The British Bulldog - Historum

**PADDYBOY** · July 22nd, 2007, 12:21 AM

How different would the world be today had it not had Winston Churchill ?

Universeman · July 22nd, 2007, 07:20 AM

We'd be missing a few good speeches?

Seriously, probably not as different as you seem to be implying. Churchill's grand moments in WW2 would be toned down under a different prime minister, but the end result would still be the same.

I think, though, that you might want to define what you see as Churchill's effect on the world today before we can figure out how it would be different if he hadn't been around.

**PADDYBOY** · July 22nd, 2007, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Universeman

We'd be missing a few good speeches?

Seriously, probably not as different as you seem to be implying. Churchill's grand moments in WW2 would be toned down under a different prime minister, but the end result would still be the same.

I think, though, that you might want to define what you see as Churchill's effect on the world today before we can figure out how it would be different if he hadn't been around.

Why would I ask a question and answer it myself

The whole point of my question, is to find out what other people think.
I'm not implying anything by the way, if I was, I would state my opinion and then ask other people who know more about these things to comment.

I wish people would stop over-rating me

**Lucius** · July 24th, 2007, 07:22 PM

That's a difficult question. I can't answer it. To whom can we compare him? On the face of it, the answers would be Chamberlain, Atlee, Eden. But this comparison only suggests that he was the last of a certain breed, as it were. And a noble example of it.

"The British nation is unique in this respect. They are the only people who like to be told how bad things are, who like to be told the worst."
Sir Winston Churchill, Hansard, June 10, 1941

**PADDYBOY** · July 24th, 2007, 11:33 PM

This question has frequently been asked about Hitler and Stalin,
I thought it might be interesting to put it on one of the good guys

It's definately not as easy this way round though

**Comet** · July 25th, 2007, 03:16 PM

I have a question for those who know a lot about WWII and Churchill. Wasn't it Churchill who told British officials not to even think about surrender during the Battle of Britain? I could have sworn I saw a recent book on the subject that discussed Churchill's role as a man desperate to continue to fight. From what I understand, the book mentioned how other high ranking British officials were seeking a truce with Germany...but Churchill wouldn't hear of it. Am I just imagining this book or does it really exist?

**Lucius** · July 25th, 2007, 05:22 PM

Comet,

Lots of those books exist.

Lord Halifax (Edward Frederick Lindley Wood) was appointed as Foreign secretary in February 1939. He remained in Chamberlain's, and then Churchill's War Cabinets until his departure in January 1941 to become British ambassador in Washington.

Halifax reckoned that he could not be the Prime Minister from the House of Lords. And he reckoned that even if he did become PM, he would end up being an "honorary Prime Minister", to Churchill, like Asquith was to Lloyd George in WWI.

It is unclear, perhaps unknowable, how far apart Churchill and Halifax really were, even after May 10, 1940. There is a book called, The Fall of France: The Nazi Invasion of 1940 by Julian Jackson. Portions are online. Start at p 206-

http://books.google.com/books?id=3Ie...mIYY#PPA206,M1

Who says hindsight is 20/20?

Ginner · March 1st, 2011, 07:09 AM

Odds on, we would be speaking German right now.

**DreamWeaver** · March 1st, 2011, 07:12 AM

It would be a less witty place

Inflames · March 1st, 2011, 07:37 AM

I have a lot of respect for Churchill and for those who say another PM could have done just as good of a job, I hope they know they are wrong. How did the PM's before Churchill deal with the Nazis? Lets see them wave their piece of paper at the Luftewaffe.