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We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark and lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: victory; victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival. Let that be realized; no survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for, no survival for the urge and impulse of the ages, that mankind will move forward towards its goal. But I take up my task with buoyancy and hope. I feel sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men. At this time I feel entitled to claim the aid of all, and I say, “Come then, let us go forward together with our united strength.”
– Winston Churchill – May 13, 1940

 

 

 

 

 

 

(World History Group Archive)

Read more about Winston Churchill from the Winter 2011 issue of MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History:

Charging Forth With Sword and Pen [Click here for the full article]
By John Chettle
At the turn of the 20th century, the young soldier-newspaperman found himself appalled—and fascinated—by war

Scandinavian Twist [Click Here to Preview the Article]
By Rod Paschall
Churchill’s 1940 fiasco in Norway propelled him into office—and ensured that Hitler would fail to turn back the D-Day invasion

Click For More From MHQ!