Winston Churchill

Politician

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, PC, DL, FRS, Hon. RA (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the great wartime leaders and served as Prime Minister twice. A noted statesman and ...

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Documents about Winston Churchill

Monday 8th January 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Churchill announces progress in tackling magnetic mines to Cabinet. 20 German staff in Moscow to assist against Finns
person Anthony Eden
person Samuel Hoare
person Winston Churchill
place Finland
place East Germany
place Moscow
 

Broadcast of Shipping Losses.

extract First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill instructs the BBC to report shipping losses weekly instead of nightly
person Winston Churchill
organisation BBC
 

Meeting minutes

extract Churchill announces loss HMS Exmouth. Finns bomb Kronstadt, Baltiski. German press accuse UK of violating Dutch neutrality
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Winston Churchill
person Neville Chamberlain
person John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon
person Oliver Stanley
place Finland
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation BBC
 

Meeting minutes

extract Confidential Conclusions: Should Cabinet discuss fate of IRA prisoners? Churchill’s “sticky attitude” to Asama Maru policy
person Winston Churchill
 

Thursday 1st February 1940

Lord Stamp's Paper.

extract First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill circulates paper criticising government policy on war finance and manpower
person Winston Churchill
organisation Air Force F.C.
 

Meeting minutes

extract Finns urgently request more guns and ammunition. Churchill airs dissatisfaction with Palestine land policy
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Walter Citrine, 1st Baron Citrine
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Winston Churchill
person Harold Wilson
person Arthur Greenwood
place Finland
place Rome
 

Meeting minutes

extract Informal notes on recent meetings: Churchill’s “glee” and “rush tactics”. Foreign Secretary “not having any”
person Winston Churchill
place Finland
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Meeting minutes

extract Churchill reports loss of HMS Daring. UK naval casualties estimated to have reached 2700 since the start of the war
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Winston Churchill
place Finland
place Narvik
organisation New Zealand Treasury
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Chamberlain directs Cabinet to abandon plan to mine Norwegian waters. Winston Churchill registers his opposition
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Sumner Welles
person Winston Churchill
place Finland
place Europe
place Oslo
 

Monday 4th March 1940

Royal Marine Operation.

extract Churchill circulates Admiralty plan to mine the River Rhine. Operation will be ready at 24 hours notice from 12th March
person Winston Churchill
place Great Britain
place Paris
organisation Air Force F.C.
 

Comparison of British and Japanese Fleets.

extract Churchill circulates comparison of Royal Navy and Japanese fleet. UK superiority extremely narrow
person Winston Churchill
organisation Royal Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM meets junior ministers. “Nothing with which to reproach ourselves” on Finland. Germany “true villain of the piece”
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
place Finland
place Berlin
place West Germany
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Degaussing of Merchant Ships.

extract Churchill reports over 10% of UK shipping now immune from magnetic mines. Test of faster ‘wiping’ technique very positive
person Winston Churchill
place London, Ontario
 

Meeting minutes

extract Belgian Foreign Minister calls reports of “vast quantities of German troops” opposite Belgian frontier “disquieting”
extract Churchill suggests bombing shipping in Swedish port of Lulea to block harbour and disrupt German iron ore imports
person Winston Churchill
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Brussels
organisation German Army
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

extract Churchill reports on defences after Scarpa attack. Warns of general feeling “Germans used bombs…we only dropped leaflets”
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Walter Hines Page
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
person Neville Chamberlain
place Finland
place Gisborne, New Zealand
place Hong Kong
place Turkey
place Gibraltar
place South America
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation Scapa
organisation Home Fleet
 

Naval Prize Money and Prize Bounty.

extract Churchill urges paying naval prize money for captured ships. Navy carrying “main burden” of fighting in this phase of war
person Winston Churchill
organisation Royal Navy
 

Analysis of German Propaganda, March 1 to 16, 1940.

extract Lord Halifax presents analysis of recent Nazi propaganda themes. British weakness up, brutality and lies down
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
person Joachim von Ribbentrop
person John Reith, 1st Baron Reith
person Oliver Stanley
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Ankara
place Slovakia
place Russian Empire
place Caribbean
place Berlin
place Rome
organisation Ministry of Supply
 

Naval Prize Money and Prize Bounty.

extract Chancellor of the Exchequer John Simon strongly disagrees with Churchill over “invidious” prize money for Navy
person Winston Churchill
person John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon
 

Wednesday 15th May 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Churchill: Ruhr attacks "a hard blow at Germany...we must expect this country to be hit in return"
extract Cabinet approves night bombing of the Ruhr. 100 heavy bombers to be deployed from tonight
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
organisation Royal Air Force
 

Meeting minutes

extract Home Security Minister calls for internment of enemy aliens. PM: “Better that these persons should be behind barbed-wire”
extract German attack on Switzerland today “possible”. PM: Swiss “brave and determined”. "Confident they would fight the invader”
extract PM to send personal message to Mussolini expressing “hope that this country and Italy should not be divided by bloodshed”
extract Chief of Air Staff reports loss of over 100 British fighter aircraft. Pilots “in tremendous fettle, but weary”
extract Belgian government has not yet evacuated Brussels. UK command “confident” Belgians can hold position
extract Lord Halifax confirms Dutch government will continue war from exile and in Colonies. Information Minister to announce
extract Churchill “refuses to accept” PM Reynaud’s “gloomy” analysis of "serious" military situation. French Generals “calm”
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Franklin D. Roosevelt
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Winston Churchill
person Paul Reynaud
person Alan Keyes
place Great Britain
place Portugal
place Halifax Peninsula
place Republic of China
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
 

Meeting minutes

extract Minister of Information to inform Press that "situation although not desperate" becoming "increasingly grave”
extract Churchill: “We must face the fact the Belgian Army might be lost altogether.” Admiralty to make plans to evacuate them
extract Churchill: Fallback to Channel ports “a bomb trap”. “Total loss only a matter of time”. Retreat through Amiens, Rouen
extract General Ironside: Not acceptable. “We could certainly never evacuate the force complete”. Urges south west advance
extract BEF Commander concerned about force’s right flank. If gap widens proposes withdrawal to Dunkirk “to fight it out”
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Winston Churchill
organisation French Army
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Meeting minutes

extract Sir Stafford Cripps has suggested buying aircraft from USSR - direct or via Chinese government. Lord Halifax to pursue
extract Churchill reports on meetings in France. PM Reynaud called possible UK success at Narvik an “enheartening contribution”
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Stafford Cripps
person Winston Churchill
person Paul Reynaud
place Halifax Peninsula
place Narvik
 

Meeting minutes

extract King Leopold of Belgium warns that withdrawal of British Expeditionary Force will force “capitulation” of Belgian army
extract Churchill: “Little grounds for confidence”. “No choice” but to follow General Weygand's plan
extract Chiefs of Staff: If BEF fall back “unlikely that more than a small part of the force could be got away”
extract German troops reported three miles from Calais by British tank regiment. Warning ammunition position “serious”
extract PM Churchill: “Best for the BEF to fall back on the Channel ports”. Warns of “catastrophic situation” at Boulogne
extract General Weygand reports he has taken Amiens, Albert and Peronne. "Only solution" to continue this maneouvre
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Maxime Weygand
person Winston Churchill
place Geneva
place Paris
place Calais
place Berlin
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: Night bombing of Middlesbrough “welcome stimulus” to domestic air raid precautions. Urges penalties for unprepared
extract German aircraft confused with returning UK bombers overnight. Attacks on Yorkshire, E Anglia. Damage and casualties minor
extract Churchill: “Imperative we should hold on to Calais”. “Heartening message” to be sent to British forces there
extract Calais force held at Cassel, Belgians facing Courtrai attack, French only holding part of Amiens and outskirts of Peronne
extract General Ironside: Gort's communications almost severed. Unclear if he is advancing to ports, Amiens or “fighting it out”
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Winston Churchill
person Robert Vansittart, 1st Baron Vansittart
person Alan Keyes
place Great Britain
place Morocco
place Portsmouth
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: UK forces “still holding out” in Calais, situation now quieter than the previous night
extract Churchill: We “must be prepared” for PM Reynaud “to say that the French could not carry on the fight”.
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Maxime Weygand
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
person Edward Spears
place Europe
place Calais
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation United States Navy
organisation 335th Fighter Squadron
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Meeting minutes

extract Churchill: "Our success must depend first on our unity, then on our courage and endurance."
extract Churchill: “If we both stand out we may yet save ourselves from the fate of Denmark or Poland”
extract Churchill informs French PM Reynaud that the War Cabinet has decided it is not “the right moment” to approach Mussolini
extract Churchill: "Nations which went down fighting rose again but those which surrendered tamely were finished"
extract Chamberlain: Better for both UK and France “to play their part in the struggle” than to open negotiations with Mussolini
extract Halifax: UK may get better terms now, before France went out of the war and UK aircraft factories bombed than in 3 months
extract PM: “Clear” French wish Mussolini to act as intermediary with Herr Hitler. “Determined” not to get into this position
extract French again urge talks with Mussolini. Halifax says Italians want UK to request their mediation in European conflict
person Alexander Cadogan
person William Patrick Stuart-Houston
person Maxime Weygand
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
person Bob Kerslake
person Neville Chamberlain
person Edward Spears
place Great Britain
place Malta
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Denmark
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation United States Navy
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation United Nations
organisation French Army
 

Sunday 2nd June 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Commander in Chief Home Forces to report to Cabinet within 48 hours on progress of preparations against invasion of UK
extract PM urges General Staff to work on “problem of defeating tanks”. General Dill says this being “intensively examined”
extract Halifax: Everything points to Italy “having decided to come into the war against us”. Italy cargo ships to be intercepted
extract Evacuation figures from Dunkirk at 1200 BST: 276,030 men removed. (215,369 British, 59,866 Allied troops)
extract Reynaud requests three UK division be redeployed to Western front and RAF fighters to be based in French aerodromes
extract Telegram from PM Reynaud: “We have indications of an early attack at several points on the Front”
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person Maxime Weygand
person Winston Churchill
person Edward Spears
person Paul Reynaud
place Halifax Peninsula
place Dunkirk
organisation British Army
organisation French Army
 

Meeting minutes

extract Norwegians negotiating over UK withdrawal. Evacuation held for 24 hours. Churchill: “Decision to withdraw must stand
extract Chiefs of Staff to make recommendations on how much force can be spared for France’s defence before Cabinet decides
extract Churchill believes three divisions can be in France within 5-6 weeks. RAF bombers to attack targets selected by French
extract Cabinet discusses which forces can be sent to reinforce French on Somme front. Difficult to re-equip BEF
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Winston Churchill
place Dunkirk
place Narvik
place Paris
organisation 335th Fighter Squadron
organisation French Army
 

Western Front - British Military Policy.

extract Chiefs of Staff set out case for and against more help for France. Despatch of even two divisions "grave" security risk
person Francisco Franco
person Winston Churchill
person Edward Spears
person Paul Reynaud
place Great Britain
place Turkey
organisation British Army
 

Meeting minutes

extract Norway evacuation proceeding "very satisfactorily", complete in about 48 hours. King Haakon to depart with his government
extract UK diplomats in Paris warn Marshall Petain has told PM Reynaud "nothing left but to make peace" and urged he step aside
extract Churchill warns Reynaud RAF fighter squadrons "worn to a shred and frightfully mixed up". UK cannot meet all his requests
extract PM Reynaud: Despatch of UK divisions to France "must be hastened to the maximum possible extent" or Paris will be lost
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Ronnie Campbell
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Maxime Weygand
person Stephen King
person Winston Churchill
person Edward Spears
person Paul Reynaud
place Narvik
place London, Ontario
organisation British Army
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: Dangerous "thrust towards Verdun" by Germans. "If successful, would turn the Maginot Line"
extract PM: If France refuse terms Hitler's only course to "smash this island". Then America in the war "within a fortnight"
extract Halifax: France must be made to see that Armistice "a slippery slope" to loss of their fleet and eventually their liberty
extract PM Reynaud to appeal for "maximum help" short of an expeditionary force from US. France to "hold on" for US response
extract Statement by US President "much heartened" French government. Churchill: "As near as possible to a declaration of war"
extract Churchill: PM Reynaud asked that France be released from agreement not to make a separate peace with Germany
extract Telegram from Roosevelt to PM Reynaud: US "doing everything in its power" to make war material available to Allies
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Franklin D. Roosevelt
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
place Halifax Peninsula
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation United States Congress
 

Meeting minutes

extract Churchill, Attlee and Sinclair to meet PM Reynaud at "earliest possible moment" to discuss Union and "related questions"
extract PM Reynaud believes he can "hold the position" if UK accepts proposed unity proclamation. War Cabinet approves Union plan
extract French wireless reporting that Council of Ministers will meet at 1700 BST to decide whether further resistance possible
extract Union to "concentrate the whole of its strength" against the enemy no matter where battle may be. "Thus we shall conquer"
extract Halifax presents plan for Anglo-French union drafted with French: joint citizenship, single currency, new constitution
extract PM: General de Gaulle has made clear "some very dramatic move" essential for PM Reynaud to keep France in the war
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Charles de Gaulle
person Winston Churchill
person Paul Reynaud
place Halifax Peninsula
organisation British Army
 

Meeting minutes

extract Belgian PM and 50 staff flown into London from Nantes. 1000 Canadian troops arriving for defence of Iceland today
extract Eden: Report from Information Minister on UK public opinion "not very encouraging". PM to broadcast speech on 18th
extract South African PM calls for UK occupation of Irish ports ahead of Germany. Chamberlain: UK should "insist" on IRA roundup
extract PM Reynaud offers meeting in France this afternoon. Churchill declines, UK sending assent for France to ask for terms
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Charles de Gaulle
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Winston Churchill
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Neville Chamberlain
person Paul Reynaud
place South Africa
place Halifax Peninsula
place Iceland
place London, Ontario
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
 

Meeting minutes

extract Churchill: “Absolute condition” of granting assent that French fleet sail for Britain "forthwith"
extract Halifax: Ambassador Kennedy hints President saving declaration of war as “last card” if France offered “impossible” terms
extract PM: "Some possibility" that if terms too harsh French Government might carry on the struggle from outside France
extract French government request UK authorisation to enquire "what armistice conditions would be offered to France by the enemy"
person Charles de Gaulle
person Ronnie Campbell
person Winston Churchill
person Jean Bart
place Great Britain
place New York, Lincolnshire
place Alexandria
organisation French Navy
organisation Canadian Forces Maritime Command
organisation French Air Force
organisation French Army
 

Meeting minutes

extract Churchill suggests attack on French ships in harbour at Oran, Algeria. Admiralty to form plan of operations
person Winston Churchill
place Malta
place Dakar
place Tunisia
place Algeria
 

Tuesday 9th July 1940

Estimated Scale of Air Attack upon United Kingdom.

extract Prime Minister questions Air Ministry figures on likely severity of bombing attacks on UK. Ministry reduce figure by 60%
extract Chiefs of Staff report on “likely forms and scales of attack" Germany could bring to bear on UK "in the near future”
person Winston Churchill
place Great Britain
place Trondheim
place Iceland
place East Anglia
place Denmark
 

Draft of Proposed Agreement with General de Gaulle.

extract Cabinet Secretary circulates proposal from General de Gaulle for UK to recognise and support his new French force
person Charles de Gaulle
person Winston Churchill
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation Royal Navy
organisation Commonwealth of Nations
organisation French Foreign Legion
 

Invasion.

extract PM expresses doubt at Nazi amphibious invasion: "hazardous and even suicidal operation", surprise crossing "impossible"
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Winston Churchill
place Iceland
place Eyre Peninsula
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation Scapa
organisation Home Fleet
 

India.

extract PM directs Viceroy to remove fixed date for grant of Dominion status to India from draft declaration. Calls task "vast"
person Winston Churchill
 

Sunday 4th August 1940

U. P. Weapon.

extract PM circulates test results of new anti aircraft weaponry. May be "decisive change in the relations of ground and Air"
person Winston Churchill
 

Meeting minutes

extract King George VI: My peoples "would rather all perish in the common ruin than fall or falter in their duty"
extract Halifax circulates draft rejection by King George of offer of mediation between UK and Germany by King Gustav of Sweden
extract PM Churchill: "We could never stand by and see a British Dominion overwhelmed by a yellow race"
extract PM: Invasion of Australia "could be retrieved" by USA. "In the last resort" UK would "abandon" Mediterranean and Mid-East
extract PM: We hope "to avoid war" but it could occur "at any moment". "Opening moves" likely to be against Hong Kong, Singapore
extract Churchill outlines policy in the event of Japanese aggression: UK Fleet needed in Mediterranean "to beat the Italians"
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
person Neville Chamberlain
place Great Britain
place Egypt
place Fiji
place Hong Kong
place Singapore
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Alexandria
place Africa
place Republic of China
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Brevity.

extract PM complains of "far too long" official papers, insists ministers end use of "woolly phrases" and "officialese jargon"
person Winston Churchill
 

Defence against invasion.

extract PM urges less focus on west country in invasion defence. "Not admissible to lavish our limited resources on this sector"
person Winston Churchill
place Great Britain
organisation Air Force F.C.
 

The Middle East: Directive to the Commander-in-Chief.

extract PM warns General Wavell invasion of Egypt from Libya "must be expected at any time", circulates orders for Middle East
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person Winston Churchill
place Great Britain
place Somaliland
place Egypt
place Sudan
place Malta
place Europe
place Kenya
place Khartoum
place Alexandria
place Africa
place Libya
 

M. Baudouin's Speech.

extract Vichy Minister Paul Baudouin replies to PM's Commons speech. Accuses PM of dedicating "the world to an enslaved struggle"
person Winston Churchill
place Somaliland
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Syria
 

Tuesday 3rd September 1940

The Munitions Situation.

extract PM: By devising new weapons and above all by scientific leadership we shall best cope with enemy's superior strength
extract PM circulates his views on UK's munitions position: "The Navy can lose us the war but only the Air Force can win it"
person Winston Churchill
place Egypt
place Iraq
place Turkey
place Sudan
place Europe
place Syria
place Iran
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation United States Navy
 

Situation in Spain.

extract UK Embassy Madrid: Germany now "rather desperate about Spain". Spanish obstinate,"our wonderful fight is impressing them"
person Charles de Gaulle
person Francisco Franco
person Winston Churchill
place Portugal
place Gibraltar
place Morocco
organisation Air Force F.C.
 

Thursday 3rd October 1940

Meeting minutes

extract PM: "Normal rules" do not apply to our relations with France at present. We may have to "interfere with French convoys"
extract Churchill and Halifax disagree over UK attitude to France. Halifax: We should not interfere with Colonies favouring Vichy
person Charles de Gaulle
person Winston Churchill
place Gibraltar
 

Thursday 14th November 1940

Relations with Vichy.

extract Churchill: We must make Vichy feel "we have teeth as well as Hitler". "Nice" policy will only help Germany at our expense
person Ronnie Campbell
person William Patrick Stuart-Houston
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
 

Meeting minutes

extract Lord Halifax concerned Bulgaria may join Axis. King Boris "thought to have been pressed by Herr Hitler and Ribbentrop"
extract India Secretary: If arrest required Viceroy already told "he would have full support in allowing Gandhi to fast to death"
extract Viceroy warns of worsening political situation in India. Cabinet refuses request to outlaw Congress party, arrest Gandhi
extract PM: America must appreciate we are "fighting for our lives". Certain secret information we cannot possibly divulge
extract Cabinet agrees release of limited secret data to US. UK Scientists say US has "less to tell us than we have to tell them"
extract PM de Valera "in a very agitated and bitter mood" over use of Irish ports. PM Churchill refuses to rule out seizing them
extract General Dill: Italians have "retired in disorder" from Epirus sector. Greeks to do utmost to maintain momentum of advance
extract Air Chief: Duisberg main target for RAF overnight. Enemy attacks focused on Midlands including Birmingham and Coventry
person Alexander Cadogan
person John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
place Kassala
place Greece
place Egypt
place Birmingham
place North America
place Sicily
place Sudan
place Malta
place Valona, California
place Bulgaria
organisation Home Office
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Indian National Congress
organisation Congress Working Committee
 

Sunday 8th December 1940

Draft letter from Prime Minister to President Roosevelt.

extract PM to cable Roosevelt on year ahead: "Unless we can establish our ability to feed this Island...we may fall by the way"
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
place Great Britain
place Singapore
place Turkey
place North America
place Europe
place Africa
place Northern Ireland
place West Germany
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation United States Navy
organisation Royal Navy
organisation Commonwealth of Nations
organisation French Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill formally tells Cabinet Lord Halifax is to step down as Foreign Secretary to become UK Ambassador Washington
extract Halifax: Swiss have asked their airspace not be "violated" on Christmas night. Hope it will be possible - for goodwill
extract Air Chief: After enquiries "strongly of the opinion" bombing of Basle "not done by our machines". Halifax to inform Swiss
extract General Dill: 37,000 prisoners now captured in Libya. Greek advance of 4km, 3 Italian bombers downed by small arms fire
person Charles de Gaulle
person John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Winston Churchill
place Freetown
place Greece
place Egypt
place Manchester
place Cranborne
place Liverpool
place Africa
place Dublin
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Wednesday 29th January 1941

The Imports Situation.

extract PM to President Roosevelt: If sinkings continue "at their present level", they will "gravely imperil our war effort"
person Winston Churchill
place Africa
 

Friday 14th March 1941

Committees.

extract PM complains of "inordinate and unchecked growth of Committees", 800 in Central Government alone. Demands 25% reduction
person Winston Churchill
 

Turn Round of Shipping.

extract Prime Minister Churchill calls for immediate action on 10 points slowing the turn round of merchant shipping
person Winston Churchill
place Liverpool