- Paperback: 720 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd; New edition edition (12 Dec 1985)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140086129
- ISBN-13: 978-0140086126
- Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 12.8 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,061,300 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Their Finest Hour
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First Sentence
NOW at last the slowly-gathered, long-pent-up fury of the storm broke upon us. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
NOW at last the slowly-gathered, long-pent-up fury of the storm broke upon us. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"Their Finest Hour" is Volume II of Winston Churchill's magnus opus on World War II. Beginning with Churchill's ascension to the office of Prime Minister, it continues to the end of 1940. It covers a time of the events of legend. On these pages we read of the end of the Phony War with the Blitzkrieg on France, the evacuation from Dunkirk, the fall of France, the emergence of DeGaulle, and the titanic Battle of Britain that may have been a turning point of the war.
The sudden and shocking collapse of France is told by one who struggled mightily to hold things together as the situation disintegrated around him. Churchill's repeated trips to France to assess conditions and to try to rally the French makes for fascinating reading. Churchill's exhortations to continue the struggle, the French demands for more British commitment, the frantic pleas for an American declaration of war and the incredible offer of a perpetual union between Great Britain and France make for a rapid sequence of unique events that are stranger than any novelist's fiction. As the battle lines dissolved the incredible rescue of the BEF and other forces from Dunkirk saved the troops that were to form the nucleus of the band that would return to France four years later. The fall of France would place the French fleet in jeopardy which led to intense negotiations and the unfortunate British attack at the fleet at Oran.
When the Battle of France was over, the Battle of Britain began. The Battle of Britain was the battle in the skies over Britain in which the RAF and the Luftwaffe fought for the air supremacy that was crucial to any German plans to invade England. When Germany recoiled from the battle the invasion tide receded and the British were forced to seek out other theatres if combat in which to engage the foe, this time in the Middle East.
A gifted writer, Churchill tells the story that only he knew, as only he could write. This book, along with the others in the series, are the indispensable foundations of any in depth study of World War II.
The sudden and shocking collapse of France is told by one who struggled mightily to hold things together as the situation disintegrated around him. Churchill's repeated trips to France to assess conditions and to try to rally the French makes for fascinating reading. Churchill's exhortations to continue the struggle, the French demands for more British commitment, the frantic pleas for an American declaration of war and the incredible offer of a perpetual union between Great Britain and France make for a rapid sequence of unique events that are stranger than any novelist's fiction. As the battle lines dissolved the incredible rescue of the BEF and other forces from Dunkirk saved the troops that were to form the nucleus of the band that would return to France four years later. The fall of France would place the French fleet in jeopardy which led to intense negotiations and the unfortunate British attack at the fleet at Oran.
When the Battle of France was over, the Battle of Britain began. The Battle of Britain was the battle in the skies over Britain in which the RAF and the Luftwaffe fought for the air supremacy that was crucial to any German plans to invade England. When Germany recoiled from the battle the invasion tide receded and the British were forced to seek out other theatres if combat in which to engage the foe, this time in the Middle East.
A gifted writer, Churchill tells the story that only he knew, as only he could write. This book, along with the others in the series, are the indispensable foundations of any in depth study of World War II.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the second volume of Churchill's six volume history of the Second World War, which was written "just as the dust was still settling," in 1948. Of the various phases of the war, this volume covers the one that Churchill was best placed to narrate: 1940, with the rapid collapse of French resistance, Britain had to fight alone. And it was Churchill's actions and rhetoric that proved an essential catalyst in rallying the British people to the task.
The first volume The Second World War, Volume 1: The Gathering Storm covers over a 20 year period, from the end of World War I until May, 1940. This volume covers not much more than half a year, from May until the end of 1940. The first half is focused on the fall of France, following the disastrous (for the French) German break-though at Sedan. Tough decisions? Adversity tends to concentrate the mind. There is a chapter of Churchill's decision to sink the French fleet in Oran, Algeria. It was one of the tougher decisions he was forced to make: to turn British guns on his former (and still) allies, killing over 2,000 French sailors, since the French Admiral, Darlan, would not undertake the proper actions to ensure that the fleet did not fall into German hands. There are also good chapters on the evacuation of almost the entire British Army from Dunkirk, which allowed it to fight "another day," as well as the German plans to invade England, which were incorporated under the code name: "Operation Sea Lion."
The second half of the book commenced with the Battle of Britain, the air war that featured the outnumbered Royal Air Force defending Britain, and stopping the Luftwaffe. Many still remember Churchill's stirring tribute to the British airman: "Never have so many owed so much to so few." The relentless German bombing of civilian targets was a key catalyst in rallying the British people for the war, as Churchill covered in his chapter: "London Can Take It."
There are several chapters that underscore the increasingly global nature of the war. Efforts are made to support the newly formed "Free French" units, under General DeGaulle, to oppose the collaborationist government of General Petain, whose government is located in the French town of Vichy. The "Free French" need a base to operate from, and so efforts are undertaken to capture Dakar, in Senegal. A British lifeline is the American war materials coming under the Lend-Lease program, and the Royal Navy must defend the convoys from German U-Boat attack. The "Burma Road" is opened, to supply Chinese forces which are fighting Japan. Germany and Russia continue their maneuvers under the "non-aggression pact" that each has signed. It seems both know that war is inevitable, but particularly Russia is trying to buy time, or is in deep denial. In the Mediterranean, the Axis stays on the offensive, with Italy attacking Greece, Crete, and is moving towards Egypt. Overall, it remained a dark period for Britain, but Churchill's final chapter is an up note: British victories against Italian forces in North Africa.
As with the other volumes in this series, there are numerous telegrams and documents reproduced that only the very serious student of the war need read. Each chapter has useful summaries of the salient matters listed at the beginning, which facilitates ready reference. Once again, as with the first volume, 5-stars for this effort.
The first volume The Second World War, Volume 1: The Gathering Storm covers over a 20 year period, from the end of World War I until May, 1940. This volume covers not much more than half a year, from May until the end of 1940. The first half is focused on the fall of France, following the disastrous (for the French) German break-though at Sedan. Tough decisions? Adversity tends to concentrate the mind. There is a chapter of Churchill's decision to sink the French fleet in Oran, Algeria. It was one of the tougher decisions he was forced to make: to turn British guns on his former (and still) allies, killing over 2,000 French sailors, since the French Admiral, Darlan, would not undertake the proper actions to ensure that the fleet did not fall into German hands. There are also good chapters on the evacuation of almost the entire British Army from Dunkirk, which allowed it to fight "another day," as well as the German plans to invade England, which were incorporated under the code name: "Operation Sea Lion."
The second half of the book commenced with the Battle of Britain, the air war that featured the outnumbered Royal Air Force defending Britain, and stopping the Luftwaffe. Many still remember Churchill's stirring tribute to the British airman: "Never have so many owed so much to so few." The relentless German bombing of civilian targets was a key catalyst in rallying the British people for the war, as Churchill covered in his chapter: "London Can Take It."
There are several chapters that underscore the increasingly global nature of the war. Efforts are made to support the newly formed "Free French" units, under General DeGaulle, to oppose the collaborationist government of General Petain, whose government is located in the French town of Vichy. The "Free French" need a base to operate from, and so efforts are undertaken to capture Dakar, in Senegal. A British lifeline is the American war materials coming under the Lend-Lease program, and the Royal Navy must defend the convoys from German U-Boat attack. The "Burma Road" is opened, to supply Chinese forces which are fighting Japan. Germany and Russia continue their maneuvers under the "non-aggression pact" that each has signed. It seems both know that war is inevitable, but particularly Russia is trying to buy time, or is in deep denial. In the Mediterranean, the Axis stays on the offensive, with Italy attacking Greece, Crete, and is moving towards Egypt. Overall, it remained a dark period for Britain, but Churchill's final chapter is an up note: British victories against Italian forces in North Africa.
As with the other volumes in this series, there are numerous telegrams and documents reproduced that only the very serious student of the war need read. Each chapter has useful summaries of the salient matters listed at the beginning, which facilitates ready reference. Once again, as with the first volume, 5-stars for this effort.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Volume Two of the World War series is fascinating reading, not only for the details on British strategy and approach during the difficult years 1940 and 1941, but also for the issues that Churchill (writing these volumes, of course, after the war) identified as particularly controversial and which might have called his management of the British war effort into question. Wonderful insights into the details of taking on the new face of war in the skies above England and in London itself. This is also something of a lesson plan -- at the highest level -- of organizational management.
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