Churchill's Leadership

Churchill most inspired move was to form a Coalition government in 1940 whilst the war commenced. This also showed foresight and patriotism. The cabinet itself comprised four Labour ministers (who used to be his enemies), including Atlee and Greenwood, fifteen Conservative and one Liberal. Some could see this as Churchill’s down fall, giving Labour a chance to show their best qualities. Some could even argue that Churchill encouraging the Labour politicians to join the Coalition Government resulted in Labours Victory later on in 1945. The coalition Government did many things to help with the war. First of all Conscription was introduced, stating that all men and women between 18 and 60 were liable to be called up for different forms of service, with most women conscripted to the labour force. The Government regulations also covered the protection of the civilian population. The two main features for this were the planning and execution of programmes the evacuate children from major cities, and a civil defence scheme covering air-raid shelters and blackout procedures. Rationing was also another scheme introduced by the Government. Churchill also reinstated the War cabinet in order to fulfil a strong force to fight the war. This helped with the success of the Coalition Government. Churchill solemnly had the responsibility for military strategies and had the ability to make quick and realistic decisions, Such as the Dunkirk evacuation in 1941. Churchill unlike Chamberlain was well supported, especially by Atlee the deputy Prime Minister, and Ernest Bevin as Minister of Labour. Clement Atlee served in the war cabinet for the duration of the war. He was deputy Prime Minister in 1942-5 and did much to ensure the efficiency of the coalition. Ernest Bevin was the Minister of Labour and National Services from 1940 to 1945. Churchill brought a ‘dramatic injection of energy’ into the conduct of war and people working around him. He had an unusual degree of energy and self-confidence. This was all done with ‘dramatic infection of energy’ that turned his many doubters around.

Churchill gave the Coalition Government and Country sense of direction and purpose. One of the most memorable speeches which Churchill gave was the ‘No Surrender’ speech which stated that ‘we shall never surrender’. This was a huge leadership motive which showed sense of direction for the nation. However, although Churchill consulted the Coalition Government, he did make decisions against wishes of Chamberlain and Halifax. Lord Halifax was the Governments foreign secretary. It has been said that Winston Churchill gave Lord Halifax the role of foreign secretary in order to give the impression that the British government was united against Adolf Hitler

This direction and purpose was coupled with great oratory that united the nation. Churchill wrote all of his own speeches. He spent less on carefully preparing his speeches and more upon spontaneity of them. Churchill had great directional qualities and with his oratory skills alongside his talent, many people would listen and follow what he said. Churchill gave the nation hope in times of despair. With Churchill’s great oratory skills he made Dunkirk seem like a victory.  Churchill additionally had excellent propaganda methods which he used to make common cause with Russia, with propaganda being one of his personal styles.     

Another of Churchill’s personal styles was that he was a great statesman. Churchill was very close with America; he had personal links with high society American figures. The Lend-Lease agreement was a negotiation between Churchill and Roosevelt for desperately needed American aid. In return for the aid and act was passed stating were the US gained leases to British bases in return for economic assistance. Many have said that it was Churchill was the contributing fact to the situation in which the United States entered the war. Churchill persuaded the United States to tighten the oil blockade – which induced the Japanese to attack Pearl Harbour. Above all Churchill’s wartime leadership is said to have been so successful due to his great oratory.

With Churchill’s great love for science and technology, he primarily helped us break the Enigma code. A great action taken by Churchill was when he set up a new ad hoc Cabinet committee on U-boat warfare and the breaking the enigma code which primarily helped us win the Battle of Atlantic. Britain’s ability to decrypt Germanys Enigma machines was how the Air Ministry had learned of the Luftwaffe’s use of the radio beam in 1940. This decrypting ability leads to Stalin and his country’s imminent invasion, which was discovered using the interpretation of the Enigma machines. 

One of Churchill’s famous qualities was his great ability of leadership. Additionally, Churchill’s experience helped whilst leading the generals. He came to power with previous knowledge of being involved in WW1. He dismayed the Guilty Men and Appeasement history, and didn’t let it affect his overall acknowledgement in WW2. Churchill was impeccably anti-Nazi which additionally helped his leadership to defeat Germany. Churchill was a complete contrast to Neville Chamberlain which could be another reason to Churchill’s success, as a change and boost of energy and leadership could have been what was needed to help the Government to its best abilities through-out the war. Churchill instilled urgency with the “Action This Day”, to boost the moral of Government politicians. Churchill brought enthusiasm and conviction where there had been little in the first months of war. Winston Churchill is accredited with the inspiration essential for keeping up morale in Britain’s darkest hour and carrying out the decisions which was necessary for Britain’s eventual victory.      

Churchill could not have done it alone; he needed help of fellow members of Government, such as Ernest Bevin and Clement Atlee. With Hitler making mistakes this could also be argued that this lead to such a success of Britain’s victory. The Halt Order in Dunkirk is where Hitler could have attacked Britain but instead went east switching his attacks away from airfields and radar stations at the vital moment in 1940. If Hitler had of attacked then it could possibly have led to Britain losing the war.
        However, the Coalition Government success would certainly not have happened had he not been made leader in 1940. It is a fact that his influence reduced as war progressed. To the extent that Labour won 1945 election. However, Stalin stated that Britain’s greatest role was to give ‘time’. By this he meant we stood alone in 1940-41. The one man who inspired this was Churchill; he needed to draw on all his personal qualities.