There have been few leaders considered as great or as responsible for shaping the outcome of world history as Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill. As Joseph Keegan maintains, ôThe political history of the 20th century can be written as the biographies of six men: Lenin, Stalin, Hitler, Mao Zedong, Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill.ö Churchill is best known for his victories against German and its allies during WWII, despite having to combat those forces in the face of a reluctant Parliamentary and British public at first and a reluctant to declare war American leadership. His storied political career extended through three major wars and illustrates a number of ups and downs. He resigned twice from leadership only to be called back at the time of BritainÆs darkest hour û the threat of Adolph Hitler and his Nazi forces and allies.
Despite his remarkable ability to overcome his opposition and BritainÆs enemies, Churchill was often ridiculed and lambasted as he struggled in his late 60s to provide Britain with the resolve and leadership it needed to conquer the considerable forces of the opposition. Were it not for the unique nature and character of this man who stemmed from a military dynasty, it is unlikely that the outcome of WWII would have been as positive for Europe. More than any other quality, it may have been ChurchillÆs steely resolve and military brilliance that held him in good stead during the trials and tribulations of 1939-1941. Such resolve was evidenced at a young age when he wrote to his mother about his involvement in the Sudan campaign in 1898, ôI never felt the slightest nervousness. I felt as cool as I do now.ö Little did the then-24 Churchill know how much that cool would be needed four decades later as Hitler began his mad march through Europe.
The political career of Prime Minister Winston Churchill extended through WWI, WWII and the first decade of the Cold War. ...