Winston Churchill's "Finest Hour" Speech

 

Winston Churchill's "Finest Hour" Speech

On June 18, 1940, Winston Churchill delivered one of his most famous speeches to the House of Commons, known as the "Finest Hour" speech. This speech came at a critical moment during World War II, just after the evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk and the fall of France to Nazi Germany. Churchill's words rallied the British people and steeled their resolve to continue the fight against the looming threat of invasion.

 The speech was delivered against the backdrop of the Battle of France, where British and French forces had been overwhelmed by the German blitzkrieg. The French government had signed an armistice with Germany, effectively surrendering, leaving Britain to face the might of the Nazi war machine alone. Churchill acknowledged the dire situation, stating, "The Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin."

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