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Churchill, Winston (1874-1965): |
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Sir Winston Churchill is best known for his leadership of Great Britain during World War II, and is largely credited with the eventual victory in Europe over Germany. He began his career in World War I as first lord of the admiralty of the navy, but was forced to resign following his support of key failed operations. He then served in the cabinet until 1922 when David Lloyd George left power. He returned to Parliament in 1924 and served under Stanley Baldwin. During this period until 1939, he opposed an independent India and urged rearmament for war. However, when Great Britain went to war, public opinion shifted in his direction and he was made prime minister in 1940. He made personal appearances and gave speeches that urged all British people to fight the war to the greatest of their ability. He organized the British navy to effectively hunt down and destroy U-boats, eventually neutralizing their effectiveness as a naval weapon. He made close ties with the United States and President Franklin Roosevelt, from whom he was receiving lend-lease aid. When the USSR and the United States joined the war in 1941, he organized the three into an alliance. At this point in time, Britain's military role became less and less significant, but the powerful leadership and reputation of Churchill as the man who saved Britain, and ultimately the world, overshadowed this fact. In 1945, following Allied victory, he was voted out of office in favor of Clement Attlee. This was not meant to be an insult; it was simply an assertion that the British people were ready for social reforms that they would not see under Churchill. Churchill was prime minister again for a period in the early 1950's, but resigned due to poor health. In addition to being a statesman, he was also an able writer. His works include his comprehensive history of World War II, entitled The Second World War. His writing was so impressive that he received the Nobel Prize in literature in 1953. He died in 1965 after receiving knighthood. |
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