConserVative Party, 549 00:49:08,946 --> 00:49:10,947 were frightened of Churchill. 550 00:49:11,031 --> 00:49:14,659 They thought he was an adventurer. They remembered Gallipoli. 551 00:49:14,743 --> 00:49:18,829 They thought that they did not want to see the fortunes of this country 552 00:49:18,914 --> 00:49:22,333 at a most critical moment in its whole history 553 00:49:22,417 --> 00:49:27,713 handed over to somebody who might do the most extraordinary things 554 00:49:27,798 --> 00:49:30,758 and undertake the most astonishing adventures. 555 00:49:30,842 --> 00:49:33,594 And they all, affer all, realised that Norway, 556 00:49:33,679 --> 00:49:37,181 this fiasco from which we were just hoping to recover 557 00:49:37,265 --> 00:49:39,725 or had just been saved in the nick of time, 558 00:49:39,810 --> 00:49:42,353 was largely the inspiration of Churchill. 559 00:49:42,437 --> 00:49:47,024 lt was a very fine idea but it didn't work, just like Gallipoli. 560 00:49:47,109 --> 00:49:55,074 And therefore it was with a certain amount of fear of Churchill 561 00:49:55,158 --> 00:49:57,827 that l think the minds of most people 562 00:49:57,911 --> 00:50:01,455 in the centre of government and in the centre of Whitehall 563 00:50:01,581 --> 00:50:04,125 turned towards Halifax. 564 00:50:04,209 --> 00:50:08,796 Halifax was safe. He was clever. He was a fellow of All Souls. 565 00:50:08,880 --> 00:50:15,428 He was a man of indisputable charm and absolute integrity. 566 00:50:15,512 --> 00:50:20,141 And it was hoped that he would perhaps be sent for by the king. 567 00:50:20,225 --> 00:50:22,601 The Labour Party approached me - 568 00:50:22,686 --> 00:50:26,230 Hugh Dalton and Herbert Morrison - 569 00:50:26,314 --> 00:50:30,192 and they both talked in favour of Halifax 570 00:50:30,277 --> 00:50:33,904 and they thought that Halifax ought to take over. 571 00:50:33,989 --> 00:50:37,366 l think their idea always was 572 00:50:37,451 --> 00:50:40,870 that Churchill would run the war under Halifax, 573 00:50:40,954 --> 00:50:43,622 an idea which didn't appeal to Halifax. 574 00:50:43,707 --> 00:50:46,250 l remember Churchill telling me 575 00:50:46,376 --> 00:50:49,587 that the critical moment came 576 00:50:49,671 --> 00:50:56,177 when Chamberlain asked Halifax and him to join him in the cabinet room. 577 00:50:56,261 --> 00:51:00,890 And the three of them were there. 578 00:51:00,974 --> 00:51:06,270 Halifax was sitting beside Chamberlain, 579 00:51:06,354 --> 00:51:08,898 who suddenly turned to Churchill and said: 580 00:51:08,982 --> 00:51:13,861 "Tell me, Winston, do you see any reason why in the 20th century 581 00:51:13,945 --> 00:51:17,865 a prime minister should not be in the House of Lords?" 582 00:51:17,991 --> 00:51:23,579 And Churchill thought that this was a trap. 583 00:51:23,663 --> 00:51:27,708 lf he said, "No, l see no reason at all," 584 00:51:27,793 --> 00:51:30,419 he thought Chamberlain would turn to Halifax 585 00:51:30,504 --> 00:51:33,964 and say, "ln that case, if the king were to ask my advice 586 00:51:34,049 --> 00:51:36,342 l could perhaps suggest you." 587 00:51:36,426 --> 00:51:40,012 On the other hand, it would be difficult for him to say, "Yes, l do," 588 00:51:40,097 --> 00:51:43,432 because then there could be no alternative but himself. 589 00:51:43,517 --> 00:51:47,436 So he turned round and stood staring over the Horse Guards Parade 590 00:51:47,521 --> 00:51:49,438 and did not reply to the question. 591 00:51:49,564 --> 00:51:52,733 The decision, l think, was largely taken by Halifax 592 00:51:52,818 --> 00:51:58,948 who told me he had a pain in his stomach an hour or two before the meeting 593 00:51:59,032 --> 00:52:01,992 and did not really want to be prime minister, 594 00:52:02,077 --> 00:52:04,787 whereas the man who did want to be prime minister - 595 00:52:04,871 --> 00:52:07,289 he was quite determined - was Churchill. 596 00:52:08,500 --> 00:52:13,087 (narrator) At dawn the Germans swept into Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg. 597 00:52:13,171 --> 00:52:17,716 The war was at last coming very close home to Britain. 598 00:52:21,304 --> 00:52:25,432 As the Allied armies braced themselves for battle, Chamberlain resigned 599 00:52:25,517 --> 00:52:29,895 and advised the king to send for Churchill. 600 00:52:29,980 --> 00:52:32,148 (Coiville) Churchill would be a gamble, 601 00:52:32,274 --> 00:52:37,403 and perhaps when you're at a very serious moment of your lives, 602 00:52:37,487 --> 00:52:39,780 a gamble is not the thing to undertake, 603 00:52:39,865 --> 00:52:43,033 and so it was with great despair 604 00:52:43,118 --> 00:52:47,621 that we all heard on the evening of 10 May 605 00:52:47,706 --> 00:52:50,916 that the king had sent for Churchill.