Winston churchill their finest hour free essay sample

Winston Churchill In perhaps his most moving speech during World War II, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill delivered this address in the House of Commons on June 18, 1940, vowing to lead the British people in a fight against the Nazis, Winston Churchill’s: Their finest hour, rallied the British nation in mounting a formidable defense against the Nazi’s control. Churchill is able to do this through his tone, organization and syntax. Winston Churchill was perhaps one of the greatest public speakers in history. Although Churchill delivered many speeches, his speech on June 18TH, 1940 showed the most emotion and courage of any other he told. In this speech, he explained that the war in France is over and the war in Britain would begin. On May 10, 1940, Nazi Germany began a massive attack against Holland, Belgium, Luxemburg and France. Britain defended these countries. The Germans relied on an aggressive battle plan, utilizing modern communications, the allies including Britain still relied on hand delivered messages. We will write a custom essay sample on Winston churchill their finest hour or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page As a result, the German Blitzkrieg caught the allies off guard. After a few weeks of battle, Hitler’s armies conquered Holland, Luxemburg and Belgium. France requested an armistice, Britain now stood alone and it was Churchill’s speech that led the British into victory. (â€Å"Winston Churchill-Biographical† Nobelprize) Winston Churchill was born November, 30 1874, in Blenheim Palace. He was born into a wealthy family who treated Winston to a rich lifestyle. In 1893 Churchill entered the Royal Military College as a cadet, from here on he rose to the top ranks commanded with great authority. He began to have political speeches at the age of twenty-three (â€Å"This was their Finest Hour† Wikipedia). However, his Finest Hour speech can be argued as one of his best speeches given in a time of imminent war. The purpose of this speech was to show the members of the Commons that we must fight this war and win, for if England shall lose the rest of the rest of the world shall lose. Winston explained this in the last part of his speech. â€Å" If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will say, ‘This was their finest hour’†(Winston 5,6). This speech was written in chronological order. He firsts starts off talking about British efforts in France and the battles that were fought around the area, and then ends the speech by noting the war now lye on the British navy and army. The structure of the speech is cause and effect, he states that British conditions have worsened and he states that this is because Hitler has conquered most of the western coast of Europe and is threatening to invade Europe. If there is one thing that Churchill makes very clear throughout this speech is the adamancy of which England must fight the war, there is nothing that Hitler would not do, â€Å"Untiring vigilance and untiring searching of the mind is being, and must be, devoted to the subject, because, remember, the enemy is crafty and there is no dirty trick he will not do†(Winston 3). Churchill will not submit to tyranny. â€Å" There are a good many people who say ‘Never mind. Win or lose, sink or swim, better die then submit to tyranny- and such a tyranny.’ And I do not dissociate myself from them† (Winston 4). Winston Churchill’s speech was very well organized with specific arguments and accurate data, which explained how Britain would win the war. â€Å"†¦ the British Empire to fight on†¦ During the last few days we have successfully brought off the great majority of the troops we had on the lines of communication in France; and seven-eighths of the troops we have sent to France since the beginning of the war- that is to say, about 350,000 out of 400,000 men- are safely back in this country. Others are still fighting with the French, and fighting with considerable success†¦ We have, therefore, in this island today a very large and powerful military force† (Winston 1,2). Winston Churchill’s speeches are known for his tone and emotion that he portrays throughout them, this speech is no different. Churchill explained, â€Å" Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands†(The Art of Presentation). Words like â€Å"free, move forward and sunlit uplands† are phrases that help the citizens to feel more powerful and hopeful, and that the war would move in a positive direction. When Churchill speaks of the Navy, he shows that he is knowledgeable and knows how to defeat the Nazi Germany. He uses a formal tone throughout this speech, mainly so the listeners will understand the seriousness of the war, but also because he needs to convince them to fight the war. Churchill does not use sophisticated language, in fact most of the words he uses are simple but these words pack emotion- words such as â€Å"victory, evil, tyranny, lost, lose and win† these words evoke an emotion that rallies the British nation against Germany because even the uneducated are able to understand the imperative need to win this war. Winston Churchill also structured this speech so that the point was not made until the very end, he gives background and information and proves his point before saying what it is, this forces the listener and reader to hear the facts and determine for themselves why Britain must fight Germany. Putting the sentence â€Å" This was their finest hour† lights a spark under people and excites them about how tyranny will fall and democracy will prevail. It is the job of the people to protect and preserve the world, as they know it. If they succeed, their sacrifice will go down in history as their finest hour.