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Winston Churchill

by Siyuan from San Diego

It is impossible to understand the Second World War without understanding Winston Churchill, the bold British Prime Minister who shined himself to be one of the greatest statesmen any nation has ever known" (Gilbert). Indeed, Churchill was the heroic symbol who emerged himself during the darkest times, and led his people to victory. Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (1874-1965), started his legendary life in Oxfordshire, and raised up in the Blenheim Palace. He decided to pursue the literary and political career in 1899 as he resigned for the military commission, and soon Churchill became a conservative Member of Parliament in 1904. Due to his defeat in Dardanelles and Gallipoli campaigns, and also his unfavorable opinions on Germany's war preparations, Churchill faced many setbacks and frustrated in the early years of his political life. In spite of Churchill's warning, Britain fell into chaos when the German troops invaded Austria, which signaled the beginning of the World War II. During the darkest time, it was Churchill who "have been nursing all his faculties so that when the moment came he could lavish them on the salvation of Britain and the values he believed Britain stood for in the world"(Nicholas). With his courage, he took the nation's burden in the belief that under his leadership, with his strong belief that the nation would stand proudly forever. Churchill's successful leading of Britain during the WWII, along with his determination to pursue the victory and courage to conquer the fears, deserved to earn him the honorable title of a hero. 

Churchill's success during the World War II showed a masterful leadership that Churchill consisted. In his early years, Churchill precisely predicted Germany's ambitions as he: "...opened himself up to criticism as a warmonger for repeatedly warning in speeches and articles about the threat posed by Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany" ("Winston Churchill"). Foresight was a natural ability within the great leaders, as it allowed them to predict correctly about the events that will occur in the future. Churchill proved that he was capable of leading his people to win the war, through his accurate foresight on Germany. Despite the fact that Churchill himself became a "warmonger" among the critics, he insisted on his opinion on Germany. And through the fog of misleading opinions and erroneous misconceptions, Churchill discovered the only truth, as his foresight penetrated the disguises. Later generations evaluated and claimed that Churchill was one of the greatest speakers of all time, but also "in addition to his inspiring speeches and resolute attitude, Churchill presided over every aspect of the war effort, holding direct control over the formulation of policy and the conduct of military operations" ("Churchill, Winston (1874-1965)"). As Churchill "presided over every aspect of the war effort", he demonstrated his ability to operate the military fluently. His success in handling the huge amount of work, which when he took over "direct control over the formulation of policy", showed Churchill was capable of managing the country. Churchill's accurate foresight and successful management made him a skillful leader during the World War II.

            Churchill determined to find the way to success. At the beginning of the WWII, Churchill began his term as the Prime Minister, as "he warned the members of the hard road ahead-'I have nothing to offer but blood, toils, tears, and sweat.'-and committed himself and the nation to all-out war until victory is achieved" (Nicholas). Churchill's inspiring, but short speech exhibited that he determined to put out all of his efforts to lead his people to the way of success. Despite of "the hard road ahead", Churchill designated to pursue the victory for his country. His perseverance was the symbol that made him an honorable hero. As Churchill began his term, Britain fell into shadow of fear as the news of the fall of France came in June 1940. As a man with ultimate confident and determination within himself, he assured his people that "they would be fighting Germany alone and proclaimed: We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender" ("Winston Churchill). When there was no hope to grasp, Churchill held on to the belief of victory. His strong determination led him to become willing to battle through "the beaches", "the landing ground", "the streets", and "the hills" to seek for the victory. Churchill's unswerving determination under desperate situations was his symbol that narrated him as a glorious hero.

       Churchill's courage distinguished him as an honorable hero, as it gave him the power to stand up to both of his enemies and friends. In the early years of Churchill's political life, his different political ideal and perspective caused his "dissatisfaction with the Conservative leaders and their lack of commitment to social reform, as well as frustrated ambition, led him to use the Conservative split over Joseph Chamberlain's tariff reform campaign in 1904 as the occasion to move to the Liberal party, which was still committed to free trade" ("Winston Churchill, Sir"). With his disagreement with his party leaders, Churchill dared to challenge and abandon his own party, in order to accomplish his own political ideal; the act of against his own party to accomplish his dream was courageous. Because not resisted only against the enemy, but also stood up toward the friends was a virtual sign of courage that Churchill possessed. Churchill demonstrated his full courage during the World War II, which "his finest hour was the leadership of Britain when it was most isolated, most threatened, and most weak, when his own courage, determination and belief in democracy became at one with the nation"(Gilbert). When the nation was "most isolated", "most threatened", and "most weak", every man would embrace the fear from the chaos. Despite the fact that Churchill was the leader, he would also have the fear for both of his nation and himself. But what differentiated him from the others was that he found the courage from his "determination" and "belief in democracy", and he wielded this courage to conquer his fear and make the way to success. This courage was the most valuable trait that a true hero possessed. Churchill demonstrated a true courage when he faced his friends and fear, which was the most valuable characteristic that a hero should possess.

          Churchill's skillful leadership, persistence for the success, and courage to master the fears were the desirable traits that a true hero should consist. Churchill's heroic traits were the characteristics that promoted him as a hero, as they guided him to the way of success, and made him the savior of his country. No matter whether it was during his early years in the political career; at his nadir of his fortunes, as he lost his elections to hold his office, and "arrived at a point where, for all his abilities, he was distrusted by every party. He was thought to lack judgment and stability and was regarded as a guerrilla fighter impatient of discipline" (Nicholas); or during his most glorious time, when he took the nation's burden, and readied to stand alone to face the threat from Germany; Through many ups and downs in his life, Churchill remained constant: as holding on to the belief in the greatness of his nation, he found the courage to stand up when his country fell into chaos, and fight against the Nazi Germany when the enemy was formidable. Just like his inspirational speech: "Never Give Up", even when there was no hope to seek. Churchill's success enlightened us to conquer the challenge with belief and confidence within ourselves. Churchill's masterful leading skills, determination, and courage made him an honorable hero, the greatest statesmen who held the key to the understanding of the Second World War.

 

Works Consulted

"Churchill, Sir Winston Leonard Spencer (1874-1965)." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Academic OneFile. Web. 31 Mar. 2013.

"Churchill, Winston (1874-1965)." DISCovering Biography. Online ed. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Student Resource Center - Junior. Gale. DEL NORTE HIGH SCHOOL. 30 Mar. 2013 .

"Winston Churchill." Contemporary Heroes and Heroines. Vol. 2. Gale, 1992. Biography In Context. Web. 22 Mar. 2013.

"Winston Churchill, Sir." Concise Dictionary of British Literary Biography. Vol. 5. Detroit: Gale Research, 1991. Biography In Context. Web. 31 Mar. 2013.

Gilbert, Martin. Churchill: A Life. New York: Holt, 1991. Print.

Herbert G., Nicholas. "Churchill, Sir Winston." Britannica Biographies (2012): 1. Biography Reference Center. Web. 22 Mar. 2013.

Page created on 4/21/2013 12:00:00 AM

Last edited 4/21/2013 12:00:00 AM

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