We Shall Fight... Trivia Quiz

Answer:

Winston Churchill became Prime Minister of the UK on 10 May 1940 following a vote of no confidence from the Opposition over, then Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlains handling of the Norwegian campaign. Over a quarter of his own Conservative party sided with the Opposition.

There were also calls for a coalition government to replace his war ministry but the Liberal and Labour parties refused to serve under him but agreed to Churchill's appointment. His war ministry was at the head of the multiparty coalition government that remained in power until May 1945.

His term as PM began on the same day that the Germans invaded the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg leading to the need for the Dunkirk evacuation between 26 May and 4 June 1940.

Churchill's war speeches were a work of art as were his oratory skills despite growing up with a lateral lisp speech impediment. He was successful in overcoming this himself and was able to provide inspiration for a war-torn country with his impassioned narratives.

"We shall fight on the beaches" as this speech is known is the second of his famous three delivered during the Battle of France. The first was in his inaugural address to the House of Commons on 13 May 1940 where he proclaimed "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat."

The third was on 18 June 1940 when the Battle of France was effectively lost after France had sought an armistice on the evening of 16 June. He was warning the country that now the Battle of Britain would begin and of the hardships that would follow. The last line states "This was their finest hour" which is how it is referred.

"We shall fight on the beaches" was delivered on the 4 June 1940 at the end of the Dunkirk evacuation. Even with its success general morale in the country was low. Churchill had to prepare an inspirational speech that covered the huge military disaster they had just faced and to prepare them that in all probability the Battle of France would soon be lost too.

He did not disappoint with this missive. Many people still swear they heard this speech but, unlike his others, it was only given to the House of Commons. Extracts were printed in the newspapers and read by newscasters but Churchill didn't even record it until 1949.